Three Memoranda of Understanding covering the sectors of Energy, Tourism and Agriculture and Rural Development were signed between Cyprus and Bulgaria on Monday, during the official visit Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades is paying to Sofia.

According to an official press release, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy between the Ministries of Energy of the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Bulgaria, a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of Tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus and a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of Tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus.

The three Memoranda of Understanding were signed in the framework of a meeting between President Anastasiades and the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev, during a special ceremony, following the expanded talks between the delegations of Cyprus and Bulgaria, at the Presidential Palace, in the presence of the Presidents of the two countries.

According to the press release, the purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding on Energy is to establish a common framework for the development and deepening of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Cyprus, as well as to promote the exchange of best practices and training of scientific and technical personnel in the field of energy.

The forms of cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding include exchange of information related to the energy sector, exchange of know-how and experience, and information on best practices, strengthening of bilateral institutional dialogue, and promotion of technical cooperation, including exchange of experts and internships.

The Memorandum provides for the establishment of a Joint Working group, comprising representatives of both sides, that will set out the framework within which cooperation in the fields described will be best promoted and facilitated.

The Cooperation on the basis of this Memorandum of Understanding may also include the following areas of interest:
a. Prospecting, exploration and production of hydrocarbons, as well as potential future exports of hydrocarbons, b. Environmental protection and standards; c. Safety of offshore activities; d. Construction and development of energy infrastructure and energy market; e. Renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and energy savings.

The purposes of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of Tourism include the promotion of cooperation in the area of cultural tourism with a special focus on religious tourism, the exchange of experience in the field of tourism promotion, planning and marketing of tourist activities, and the exchange of tourist information to encourage national associations of travel and tourist agencies and transport companies to take steps for direct contacts aimed at cooperation in organizing joint tourist programs and increasing the bilateral tourist flow.

The Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Agriculture and Rural Development concerns scientific and technical cooperation with regard to, inter alia, the cultivation of cereals and forage crops, the cultivation of vines and wine production, rural development and agrotourism.

Such scientific and technical cooperation will be implemented through the exchange of scientific and technical information, documentation and samples of produce, exchange of trainees, delegations of scientists and specialists, and joint agricultural research programs in areas of mutual interest in compliance, with the Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the field of Agricultural Research sighed between the Agricultural Research Institute of the Republic of Cyprus and the Agricultural Academy of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Memoranda of Understanding were signed on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus by the Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis.