Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov and his Greek counterpart Dimitris Droutsas signed an agreement in Athens on January 11 2010 paving the way for the opening of the Zlatograd-Termes border crossing point between the two neighbouring countries, the Bulgarian news agency (BTA) reported.

The new checkpoint will be inaugurated officially by Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou, on January 15 2010.

The decision follows people's desire on both sides of the border for faster and easier communication, Droutsas was quoted as saying by BTA.

According to Raikov, the initiative for the new border checkpoint had been in the pipeline for many years, hence it was only a matter of time before both countries finally agreed to proceed.

"Considering the number of Greeks who ski in Pamporovo, and the number of Bulgarians shopping in Athens, this will only stimulate further economic and tourist development in the region," Raikov was quoted as saying.

The deputy foreign ministers also discussed the future of bilateral relations, in the fields of energy in particular. "Bulgaria and Greece are partners in the Bourgas–Alexandroupolis pipeline project, as well as the Komotini–Haskovo one. These projects display the dynamic role which both countries play on the international energy market, as well as their respective strategic place in Europe," Droutsas said.

Greece and Bulgaria are poised to hold a special energy meeting at the beginning of March 2010 attended by high ranking representatives from both countries' respective energy sectors, Dnevnik daily reported on January 11 2010.