Israel, Bulgaria sign environmental agreements

Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan and Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water Nona Karadjova met in Jerusalem Sunday to sign a joint declaration on cooperation and information exchange involving environmental issues, the ministry announced.During their meeting, the two ministers discussed topics such as waste, climate change, water, biodiversity and environmental education, and meanwhile pledged to share both ideas and the experts who generate them.“Bulgaria is among Israel’s closest friends and in the coming years we will gladly share our experiences in the environmental field, because we share common environmental challenges,” Erdan said in a statement. “I believe cooperation would produce great benefit to both parties.”Karadjova is currently in Israel with other Bulgarian delegates to participate in the international WATEC exhibition occurring in Tel Aviv later this week.“Bulgaria has the richest variety of biodiversity in Europe and extensive experience in maintaining it,” she said. “We are happy to share our knowledge in this field with you.”Vice Prime Minister and Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom met with Bulgarian Regional Development Minister Dr. Liliyana Pavlova, in which the two officials agreed to extend their cooperation during times of emergency, such as fires, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.“Strengthening relations between Israel and Bulgaria in the area of politics and economy is important and vital to the State of Israel,” Shalom said.