Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov signed Thursday several agreements for mutual cooperation during the first joint meeting of the two governments.
Netanyahu is on an official visit to Bulgaria.
According to a spokesperson of the Bulgarian foreign ministry, the joint sitting is “historical” as the first such event in the region. Israel has held such a meeting only with the governments of Italy and Germany.
The Israeli delegation is composed of eight ministers including the ministers of finance, telecommunications, construction and civil defense.
Three intergovernmental agreements were signed at the meeting: one for cooperation in the military industry sector, one on mutual protection of investments, and one on the stimulation of R&D in the private sector.
But Netanyahu’s visit is also aimed at garnering support against the plan by the Palestinians to seek recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN in September.
The Israeli Prime Minister has already visited a number of European capitals, including London and Paris, and was Wednesday in Bucharest where Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said that Romania supported a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians and was opposed to unilateral steps.
Bulgaria is considered to be among the most friendly countries toward Israel in the European Union.