The Israeli ambassador to Bulgaria, Noah Gal-Gendler, has praised the relationship between the two countries and said that future bilateral relations could be improved much further, Radio K2 reported on May 20 2011.

Gendler spoke of the historic friendship between Bulgaria and Israel, saying that there was a bond between the two nations, on which future relationships ought to be built.

"In the past two years, we have better potential to realise our co-operation in different spheres. Firstly, we would like to increase the tourist flow from Israel to Bulgaria. Instead of having 100 000 tourists vising your country, we could reach 200 000", the ambassador said.

"We would also like to enhance bilateral co-operation in the defence sector as well as industry and manufacturing. Israel has a lot to offer in the technological field, and Bulgaria also has a lot of people who are very capable in this sphere", he said, cited by Radio K2.

As a testimony to the growing bond between Bulgaria and Israel, Gendler pointed to the "constant" exchange of ministers between both countries, something which is happening "almost every month" and the impending visit to Israel by Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov at the end of May.

"Israeli president Simon Peres visited Bulgaria last year, while Prime Minister Boiko Borissov has been to Israel twice in his capacity as a Sofia mayor in the past".

"When Borissov visited Israel again at the beginning of his term of office as Prime Minister, he came with a large delegation, which sent a clear signal that this was a special visit, about which we are all very satisfied", Gendler said.

The ambassador also spoke of the special bond that the countries share, especially since the days of World War 2, when Bulgaria prevented the deportation of the Jewish population in Bulgaria to Nazi death camps.

"Many Jews came to Israel who immigrated from Bulgaria, and they do love you very much," he said.