site.btaPresident Plevneliev Confers Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, on Former French and German Ambassadors - Philippe Autie and Matthias Hoeppner

President Plevneliev Confers Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, on Former French and German Ambassadors - Philippe Autie and Matthias Hoeppner

Sofia, October 1 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev conferred
the Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, on the former
ambassadors of France and Germany here - Philippe Autie and
Matthias Hoeppner, at a ceremony held in the Presidency on
Wednesday.

The two diplomats, who supported the protests against the
Oresharski cabinet, received the highest State honour for their
contributions to developing bilateral relations between their
countries and Bulgaria. They were nominated for the award during
 the first meeting of Georgi Bliznashki's caretaker Government.

President Plevneliev stressed that the State award is an
acknowledgement of the ambassadors' personal contributions
towards developing bilateral relations with Bulgaria, noting the
 active political dialogue which Bulgaria has with France and
Germany, the active economic ties, the development of relations
in the fields of culture and education. The Bulgarian Head of
State said that the awards are also an act of recognition of the
 two countries' important role for reinforcing democracy and
civil society in Bulgaria.

"If there is something in the last two years that makes me
proud, it is not instability, it is not the fact that Bulgaria
will have five governments in two years, but it is Bulgaria's
active civil society, which is pro-democratic, pro-European,
ready to stand up for its system of values and its understanding
 of the rule of law, regulations, solidarity and working
institutions," Plevneliev said. "Let us make a wish that on
election day this Sunday, the wise Bulgarian people will vote
for stability, will vote once again for the democratic European
path, chosen by Bulgarian patriots and society. Let us work
together so that Bulgaria, which has such a strong potential in
so many nice, educated and worthy people, will find its true
path and that people will see the results of European
solidarity," the President said.

The two former ambassadors Autie and Hoeppner expressed
gratitude for the assessment of their work and noted that they
share the same sympathies towards Bulgaria and its vision for
the EU.