President Georgi Parvanov visited the State of Israel and the Palestinian Autonomy

28-03-2008

On invitation by the presidents Shimon Peres and Mahmud Abas from 24 to 27 March the head of state visited the State of Israel and the Palestinian Autonomy. The president was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Zorka Parvanova.

In the program of the visit of Georgi Parvanov in the State of Israel were included meetings with the president Shimon Peres, the head of the Knesset Dahlia Izhak, the prime minister Ehud Olmert, the minister of foreign affairs Tsipi Livni and the leader of the opposition Benjamin Netaniahu. 

During the visit were signed an Agreement for economic cooperation and Agreement for social security between the Republic of Bulgaria and the State of Israel.

In the frames of the state visit of president Parvanov in Israel in the Knesset was opened an exhibition on the Jewish community in Bulgaria.

The president took part in the ceremony of naming a fountain in Tel Aviv after Dimitar Peshev.

The head of state and its accompanying delegation visited the memorial Yad Vashem.

In the delegation, accompanying president Parvanov, were vice prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs Ivaylo Kalfin, the Welfare minister Emilia Maslarova, the members of parliament Maria Valkanova and Snezhana Grozdilova, and others.

For a first time since the establishment of the State of Israel a Bulgarian Minister of Interior is on official visit

On 25th February 2007 Bulgaria's Interior Minister Roumen Petkov and Israeli Minister of Public Security Avraham Dichter signed a bilateral agreement on combating the illegal traffic and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as well as other serious crimes. This is the first officially signed document for cooperation between the two ministries.

A Bulgarian delegation led by Minister Petkov included also Deputy Interior Minister Boiko Kotsev and Interior Ministry's Chief Secretary Ilia Iliev.

The agreement covers cooperation mainly in areas related to illegal traffic of narcotic drugs and precursors, human trafficking and illegal migration, fight against money laundering, computer intellectual property related crimes. The document lays the foundation of coordinated actions of the respective authorities committed to fight against forging documents, smuggling goods, corruption and organized crime.

Exchange of teams and lecturers, organizing common seminars and training courses have also been agreed on. Prospective areas of cooperation also include police services. Both ministries will exchange experience regarding border security.

A number of different forms of training gendarmerie officers and transferring practical experience to the anti terrorist teams were discussed, as well as cooperation between the forensic science and criminology institutes of both countries.

Petkov acquainted Dichter with the reform, currently being carried out in the Bulgarian Interior Ministry.

Mr. Zdravko Popov’s official visit to Israel

Mr. Zdravko Popov, the Head of the Diplomatic Institute at the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria was invited by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs /MFA/ to visit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv between 05-08.12.2004.In Jerusalem Mr. Popov met with Mr. Boaz Modai, Head of the Training and Education Divison at the Israeli MFA, Mr. Noah Gal-Gendler, Head of the Human Resources Directorate, Mr. Dani Biran, Head of Management of Employees abroad Department and Mr. Avraham Binyamin, Head of the Central Europe Department. Dr. Popov delivered a lecture for the members of the cadet's course of the Foreign Service and took part in their simulation activity. During the meeting at the Training Division, the parameters for mutual cooperation between the educational structures were discussed.In the course of his visit Mr. Popov met with prominent intellectuals and public figures from Bulgarian origin - former Ambassadors to Bulgaria - Mr. David Cohen , Mr. Moshe Melamed, prof. Edith Key, Prof. Nisim Bariako, Ambassador Mordehay Arbel etc., and the famous historian and writer - prof. Mihael Bar-Zohar.

In Tel Aviv Mr. Popov visited the "Moshe Dayan Centre for “Middle East and Africa Studies"  at the Tel Aviv University. An agreement for cooperation with prof. Asher Sasser, the Head of the Centre, in the field of Middle East problems was reached, both on research and training disciplines.

The Deputy Prime Minister Vassilev took part in Telecom 2004 in Israel

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Nikolay Vassilev took part in the Telecom 2004 Conference. He was on an official visit to the State of Israel from November 8-11, 2004 at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Communications Ehud Olmert. The Deputy Prime Minister Vassilev was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Nedelcho Nedelchev and a Bulgarian business delegation.

On November 8th, Minister Vassilev visited Jerusalem, where he met with his Israeli counterpart Meir Shitreet. During the conversations a review of the bilateral relations in the field of transport was made. The Deputy Prime Minister Vassilev presented the opportunities for concession of the Bulgarian airports and ports.

In Jerusalem he talked to the Speaker of the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) Reuven Rivlin and to the Chairman of the Labor Party and former Prime Minister of Israel Shimon Peres. Before that Nikolay Vassilev visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, where he laid a wreath. On the same day the Minister met with the Patriarch of Jerusalem Irinaios I.

Telecom 2004 was held on November 9. During the conference Minister Vassilev gave a short speech in the conclusive session of the forum and met with Ehud Olmert to discuss the measures for the activating and deepening of cooperation between the two countries in the field of high technologies. He also met with the Director General of the National Telecommunications Company of Israel – Bezeq.

During a four-day visit of the Bulgarian delegation to Israel a Bulgarian-Israeli Business Forum took place.

On November 10, 2004, Minister Vassilev conducted business meetings with the management bodies of leading companies in the ICT sector – Motorola-Israel, IDB. He also visited the plants of Telrad and Partner, as well as the Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI).

During his official visit the Deputy Prime Minister met with the community of the Bulgarian Jews in Israel.

***

The Telecom Conference is the greatest event, which unites and presents the Israeli Telecommunications Industry - producers, suppliers and specialists, who participate in its development. The exposition and conference attract visitors and delegations from all over the world.

Israel is believed to be a leader in the information technologies and the development of telecommunications technologies. This even is a great opportunity to create potential contacts and foster cooperation among representatives of different nation and business fields.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Dr. Solomon Passy visited Israel

The Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Dr. Solomon Passy, visited Israel on 26 May 2003. He was hosted by his counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

During the course of his visit, he met with the President of Israel, Moshe Katsav, and with FM Silvan Shalom, and also visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority.

Bulgaria is currently a member of the United Nations Security Council, and as such, has an enhanced influence in issues concerning UN initiatives and draft resolutions regarding the Middle East. In this capacity, Bulgaria has already demonstrated its support of Israel.

Since the renewal of diplomatic ties in May 1990, Israeli-Bulgarian relations have grown to be close and friendly in all realms.

The visit of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister will further promote the strengthening and enhancement of the ties between the two countries.