The Embassy of Bulgaria to Azerbaijan arranged an official reception on the occasion of the national holiday of this country, 5 March.

After the national anthems were performed, ambassador of Bulgaria Ivan Palchev said that from 1 January current year his country is a full member of the European Union and estimated it as an important factor.

The Bulgarian diplomat dwelt on the history of economic and cultural ties between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan. At his words, currently the all-round cooperation between the two countries is intensively developing.

Noting successful cooperation of the two countries in the framework of international organizations, the Ambassador said that the admission of Bulgaria to the European Union provides for Europe with a direct bridge between the Near and Middle East and through Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia - the Far East.

Speaking at the reception, vice-speaker of Milli Majlis Valeh Alaskarov, on behalf of the Azerbaijan President congratulated the people of Bulgaria on this landmark event and conveyed greetings and best wishes of the Head of Azerbaijan State. The signed documents between the two countries last years have opened new opportunities for co-op in economic and cultural spheres, he stressed. Mutual visits of the heads of state have given new impulse to further expansion of the bilateral inter-parliamentary links, too.

Head of the foreign relations department of President Office Novruz Mammadov, Members of Parliament, the ministers, ambassadors of foreign countries in Baku, representatives of international organizations in the country, public figures and journalists took part at the event.