On the 1^st of March the Embassy organized a reception on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria – the 3^rd of March. A great number of members of the Diplomatic Corps, South African institutions and NGOs attended the reception. There were representatives of the trade and economic chambers, members of the Bulgarian Association in South Africa and South Africans, who studied and graduated in Bulgaria.

According to an old Bulgarian tradition the guests were welcomed with bread and salt and were gifted with a hand-made Bulgarian Martenitsa, since it was the Day of Baba Marta. The guests enjoyed the musical performance of a Bulgarian string quartet comprising Mr. Miroslav Chakaryan, Concertmaster of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr. Vladimir Ivanov, violas leader of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Mrs. Toni Ivanova and Mrs. Katya Sokolova. The quartet performed “Dance” of five sketches for string quartet by Marin Goleminov and Ode to Joy, well known as the Аnthem of the European Union.

In her address to the guests, Ambassador Pavlova highlighted the dynamic development in the relations with the RSA during the past several years, based on the traditional friendship between the two peoples and the support provided by Bulgaria during the struggle of the black population against the apartheid and the social segregation. The tendencies of deepening the political dialogue, the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and South Africa in the fields of culture and education and the trade and economic cooperation were pointed out as well. The Ambassador underscored the considerable potential for further enhancement of the cooperation in fields of mutual interest, identified during the visit of the Bulgarian Head of State HE Mr Rumen Radev in South Africa during the last year.

The Honourable Ms. Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment of the RSA, addressed the attendees on behalf of the host country. She expressed gratitude for the support provided by Bulgaria in the times of hardship and welcomed the positive developments and growth in the current bilateral relations.