Strengthening Ties: Odesa and Varna Collaboration
The Mayor of Odesa, Gennadiy Trukhanov, met with the mayor of the Mladost district in Varna, Mr. Hristo Vidolov Hristov.
This meeting was facilitated by the Ambassador of Odesa to Bulgaria, Mr. Mark Petrov. Odesa and Varna share sister city ties and deep historical roots, as there was an ancient Greek settlement called Odessos on the territory of modern-day Varna.
“We share many commonalities that have shaped our relationship and open up prospects for future development. Varna is a coastal city that took in many residents from Odesa during the war. Most have integrated into the community while preserving and passing on Odesa's unique culture,” noted Mr. Hristov.
Gennadiy Trukhanov announced that Bulgarian Culture Days are planned in Odesa for late October to early November with the support of the General Consulate.
The Mayor of Odesa invited his Bulgarian counterpart to participate in these events and suggested discussing the potential for joint initiatives in the future. The meeting also touched on the natural disasters that recently affected both Odesa and Bulgarian cities.
As Mr. Hristov reported, due to the anomalous rainfall that hit Bulgaria on October 3rd, six fatalities have been confirmed, and the death toll may rise to ten. Odesa also experienced a heavy downpour on September 30th that resulted in loss of life. This experience of natural disaster serves as a painful reminder of the vulnerability of our cities and the importance of international cooperation in preventing and responding to climate challenges.
