Bulgarian PM: New Silk Road important for Georgia, Bulgaria

Bulgaria has reconfirmed its "firm support” for Georgia’s visa free travel to Europe and the country’s western aspirations.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov voiced words of support as he hosted his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili in Sofia today.

Borissov stressed the role of the new Silk Road initiative and importance of collaboration between Georgia and Bulgaria in the process of developing the new transport corridor.

"The new Silk Road initiative is very important and Georgia and Bulgaria can be leaders in this initiative; this can bring many benefits to our countries,” the Bulgarian PM said.

"There is potential to launch relations with Iran. This gives an opportunity for Georgia and Bulgaria to become an energy transit hub, which will have a positive impact on our economy as natural air will become cheaper.”

Garibashvili spoke about the importance of next year’s Georgia-Bulgaria economic commission meeting, which he hoped would be held in January 2016.

"Our countries have a great potential of having even tighter economic relations,” the Georgian PM said.

He also thanked his Bulgarian counterpart for supporting Georgia’s European Union (EU)-related goals as well as its territorial integrity.

While in Sofia, Garibashvili also met Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and the pair discussed bilateral relations.