Bulgarian PM to visit India from Sep 10-15

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev will arrive here on a week-long visit from September 10-15 for discussions with Indian leaders on various bilateral, regional and international issues.

His delegation will include Ministers of Economy and Energy, Justice, Labour and Social Policy. A high-level business delegation will also accompany him.

During the visit, which comes after a long gap of 27 years, the Bulgarian Prime Minister will hold discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He will call on President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

He will also meet UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition L K Advani and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

He will address a business luncheon meeting co-hosted by Assocham, CII and FICCI and also deliver a lecture at the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) on 'Bulgaria in the European Union : Strengthening the Bulgaria-India Partnership.' The visiting dignitary will also visit Chennai, Bangalore and Agra.

India and Bulgaria established diplomatic relations in 1954 and bilateral cooperation, chiefly in Defence, mechanical and electrical machinery and agriculture took the relationship forward.

Bulgaria supports India's candidature for a permanent seat on an expanded UN Security Council.

Bulgaria also supported India in the elections to the Human Rights Council in May 2006 and May 2007. Bulgaria, like India, seeks early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, being negotiated in the UN.

Bulgaria became a member of the European Union on January one.

An External Affairs Ministry spoekesman said India expected the visit to generate greater awareness in India about Bulgaria and the opportunities for trade, investment and science and technology cooperation, thereby strengthening and intensifying bilateral political and economic relations with Bulgaria.

UNI