Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov awards ambassadors on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Ireland
01 December 2021 News
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov presented certificates of honour to our former ambassadors to Ireland Petar Popchev, Biserka Benisheva, Emil Yalnazov and posthumously to Branimir Zaimov at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Ireland.
The event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began with a minute of silence in memory of the Foreign Minister (1994-1995) and Bulgaria's first ambassador to Ireland Ivan Stanchov and in memory of Ambassador Branimir Zaimov.
Ivan Kondov thanked those present and said it was an honour for him to open this ceremony. "Thank you for your dedication, for your work, which has contributed to the deepening of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Ireland. You have done a lot so that we can now have excellent relations between our countries", the Permanent Secretary said.
He recalled the history of the establishment of our diplomatic relations with Ireland, the establishment of our Bulgarian mission abroad and the appointment of our first ambassador to Dublin, Ivan Stanchov. "Let us look to the future with faith. I believe that our diplomats will continue to work to deepen relations, both in traditional areas and to build partnerships in new areas of mutual interest and overcome the common challenges we face", Ivan Kondov said.
Guest of the ceremony was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ireland to Bulgaria Martina Feeney, who also greeted the awarded.
Petar Popchev headed our embassy in Dublin in the period 1995-1998, Biserka Benisheva was Ambassador to Ireland in 2004-2007, Emil Yalnazov - in 2007-2012, and Branimir Zaimov - in the period 2013-2018. A certificate of honour was accepted posthumously today by his son Alexander.