site.btaPresident Radev Meets Cosmonauts of Intercosmos Programme, Their Families

Bulgaria will continue to consolidate and build on its traditions in cosmonautics and space research as a factor for stimulating societal development and science, said President Rumen Radev on Tuesday during a meeting at President's Office with cosmonauts of the Intercosmos programme and representatives of their families. Among them was the first Bulgarian cosmonaut Georgi Ivanov. The occasion for the meeting was three space anniversaries. 2024 marks the 45th anniversary of Georgi Ivanov's flight, the 55th anniversary since the establishment of the Space Research Institute and the 20th anniversary since the International Scientific Conference "Space-Environment-Security", held in Sofia.

During the meeting, the head of State emphasized the great importance of space exploration for the development of mankind, as the modern way of life is completely linked to the results of this scientific activity. Radev also highlighted Bulgaria's contribution in this area, as many space missions include instruments or equipment created with the support of Bulgarian scientists. In this context, the President also expressed Bulgaria's aspirations to join the European Space Agency along with a number of other European countries.

Radev also pointed to the role of the flights of the Bulgarian cosmonauts Georgi Ivanov and Aleksandr Aleksandrov in raising public interest in space, the development of science and education. It was a common assessment that despite the tensions in relations between the leading countries in space exploration, the latter is unthinkable without international cooperation and it gives hope for the restoration and strengthening of peace. The increasing interest of young people around the world in space exploration in recent years was also highlighted.

The meeting was attended by cosmonauts Georgi Ivanov, Krasimir Stoyanov, Gen. Bertalan Farkas (Hungary), Col. Vladimir Remek (Czechia), Maj. Gen. Dumitru Prunariu (Romania), Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Dimitar Petrov and the Director of the Institute for Space Research and Technology Prof. Dr., Georgi Zhelev.  

Georgi Ivanov presented the head of State with a photo of the Earth taken during his historic flight in 1979. Dumitru Prunariu awarded the first Bulgarian cosmonaut with the International Cosmonaut Badge.