Bush, Parvano Hail State of Relations

Jun 11, 07:25 AM

Current Headlines: U.S. President George Bush and Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said that relations between the countries have never been stronger.

I must say this is a very significant visit. This is rather proof, very cogent proof of the fact that our two countries' relations are in their best state now in more than a hundred years of their establishment, Parvanov said Monday during Bush's stopover in his country.

And I did lay down to my guest, President Bush, the possibility for a more significant involvement of American businesses in the major energy projects, both in Bulgaria and the Balkans -- in the infrastructure in the defense industry, a better cooperation in this area, in the defense industry, could be an important incentive for the development of our economy as a whole, he said.

Bush praised Bulgarian reforms of recent years and thanked the country for its commitments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

And I thank the president and I thank the people of Bulgaria for supporting those in Iraq who long to live in a free society. The fight is tough in Iraq and I know some of your families have suffered. And on behalf of our nation, I extend our condolences and prayers to the families who have lost a loved one against these extremists and murderers, Bush said.