President Ilyana Yotova met with Andorra's prime minister, Xavier Espot Zamora, and discussed closer ties in tourism, the president's press office said. The two met on the sidelines of the general debate at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, where Yotova is leading the Bulgarian delegation.
Yotova told the Andorran prime minister that Bulgaria has great conditions for winter sports and a track record hosting European and international competitions. She said the country is proud of what its athletes have achieved. Bulgaria wants to learn from Andorra's experience, she said, and also wants to set up direct links between Bulgarian and Andorran ski resorts.
The president suggested the two countries promote their tourism offerings together.
Espot Zamora said Andorra is ready to share its experience in growing tourism and noted the country draws more than 10 million visitors a year.
The two also discussed the war in Ukraine, which Russia launched with a full-scale invasion in February 2022. They said the war has brought heavy consequences for all of Europe. They also touched on the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting spike in fuel prices.
Yotova said the war in Ukraine has no military solution and that talks for peace need to be pursued. She said the European Union should take part in those talks, noting it is currently absent from them.
"Security in the Black Sea and freedom of shipping there matter enormously for Bulgaria, since the Black Sea is one of the main food supply routes, mainly for Africa," the president said.