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Bulgaria intends to restore full-fledged economic relations with Russia — minister

Bulgarian Economy Minister also spoke for restoring the work of the inter-governmental commission for trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation

Bulgaria, Sofia EPA/VASSIL DONEV

Bulgaria, Sofia

© EPA/VASSIL DONEV

SOFIA, February 2. /TASS/. Bulgaria expects to resume full-fledged economic cooperation with Russia, Bulgarian Economy Minister Bozidar Lukarsky said on Monday.

"The problems of cooperation in the energy sector should not affect our trade and economic relations," the minister said.

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"Unfortunately, our mutual trade has declined by about 15% in recent years, including because of the imposition of sanctions. Our task is to try to restore full-fledged relations," the minister said in reply to TASS’s question.

The Bulgarian economy minister also spoke for restoring the work of the inter-governmental commission for trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

"We hope to restore the old practice of holding joint meetings, all the more so as the next session of the intergovernmental commission is due to take place in Sofia. I believe this will take place in spring and simultaneously we’ll arrange a business forum with the participation of Russian businessmen. We’ll work on expanding the Russian tourist flow," Lukarsky said.

"I hope that the year of 2015 will be a good year for our trade and economic relations and tourism," he added.

Trade between Russia and Bulgaria totaled about $4.2 billion in the first ten months of 2014, with Bulgarian exports equaling about $500 million.

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