site.btaRomanian President Iohannis Confers National Awards on Bulgarian Officials for Bilateral Cooperation

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed a series of decrees awarding distinctions to Bulgarian officials, Agerpres reported on Friday.

The Presidential Administration announced that the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Cross was conferred upon Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The award recognizes his exceptional contribution to supporting Romania's actions at the European level and his personal involvement in developing and strengthening Romanian-Bulgarian bilateral relations.

In addition, Iohannis recognized individuals for their significant contributions to enhancing Romanian-Bulgarian economic, social, and cultural relations. Minister of Culture Nayden Todorov received the Order of Cultural Merit in the rank of Grand Officer, Category F - Promoting Culture. Lora Nenkovska, a researcher, translator, and lecturer in Romanian language at Sofia University, was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in the rank of Officer, Category F - Promoting Culture. The Order of Industrial and Commercial Merit in the rank of Officer was presented to Executive Director of Euroregion Danubius Association Lily Gancheva, and Evgenia Popescu, Honorary Consul of Romania in Burgas.

On the occasion of Romania's National Day, celebrated on December 1, distinctions were also awarded for exceptional cooperation in security and defence and for strengthening strategic relations between Romania and Bulgaria. The National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Officer, with a peace insignia for military personnel, was awarded to Atanas Zapryanov, former Deputy Minister of Defence of Bulgaria. Emil Eftimov, Chief of Defense of Bulgaria, was conferred the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Commander, with a peace insignia for military personnel.