BEIRUT, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev said Tuesday that Lebanon is Bulgaria's gate to the Middle East and his country is keen on increasing cooperation with Lebanon on all levels, local TV Channel OTV reported.
"Lebanon is Bulgaria's gate to other countries in the Middle East. Also, Bulgaria can be Lebanon's gate to Europe," Radev said, adding that the two countries' ties have always been strong and will grow further in the near future.
Radev's remarks came during his joint press conference with President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace following talks between the two officials about topics including bilateral economic cooperation and the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.
"We are not satisfied with the trade volume of just 175 U.S. million dollars between the two countries. We want to increase trade ties and Bulgaria wants to invest in Lebanon's energy sector and in building dams," he said.
The president also said that Bulgaria will start direct flights to Lebanon soon.
Radev noted that the EU is helping countries hosting Syrian refugees but financial help is not enough.
"We call upon the EU to find urgent solutions for Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon and in Europe to secure their safe return to their homeland," he said.
Meanwhile, Aoun said that Lebanon's economic situation has deteriorated after the flow of a big number of Syrian refugees to the country.
Aoun also called upon the Bulgarian president to stand by Lebanon facing Israeli attacks against Lebanon's sovereignty.
