YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Despite the high potential existing in the relations between Armenia and Bulgaria, the level of the bilateral economic relations is not high enough, the Armenian prime minister Serge Sargsian and his Bulgarian counterpart Sergei Stanishev stated at the November 13 joint press conference. They expressed dissatisfaction with the commodity turnover between the two countries, which currently makes 31 million dollars. S. Sargsian said that with the aim of promoting the bilateral economic relations, a decision was made to hold a business forum in Bulgaria in 2008. The two prime ministers expressed a high opinion about the freindly historical links and about the level of political relations between Armenia and Bulgaria. S. Stanishev noted the Armenian community's great role in the social, economic and cultural life of Bulgaria. In his words, the members of the Armenian community has integrated well into the Bulgarian society. It was announced at the press conference that during the Bulgarian prime minister's visit to Armenia, a number of agreements were signed, including those on cooperation in agriculture, in culture, on creation of an intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, etc. Agreements have been reached that Bulgaria will assist Armenia with personnel training in a number of spheres. S. Stanishev stated that as a member of the Europen Union, Bulgaria has assumed the obligations to provide assistance for economic development of several countries, including Armenia. According to him, Bulgaria is ready to assist Armenia under the programs implemented within the framework of the BSEC. Both prime ministers appreciated the results of the visit of the Bulgarian governmental delegation to Armenia and expressed a hope that this visit will become yet another stimulus for development of the bilateral relations.

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