Ukranian President Kuchma arrived in Bulgaria on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Peter Stoyanov. Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko, Interior Minister Yuriy Smirnov, Industrial Policy Minister Vasyl Hureyev and Social Minister Ivan Sakhan participate in the Ukranian delegation. A welcoming ceremony took place at the Alexander Nevsky square. After that the Bulgarian and the Ukranian Presidents had one-to-one talks. Kuchma had a meeting with Bulgarian businessmen. Vasyl Hureyev, minister of industrial policy, met Economy Minister Nikolay Vassilev and Finance Minister Milen Velchev. Meetings of Kuchma with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, National Assembly Chairman Ognyan Gerdzhikov and Foreign Minister Solomon Passy are also scheduled. Six agreements are expected to be signed – on readmission of aliens, on cooperation in crime control, on Ukrainian KFOR troops passing through Bulgaria, on cooperation between the two foreign ministries and on cooperation between the customs administrations. The First lady of Ukraine is also in the delegation. A special individual program has been prepared for her. Antonina Stoyanova, President Stoyanov`s wife accompanies her. They will visit the Child Protection State Agency and will meet executives of child protection foundations. The previous visit of the Ukranian President Kuchma to Bulgaria was in 1998. Kuchma officially declared his country`s willingness to maintain `strategic partnership` with Bulgaria. Then, the representatives of the two countries signed a joint declaration on further cooperation.
Read more about the visit – today at FOR THE RECORD