Russia welcomed the Bulgarian premier's call for dialogue on Wednesday, according to a report by the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.

Moscow paid special attention to a recent statement by Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg in Parliament last Friday. According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandar Yakovenko, the new Bulgarian government is ready to conduct an active dialogue with Russia on all issues of interest to both states, and solve existing problems on a mutually acceptable basis. Such intentions have been viewed by Moscow with satisfaction, the report stated.

"On our part, Moscow is ready for cooperation with Sofia both on different aspects of Russian-Bulgarian relations and in the sphere of international affairs," the Russian side was quoted as saying.

Saxe-Coburg said in Parliament that Bulgaria has proposed to Russia that the intergovernmental commission convene in Sofia in early December for a comprehensive discussion of bilateral relations. "The planned meeting will make a review of bilateral ties, including the exchange of goods, financial obligations, transport, the energy sector, military technology, construction and tourism, and will map out realistic and concrete measures for their invigoration," he said.

He explained that the development of Bulgaria's relations with Russia over the last few years has been unsatisfactory. He added that the government has the desire to maintain active dialogue with Russia on all issues of interest.

"The full potential of Bulgarian tourist facilities to attract Russian tourists will be enhanced by an agreement on two-way travel, which will be signed to substantially mitigate the inconveniences of the visa regime, particularly with regards to travel related to trade and economic contacts," he added.

Bulgaria implements a one-sided simple regime for visa issuing for tourist travel from Russia and the Ukraine. For the simplification of travel during the most intensive months, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Interior are ready to open temporary consular representative offices in Russia and the Ukraine, the press centre of the Ministry of Economy announced on Monday.