site.btaPresident Radev Attends Ceremony in Geneva Marking CERN's 70th Anniversary

Attending a ceremony in Geneva marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), President Rumen Radev underlined Bulgaria's aspiration to build an International Institute for Sustainable Technologies for cancer treatments with CERN's support, the President's press secretariat said on Tuesday.

Radev emphasized that CERN is not only a leading-edge research organization, but a successful example of the progress of united efforts on behalf of humanity. Bulgaria remains dedicated to the shared mission of developing the potential of science to support world peace, he added.

The event was attended by Heads of state and government of CERN member countries - President of Switzerland Viola Amherd, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Silina, as well as the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium, the press release further said.

Radev highlighted CERN’s role in uniting the potential of science, education and business to achieve the new European priorities for higher competitiveness and clean industry through research and innovation. "CERN is an inspiration for our young scientists and a model for the development of science in the future," Radev stressed.

2024 also marks the 25th anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to the organization and Radev noted the contribution of over 100 Bulgarian scientists, engineers and technicians who are engaged in various CERN projects. Bulgarian scientists have played a significant role in the construction of the CMS detector, which is key to the discovery of the Higgs boson particle.

Bulgaria's head of State also underlined his country’s aspiration to build, in partnership with its neighbours, an International Institute for Sustainable Technologies in Southeastern Europe with technology from CERN, where, in addition to scientific activities, cancer treatment could also be applied.

In Geneva, Radev also held a meeting with the Bulgarian scientists at CERN and thanked them for their scientific results and contribution to strengthening Bulgaria's presence among the world's leading countries in the field of scientific research.