Minister Ivaylo Moskovski signs the first Merchant Shipping Agreement between Bulgaria and Israel
14.07.2015
The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski and the Ambassador of Israel Shaul Kamins Raz signed the first Merchant Shipping Agreement between Bulgaria and Israel.
The document provides both sides with favourable conditions for maritime transport and is a prerequisite for strengthening our cooperation in this field, said Minister Ivaylo Moskovski. We have very good relations in the aviation and road transport. I hope this Agreement will be a basis for the development of trade relations with Israel, he added. In his words, the document is important for our country since much of the cargos in the Middle East pass through Israeli ports and the Agreement is a precondition for those cargos to reach Bulgarian ports.
The Agreement regulates the same treatment of ships in terms of use of services related to the sea shipping industry, as the ships flying the national flag. After signing the strategic document both sides will mutually recognize the nationality documents of ships, the international tonnage certificate, as well as the identity and competency of seafarers issued by the competent authorities of the other country. The conditions for anchoring in ports and visa-free regime for sailors passing through the territory of the other country are also regulated, as well as its assistance to vessels in distress.
In response to a journalist's question on the concession of Sofia Airport and Plovdiv Airport, Minister Ivailo Moskovski said that there are ongoing procedures for the preparation of concession analyzes for both airports, which are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Provided the analyses show that the airports can operated under concession, a procedure for granting the concession will be opened. He added that in his previous term a procedure has been carried out only for cargo terminal at Plovdiv Airport, while now it encompasses the whole airport. |