Bulgarian sports minister signs memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijani counterpart

Bulgarian Youth and Sports Minister Dimitar Iliev and his Azerbaijani counterpart Farid Gayibov signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of youth and sports in Baku on December 12. 

The document states that bilateral relations in the field of youth will be carried out on the basis of information between public and non-governmental organisations, youth programmes and exchanges will be implemented, and joint projects will be promoted with international organisations, Bulgarian News Agency reports citing the Bulgarian Youth and Sports Ministry's press release.

Sports cooperation will be carried out by promoting the exchange of experiences between coaches, experts, specialists and researchers in the fields of sport for excellence, sport for all, sports science and medicine, sports legislation and anti-doping. It was also agreed to carry out exchange visits of senior officials and experts and to promote cooperation between the sports federations of the two countries. It is envisaged that the parties will provide mutual support and cooperate in the framework of various international organisations and forums.

Gayibov briefed his Bulgarian counterpart's team on the sports infrastructure available in Azerbaijan and highlighted the importance of the facilities built by the government for young people in recent years. Among the points addressed was the possibility for Bulgaria to send coaches in athletics, swimming, cycling and handball to support the development of these kinds of sports in Azerbaijan. 

Both were adamant that together Bulgaria and Azerbaijan can do a lot of good things in the field of sports.