site.btaOrder of Madara Horseman Conferred on Bulgaria's Honorary Consul General for Flanders

The Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class, was conferred on Bulgaria's Honorary Consul General for Flanders, Willy Van Impe, at a ceremony at the Bulgarian Embassy to Belgium, the Embassy said on Facebook. President Rumen Radev awarded the high state honour to Van Impe for his particularly great contribution to the development and deepening of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Belgium.

Ambassador Plamen Bonchev conferred the Order.

A letter from Mariya Gabriel, who was deputy prime minister and foreign minister until recently, was read out at the ceremony. She congratulated Van Impe on the high distinction, on his 80th birthday and his retirement from office.

"For two decades now, in his capacity as Honorary Consul and Honorary Consul General for Flanders, Mr Van Impe conducted extremely active, meaningful and fruitful activities to strengthen the economic, social, cultural and educational ties between Bulgaria and Belgium at regional and local level and worked with enthusiasm and dedication to promote the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage and the image of modern Bulgaria," the Embassy in Brussels said.

Willy Van Impe expressed his sincere gratitude for the high distinction awarded by the Bulgarian State and the recognition of his contribution to building relations of trust and friendship between the social, economic and cultural circles in Flanders and Bulgaria. He assured those present that he would continue to work hard for the Bulgarian cause, the Embassy said.