Latvia and Bulgaria share a mutual interest in promoting stability, security, and welfare from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, and in Europe as a whole. Bulgaria's accession to the EU and its NATO membership has opened up the opportunity for both states to develop their contacts on a multitude of levels.  

History of diplomatic relations

The Kingdom of Bulgaria recognised the independence of the Republic of Latvia on 24 May 1922, whilst the Republic of Bulgaria recognised the restored independence of the Republic of Latvia on 26 August 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were renewed on 10 September 1991.

Latvian ambassadors to the Republic of Bulgaria:

Martins Perts (07/01/1997-14/05/1998), Aivars Vovers (02/06/1998-12/03/2003), Uldis Vitolins (12/03/2003 –16/07/2004).

Since 23 January 2006, Alberts Sarkanis is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Bulgaria, with residence in Warsaw.

Bulgarian ambassadors to the Republic of Latvia:

Alexander Yordanov (13/04/1999-25/07/2001), Latchezar Yordanov Petkov (26/11/2000 – 20/07/2006).

Since 14 November 2006, Ivan Anguelov Naydenov is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Latvia, with residence in Warsaw. 

Honorary consuls

Since 1 March 2004, Latvian Honorary Consul in Bulgaria is Aleksandr Dimitrov Popov.

Bulgarian Honorary Consul in Latvia is Mairita Solima. The Bulgarian Honorary Consulate in Riga was opened on 8 May 2006.

Main areas of bilateral co-operation

Parliamentary co-operation

In the 9^th Saeima, a Latvian-Bulgarian parliamentary co-operation group, consisting of seventeen members, has been established. It is chaired by Nikolajs Kabanovs, (party For Human Rights in a Unified Latvia (PCTVL)).

Economic co-operation

With every year, economic co-operation between Latvia and Bulgaria is intensifying. Future economic co-operation between both states could be expanded in the fields of construction, energy efficiency, energy audit, and tourism. In 2007 Latvia's trade turnover with Bulgaria amounted to EUR 17.35 million (in comparison to 2006, an 11% increase). Latvia's exports to Bulgaria in 2007 amounted to EUR 5.2 million or 0.1% of Latvia's total exports, whilst imports reached EUR 12.1 million or 0.12% of Latvia's total imports.       

Main export goods to Bulgaria in 2007 were mineral products (petroleum oils) (34%) and tractors (17%), whereas the chief import goods from Bulgaria were pharmaceutical products and wine (66%).

Main exports to Bulgaria in 2007 by type of goods, in million EUR

Type of goods	Million. EUR	Percentage of total exports
Total	5.21	100 %
Mineral products	1.76	33.78
Vehicles	0.93	17.85
Machinery, mechanical appliances and electrical equipment	0.71	13.63
Wood pulp, paper and paperboard	0.54	10.36
Products of chemical industry and allied industries	0.31	5.95

Main imports from Bulgaria in 2007 by type of goods, in million EUR

Type of goods	Million EUR	Percentage of total exports
Total	12.14	100 %
Products of chemical industry and allied industries	5.62	46.29
Producs of food industry	2.66	21.91
Machinery, mechanical appliances and electrical equipment	1.25	10,.0
Plant products	1.25	10.30
Vehicles	0.48	3.95

Trade dynamics between Latvia and Bulgaria from 1999 to 2007 in EUR 

As at 2 July 2008, 13 Bulgarian-Latvian joint ventures were listed with the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia. In summer 2007, branches of Trasta Komercbanka and Arco Real Estate were opened in Bulgaria, and the Baltic office of the property developer Platinum Developments was opened in Riga. This company specialises in the real estate market of Bulgaria. A number of Latvian real estate companies offer their services for the purchase of property in Bulgaria.

The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signed an agreement of co-operation with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Defence co-operation

The basis for military co-operation is the Agreement between the Ministries of Defence on Military Co-operation, signed on 27 March 2001.

Military and political consultations are held on an annual basis. It is planned to further develop co-operation between the naval forces of both states, by taking part in military exercises both in the Black Sea and in the Baltic Sea. Latvia and Bulgaria are planning to maintain co-operation between their military police and to organise experience exchange of special task units in the fields of psychological operations and civil–military co-operation.

Co-operation in education and science

The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on Co-operation in the Fields of Education, Science and Culture signed on 21 March 2005, provides the framework for co-operation in the areas of education and science between Latvia and Bulgaria. The Academy of Sciences of Latvia actively maintains contacts with the Academy of Sciences of Bulgaria, and regular information exchange by correspondence as well as exchange visits among scientists take place. In March 2007, a bilateral co-operation agreement between the two academies of science was renewed. The partners are presently implementing three joint projects.

Co-operation in finance

In June 2006, experts of the State Treasury of Latvia took part in the twinning project Building up Integrated State Treasury in the Ministry of Finance in Bulgaria, and introduced their partners to Latvia's experience in the building up and development of the State Treasury.

Visits

Legal basis

Database on bilateral agreements: Bulgaria

Links

President: http://www.president.bg

Government: http://www.government.bg

National Assembly: http://www.parliament.bg/

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mfa.government.bg