SOFIA, July 04./ITAR-TASS/. Cooperation between Bulgaria and Russia is based on pragmatic considerations of mutual benefits and equality, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin told ITAR-TASS on Friday.

“Pragmatism, along with mutual benefits and equality have been the founding principles of cooperation between our countries in various areas since the early 1990s, when Bulgaria and Russia opted for a path of building market economies and democratic political systems,” he said.

In its relations with Russia, according to the Bulgarian foreign minister, his country was taking into account both its own interests and the common policy of the European Union and NATO. “In building relation with Russia, Bulgaria takes into account both its national interests and the common policy of member countries of the European Union and NATO,” he said. “We are confident that Bulgaria and Russia must continue their efforts to promote relations of dialogue and cooperation, despite any possible differences on certain issues. Bearing this in mind, we consider the forthcoming visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as a possibility to continue dialogue on bilateral relations and on key international problems.”

Touching on problems in bilateral relations, Vigenin noted a huge imbalance in mutual trade and called to invigorate cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as economy, energy and tourism.