Strengthening Ties Between Odesa and Varna
Odesa's mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov met with the mayor of the Mladost district of Varna, Mr. Hristo Hristov.
This meeting was facilitated by the Ambassador of Odesa in Bulgaria, Mr. Marko Petrov. Odesa and Varna share a sister city relationship and deep historical ties, as the area of modern Varna was home to the ancient Greek settlement of Odessos.
“We share many commonalities that have shaped our relationship and open doors for future development. Varna is a coastal city that has welcomed many Odesans during the full-scale war, most of whom have integrated into the local community while preserving the Odesa spirit,” Mr. Hristov noted.
Hennadiy Trukhanov announced that the Days of Bulgarian Culture are planned in Odesa for late October to early November, supported by the General Consulate.
The mayor of Odesa invited his Bulgarian counterpart to participate in the events and suggested discussing the possibility of joint initiatives in the future. The meeting also touched upon the recent natural disasters that affected Odesa and Bulgarian cities.
As Mr. Hristov reported, due to an anomalous rainstorm that struck Bulgaria on October 3, six people have been confirmed dead, with expectations that the death toll may rise to ten. Odesa experienced a heavy downpour on September 30, which also claimed lives. This experience of natural disaster serves as a painful reminder of our cities' vulnerability and the importance of international cooperation in preventing and responding to climate challenges.
