Ambassador of Romania in Sofia Brandusa Predescu presented on Thursday former Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha with the Grand Cross of the National Order of the Star of Romania, in a ceremony held at the Romanian Embassy in Bulgaria's capital city, news agency BTA reports.
President Klaus Iohannis awarded the former Bulgarian prime minister with Romania's highest distinction at the end of November last year, as a sign of "high appreciation for the exceptional contribution made to supporting Romania's actions at European level, and for his personal engagement in advancing and strengthening Romanian-Bulgarian bilateral relations."
The former Bulgarian prime minister expressed his gratitude for this honor, noting that he shares the merit with a team of motivated and competent people.
"From my very first day as prime minister of Bulgaria, I was offered with the proposal to work together and I was convinced that this was the right path," said Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, adding that Romania now enjoys a much more favorable image in the West, and that he had concrete opportunities to use his contacts in several countries.
He mentioned that he was surprised by the distinction conferred to him by President Iohannis, but that this "shows that the president has a good memory, and that they really put in great efforts together."
Several Bulgarian officials and personalities were bestowed awards through a set of decrees signed in November 2024 by the Romanian head of state: caretaker Minister of Culture Nayden Todorov, researcher, translator and Sofia University Lecturer Lora Nenkovska, Euroregion Danubius Association Director Lili Gancheva, honorary consul of Romania in Burgas Evghenia Popescu, caretaker Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, and Bulgarian Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov.