Bulgaria ranks third in the world according to the number of cultural and historical sites, after Greece and Italy.

The country boasts ancient Thracian finds, antiques and rich Byzantium heritage, Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said in an interview for the Formula Vlasti programme of the Russian national television.

“The Government’s largest achievement since the beginning of my mandate was Bulgaria’s EU accession,” Stanishev said. Bulgaria saw positive changes in its economy, state structure and institutional reforms, he said.

One of the government’s main priorities concerning relations with Russia is economic co-operation between the two countries, Stanishev said.

Historically Russia would always remain connected to Bulgaria, Stanishev said.