site.btaBulgarian Cosmonaut Georgi Ivanov Presented with First English-Language Copy of BTA's LIK Magazine Inspired by 45th Anniversary of His Space Flight

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev Sunday met with Bulgaria's first cosmonaut, Georgi Ivanov, near the town of Ihtiman, at this country's oldest golf course, which Ivanov co-founded in 2000.

During the meeting, Valchev presented Ivanov with the first copy of the English-language issue of BTA’s LIK magazine, inspired by the 45th anniversary of Ivanov's space flight on April 10, 1979. Valchev said that the April issue, which is dedicated to the Bulgarian footprint in space, will be distributed to BTA's foreign news agency partners. He added that the initiative aims to promote Bulgaria’s achievements abroad, as Ivanov's flight made Bulgaria the sixth country to send a man into space.

Ivanov also agreed to sign copies of the magazine, creating a unique gift for BTA partners.

LIK magazine issues are available for free download on BTA’s website.

Valchev also presented Ivanov with the book 125 Years of Bulgarian News Agency. News on File: 1898-2023, which presents a significant domestic and international event from each of BTA's 125 years, with Ivanov’s 1979 space flight featured as the milestone event for that year.

The meeting was also attended by Bozhana Dimitrova, a long-time presenter with the Bulgarian National Radio.