Russia`s First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Avdeev described the changes in Bulgaria as significant and expressed hope for deeper bilateral relations during the second meeting of twinned towns of the two countries in Moscow. Avdeev was ambassador in Sofia between 1992 and 1996. `It is time to open up new prospects for cooperation. We highly appreciate Bulgaria`s role in the Balkans. We are satisfied with the consultations with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry. Difficult and so far insoluble issues in our bilateral diplomacy will be settled in the near future`, the senior Russian diplomat told the mayors of twinned Bulgarian and Russian towns.