There was a strong foreign policy moment in the farewell speech of outgoing Bulgarian President Georgi Plevneliev, who finishes Sunday two 5-year terms.

"The Bulgarian President represents the country in foreign relations. I am happy that for the 10 years of my office, our country has won for itself an unprecedentedly good position," said Parvanov at the hand-down ceremony with his successor Rosen Plevneliev.

The outgoing president noted the 2007 accession of Bulgaria to the EU, as well as the establishing of deep, friendly and actively cooperative relations with both the USA and Russia, which according to him were not present back in 2001, when he was first elected.

"Bulgaria has made good and strong friends not only with those countries, but also in East Asia, Latin America and the Arab World," recalled the Bulgarian President.

"I am happy that President Plevneliev has emphasized so much the notion of continuity in his presidency vows," said Parvanov, adding that he hopes his successor to continue this broad foreign policy.

He clarified that he hoped for Plevneliev to work for what he described as "an economization of foreign policy," in which trade and investments will play an ever more central role.