President Radev presents the national flag to the researchers of the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition
The Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition and our St Kliment Ohridski base is increasingly becoming a centre for the development of science on a global scale, and with the research vessel St Cyril and Methodius, the capabilities of our polar expedition are also increasing. This is what Head of State Rumen Radev said when presenting the Bulgarian flag to the head of the 33rd National Antarctic Expedition, Prof Christo Pimpirev. The traditional ceremony at the presidential institution brought together Bulgarian polar explorers who will head to the icy continent this year, ambassadors of countries with which Bulgaria cooperates in Antarctica, as well as representatives of institutions and the academic community. Vice President Iliana Iotova was also present.
In his address, the President said that although Antarctica is located 14,000 kilometres from Sofia, our country has its worthy and influential presence on the remote and hard-to-reach Ice Continent. Today we should pay tribute to the Bulgarian state and scientists who more than three decades ago made Bulgaria one of the first nations to set foot confidently on Antarctica in an important mission for humanity, the Head of State said. He noted the key importance of the polar explorers' scientific research for getting to know our planet, tackling climate change and building a sustainable future for the planet.
An important step for our expedition in terms of logistics is the inclusion of the military research ship St. Cyril and Methodius (NIK 421), and with the completion of the new research laboratory at our base, our country's capabilities will grow. The large-scale ambitious programme of our scientists and researchers to unravel the mysteries of Antarctica evidences this, the Head of State added.
President Radev pointed out that the scientific research activity is extremely important, but no less important for Bulgaria, both regionally and globally, is the international cooperation it is carrying out on the Ice Continent. In our time, torn by contradictions and conflicts, humanity is in dire need of a positive example of international cooperation, trust, mutual respect, understanding and support, Rumen Radev said. The President added that the extreme conditions in which the expeditions work bring to the fore the best traits of humans, and these are also carried over into the partnerships and relations between the nations of Antarctica. Bulgaria participates in joint scientific programmes, research and exchange of scientists with countries such as the USA, Germany, France, Turkey, China and India, and this year our expedition will work with scientists from more countries such as Portugal, Romania, Colombia, Greece, Montenegro.
Bulgaria is a respected Antarctic nation that, together with 28 other countries, rules the continent, and the other countries rely on our help, said Prof Christo Pimpirev. He added that Bulgaria's first expedition was the result of the enthusiasm of a handful of young scientists from Sofia University, and now, in addition to its activities being related to serious science, it also has implications for geopolitics. Antarctica is one tenth of the globe and Bulgaria determines the fate of this continent," said Prof Pimpirev.
The head of our explorers recalled that when President Zhelyu Zhelev presented the national flag to our first expedition in 1993, it included only six people, while now the team is much larger. Prof Pimpirev added that traditionally, the expeditions are held every year under the auspices of the presidency as the only institution that is not "infected" by political struggles. I wish our team to return, as before, alive and well to Bulgaria from the other Bulgaria, which, although icy, is clean and without backstage games, said Prof Pimpirev. The scientist invited President Radev to join the Antarctic expedition and presented him with equipment worn by Bulgarian Antarctic workers on the icy continent.