By GREER FAY CASHMAN
A bilateral agreement that will allow Bulgarians to travel visa-free to Israel for a stay of up to 90 days will be signed by Ambassador to Bulgaria Abraham Sharon and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin during the upcoming state visit to Bulgaria by President Moshe Katsav.
The president and his wife are to leave on Saturday night for a two-day visit that is aimed at strengthening political and economic ties between the two countries.
Katsav will be accompanied by a business delegation which will participate in an economic symposium under the auspices of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce.
Katsav will be welcomed to Sofia by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and will then lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The two presidents will then meet privately, after which their aides will join them for a working session.
Katsav is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sergey Stanischev, Sofia Mayor Boyko Borissov and other dignitaries.
Bulgaria is one of the countries which safeguarded its Jews during the Holocaust and Katsav will also lay a wreath at the monument commemorating the rescue of Jews. He will also meet with members of the Jewish community in the Great Synagogue of Sofia and will later dine with Jewish community leaders. He is scheduled to return to Israel on Tuesday evening.