Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Valeri Tsvetanov and Lithuanian ambassador to Bulgaria Arūnas Vinčiūnas met on February 2 2009 at the Agriculture Ministry in Sofia, where they shared mutual views on the two countries' happy friendship. They also talked about milk.

Both new members of the European Union, they expressed the desire to further deepen their co-operation. This was seen, particularly, in their discussion of agricultural matters, namely livestock breeding, plant growing, agrarian science and economic policies, the ministry said. Tsvetanov said that Bulgaria was interested in learning about Lithuania's experience in control of milk products and their production, quality indicators of milk, their selection system for breeds of cows and sheep, technological exchange related to cultivating wheat and fibre crops, and cultivation of a new strain of fibrous flax.

The discussion of dairy control was of particular interest, as, hours earlier, Tsvetanov had appeared on a bTV morning show saying that products being sold in Bulgarian markets as "cheese" and "sausages" were really no more than "milk-based food" and "meat-based food".

Tsvetanov and Vinčiūnas also talked about possibilities for mutual support in the field of veterinary-sanitary control as countries that are part of the EU border. Tsvetanov also extended an invitation to Kazys Sivickis of the Lithuanian agriculture ministry to attend the Agra – 2009 trade show, to be held from February 18 to 20 in Plovdiv.

Vinčiūnas has been ambassador to Bulgaria since July 11 2008.