Russian president Vladimir Putin, accompanied by his wife and an eighteen-member delegation, began a historic three-day visit to Bulgaria. Bulgaria's Vice President Anguel Marin, Foreign Minister Passy and other government officials welcomed the high-ranking Russian guest at Sofia airport.

This is the first time in ten years that a Russian leader has visited Bulgaria. The high-profile visit at the invitation of Bulgarian President Parvanov is on the occasion of the 125th anniversary since Bulgaria's liberation from Turkish rule by the Russian army.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kudrin, Culture Minister Mikhail Shvydkoy, Taxes and Levies Minister Bukaev and Moscow Mayor Yurii Luzhkov are on the delegation.

Special security measures were introduced in capital Sofia and the towns in the country that Putin will visit.

Later on Saturday, Russian President Putin and Bulgarian President Parvanov attended the opening of a ten-day festival "Russian Days of Culture" in the National Palace of Culture. Asked how he felt on Bulgarian land, President Putin said that the atmosphere was very warm both in direct and figurative sense.

President Putin will spend two days in Sofia and will visit Mount Shipka on March 3d when Bulgaria celebrates its national holiday.

The official welcoming ceremony will take place in the morning of Sunday, March 2 at Alexander Nevski square in downtown Sofia. After that Putin and Bulgarian President Parvanov will have a tete-a-tete meeting.

On Sunday, Putin will also have a working lunch with Bulgarian Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg and will meet with Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Maxim.

The two presidents will sign a declaration of friendship that expresses Russia's will to restore the traditionally good ties with Bulgaria.

The visit comes in times when Bulgaria expects to join NATO next year and supports the United States on the Iraqi crisis while Russia is strongly in favor of pursuing diplomatic channels.