Bulgaria Is Ready to Launch Direct Shipping Lines to Russia - Min

Bulgaria is ready to launch direct cargo shipping lines to Russia, Transport Minister Danail Papazov has announced.

According to Papazov, the shipping lines will be successful, because carters may face difficulties passing through Ukraine on their way to Russia, Darik news reports.

Minister Papazov said that there have been proposals for the launch of direct lines between Russian and Bulgarian ports and that Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport is prepared to meet such freight turnover, as the two major sea ports in Varna and Burgas are ready for processing roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ships.

Papazov said that there have been talks for increasing the number of charter flights between Russia and Bulgaria, in order to support tourist flows between the two countries. He noted that all charters are negotiated under the agreement between Bulgaria and Russia established in 1997. A new agreement, stipulating the permission of a larger number of operators to perform charter flights, has been sent to the Russian side.

The agreement will be signed at the next Joint Commission meeting, however Minister Papazov did not mention a specific time frame.