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Background: On invitation of the Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly Georgi Traykov and the Prime-Minister Todor Zhivkov on October 1st in Sofia arrived on an official visit the President of India Varahagiri Venkata Giri accompanied by his wife.

Georgi Traykov met cordially the President Giri. Ten Bulgarian girls in picturesque national costumes presented flowers to the Indian guests.

The President of India greeted the Prime-Minister Todor Zhivkov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Bashev and the other official persons.

Georgi Traykov welcomed the President of India and his wife. "We are glad, Mister President, - he said, - that you visit, which is the first one on the port of an Indian President in the People's republic of Bulgaria and which we highly estimate, will give you the possibility to get acquainted with out country, with the achievements of out people".

Varahagiri Venkata Giri delivered a short speech. "I have come here with a good will and have brought the best wishes of my people to the people of Bulgaria. We follow with a great inter the collaboration between out two countries. The visit of your Prime-Minister in January 1969 to out country contributed to the development of out relations. I hope that my visit would also contribute to it. My presence here shows that out people estimates the contacts with your country and attaches paramount importance to out mutual collaboration".

DINNER IN THE HOUSE OF CONGRESSES
On October 1st the Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly Georgi Traykov and the Prime-Minister of the People's republic of Bulgaria Todor Zhivkov gave an official dinner in the House of Congresses in honour of the President of India Giri. There were present eminent Bulgarian statesmen and public figures.

At the dinner which passed in a friendly atmosphere Georgi Traykov and Varahagiri Venkata Giri delivered speeches.

"I am glad to note, Mister President, - said Georgi Traykov, - That the view-points of our countries are very close or coincide entirely on many basic questions of the present day. It is due to the fact that we are inspired and led by the same principles for the preserving of the world's peace". Georgi Traykov expressed the desire to develop further on the relations between Bulgaria and India.

Varahagiri Venkata Giri thanked cordially for the hospitality. "We are also decided to strengthen the Indian-Bulgarian friendship and collaboration because we are convinced that it is a positive factor in benefit of peace" - said the President of India. He greeted the initiatives for peace in Europe and Middle East and appealed to be sought a quick settlement of the conflict in South-East Asia by negotiations.

PRESIDENT GIRI'S VISIT.

This afternoon the President of the Republic of INDIA Mr VARAHAGIRI VENKATA GHIRI laid wreaths on GEORGE DIMITROV's MAUSOLEUM.

Later the Indian President visited the Bulgarian President of the National Assembly GHEORGHY TRAYKOV. In the official hall of the National Assembly The Indian President was warmly met by TRAYKOV and other Bulgarian officials. Friendly talk ensued.

The official exchange of opinion and talks took place at the conference-room of the National Assembly building. Participated President GHIRI, state minister of India for Finance SHOUKLA and others & on the Bulgarian side the President of the National Assembly's Praesidium GHEORGHY TRAYKOV, the Minister for Foreign Trade LUCHEZAR AVRAMOV, Minister for Foreign Affairs IVAN BASHEV and other responsible officials from the Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs.