Bulgarian-Russian relations were deepening, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said after meeting his Bulgarian counterpart Ivailo Kalfin.

Kalfin is on a work visit to Moscow from December 6 to 7 2006.

Economic relations between the two countries featured among the main topics of discussion.

Kalfin said that Bulgaria was interested in more intense dialog with Russia concerning co-operation between the two countries and collaboration on regional issues.

Among other topics of discussion were the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project and relations between the two countries in the energy sector.

Both ministers agreed that stock exchange between the two countries needed stimulation. A new trade and economic agreement was also needed to correspond to Bulgaria's statute of EU member, a Foreign Ministry press release said.

Kalfin and Lavrov exchanged a plan for consultations between Bulgaria and Russia's foreign ministries in 2007, the press release said.

Photo courtesy of mfa.government.bg