Turkish - Bulgarian Joint Economic Meeting To Take Place In Sofia

ANKARA - The 15th term meeting of the Turkish-Bulgarian Economic and Technical Cooperation will take place in Sofia on Jan.21-23, 2002, it was reported on Saturday..

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and his Bulgarian counterpart Kostadin Paskalev will chair the meetings. Yilmaz will be received by Bulgarian President Georgi Purganov and Prime Minister Simeon Sakskoburggotski. He is also expected to have meetings with Economy Minister Nikolay vasile and Development and Public Works Minister Paskalev.

Measures to be taken to develop commerce between Turkey and Bulgaria, free regions, customs related issues, cooperation in energy, infrastructure, telecommunication, health, science and techology will be topics of discussion during Yilmaz`s meetings.

At the end of the talks between delegations, the two sides will sign a protocol on Jan. 23.

Bulgaria is Turkey`s biggest trade partner in the Balkans. In 2000, Turkey`s export to Bulgaria was 253 million U.S. dollars and its import from Bulgaria was 465 million U.S. dollars.