Friendship between Russia and Bulgaria has deep roots and these roots reflect the intertwining of the destinies of our peoples, the Russian President said at the opening ceremony of the Bulgarian Culture Days in Russia at the Bolshoi Theater.
Linguistic and cultural affinity has lent a special fraternal character to the relations between Russians and Bulgarians. Our peoples have a lot to remember, be proud of and think about when viewing the future, President Putin noted.
The 10 year period of decline in the relations between Russia and Bulgaria has almost come to an end and new common ground is emerging: energy, science, the nuclear industry. The experience and depth of cooperation make it possible to raise the bar of Russian-Bulgarian relations and to build a partnership on a renewed basis, Mr Putin stressed.
The Russian head of state is sure that tourism will become a promising area of bilateral cooperation. Human contacts are a guarantee not only of successful growth of the cultural dialogue, but of a solid basis for economic and political interaction.
President Putin expressed hope that the Bulgarian culture festival, which so felicitously coincides with the 125th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottomans by the Russian army, will provide the Russian public with a multi-dimensional and objective idea of modern Bulgaria and will enable it to discover for itself the ancient, original and extremely diverse culture of the friendly Bulgarian people.