NEWS

The Head of State awards the Presidential Medal of Honour to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi

 

Without Oman's decisive role, the case of the Galaxy Leader's release could not have been resolved and our compatriots returned to their families unharmed. This is what Head of State Rumen Radev said at a ceremony where he awarded the Presidential Medal of Honour to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The award is for the minister's decisive role in the release of the detained crew of the Galaxy Leader and for Oman's overall contribution to peace and stability in the Middle East region. 

 

In his address, the Head of State expressed his gratitude and deep appreciation for the moral commitment and personal contribution of the Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs to the release of the entire crew of the ship. The ceremony was attended by the captain of the Galaxy Leader, Lyubomir Chanev, and the senior Aide-de-Camp, Danail Veselinov. 

 

The Head of State highlighted the importance of the official visit of Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi for the development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Oman. In Rumen Radev's words, with his visit, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi is paving the way for the establishment of dynamic and intensive bilateral exchanges, which will fully match the ambitions and potential for cooperation between Bulgaria and Oman. The President also reiterated his invitation to the Sultan of Oman, H.H. Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, to visit our country in the near future.

 

Rumen Radev pointed to Oman's significant role in de-escalating tensions and achieving stability in the Middle East, saying that Bulgaria highly appreciates and follows the efforts the country is making to achieve a just and lasting peace with the tools of constructive dialogue and active diplomacy in this neighbouring and important region for Bulgaria. 

 

The President wished success to Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his team in the difficult path of seeking solutions to all challenges in the complex Middle East region, and wished peace, health and prosperity to the people of the Sultanate of Oman. 

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman thanked for the honour and said that the Medal of Honour embodies the universal values that Bulgaria and Oman share. Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said that in today's challenging world, shared values that unite us and reflect our shared humanity are key and should be cherished.

 

Prior to today's ceremony, the Head of State held a meeting with Oman's Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. After the event, President Rumen Radev held talks with Lyubomir Chanev, the captain of the Galaxy Leader, and with Senior Aide-de-Camp Danail Veselinov.

In his speech, the president pointed out that Bulgaria highly values its relations with Iraq, which is an important partner in the Middle East region

Taking advantage of their geostrategic position, Bulgaria and Georgia have the potential to deepen their connectivity in various areas such as transport, energy, and the digital sector, which will contribute to promoting the economy, investment, and prosperity in the Black Sea region. This was stated by President Rumen Radev, who held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili.

The two were unanimous that restoring peace in Europe through diplomacy is a priority for the EU and the only way to ensure the long-term security and stability of the Old Continent.

The President recalls that the institution of the Special Commercial Administrator (SCA) was introduced by an Act adopted in 2023, which also established a number of safeguards against potential abuse and arbitrariness — safeguards of the kind already adopted in other European states faced with similar circumstances, with the objective of minimising the risk of subsequent financial claims against the State