Boyko Kotsev

The opportunities for joint projects were discussed at a meeting today with representatives of the International Bank for Economic Cooperation and Dr. Boyko Takov, Executive Director of Bulgarian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Promotion Agency. The talks were attended by Mr. Boyko Kotsev, member of IBEC Managing Board, Dr. Ivan Hristov, Deputy Managing Director of IBEC and Mr.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov held a telephone conversation with Bulgaria's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation Boyko Kotsev.

The two have discussed the Scripal case and the reactions in Russia, the European Union and the international community.

Bulgaria expects to issue at least 20 000 visas to residents of Russia's Ural district alone in 2016, the Ambassador of Sofia to Moscow has said.

Boyko Kotsev, quoted by TASS agency, has made his remarks at a ceremony marking the reopening of Bulgaria's consulate in Yekaterinburg, which earlier this week renewed work after having remained closed for nearly six years.

Bulgaria will simplify visa requirements for Russian tourists in 2015, according to Boyko Kotsev, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Russia.

Russians account for the fourth largest group of tourists in Bulgaria, according to reports of Russian news agency RIA Novosti, as cited by Sega daily.

In 2014, some 650 000 Russian tourists visited Bulgaria, just 1% up from 2013.

Bulgaria mulls simplifying visa procedures for Russian citizens, the country's Ambassador to Moscow Boyko Kotsev announced.

"Visas will not be scrapped, but the regime could be facilitated, meaning a 2 to 3-day issuing and three to four minutes in a queue to receive them," Kotsev was quoted by Russia's Interfax agency as saying.