2024-07-23 13:40:05
President Rumen Radev awarded the ambassador of the Republic of Finland to our country, Kristina Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos, with the Order of the Hungarian Horseman, first degree. The distinction is for the diplomat’s particularly great merits in strengthening the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Finland.
At a solemn ceremony in the Hall of Coats of “Dondukov” 2, President Rumen Radev noted the significant contribution of Ambassador Christina Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos to the development and strengthening of bilateral relations. This high award is an expression of the importance our country attaches to cooperation with Finland, as well as an expression of our appreciation for the contribution and sacrifice of the Finnish people for our national liberation, the head of state said.
Throughout his tenure, Ambassador Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos worked actively to promote our bilateral partnership, to increase our economic interaction, to expand people-to-people ties and contacts, and our cultural cooperation, President Radev said.
With the personal contribution of the ambassador of Finland last year at an official ceremony in Helsinki, Bulgaria joined the European Center of Excellence and Countering Hybrid Threats, he said.
Radev noted the high professional qualities of Ambassador Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos and the energy with which she worked to deepen cooperation in trade, economy, education, innovation and tourism. He also pointed to its role in provoking Finnish interest in the renewable energy market in Bulgaria and in tourism.
Thanks to the ambassador’s active role since last month, we now have regular flights on the Sofia-Helsinki route, which is an extremely important factor for deepening our relations, the president also commented.
In times of deep geopolitical upheavals and growing threats to world peace and security, mutual trust and understanding are especially important, Rumen Radev emphasized. I want to assure you that in our person your country has a trusted friend, partner and ally, with whom we can together defend our common values and common aspiration, make efforts so that our common European home is preserved as a region of peace, stability, tolerance and prosperity, he declared.
The Ambassador of Finland to Bulgaria, Kristina Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos, thanked for this distinction, which is an extremely great honor, and added that it was a pleasure for her to work for bilateral relations. You rightly said that the years we were together were not the easiest for Europe, nor for Bulgaria, but they were very fruitful and successful, she noted.
Ambassador Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos pointed out that the shared political environment has changed and new challenges have emerged. Ukrainians pay the highest price, but we also pay, she noted, adding that we must face the challenges as one.
Ambassador Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos pointed out that trade between Bulgaria and Finland is increasing every year and there is much more interest in partnerships in the IT sector. Finland’s membership in NATO gave an even more serious direction to our bilateral relations, the diplomat said, and once again thanked our country for accepting Finland into NATO.
The years in Bulgaria will be a high point in my career, said Ambassador Kouvaya-Xanthopoulos and thanked for the hospitality in our country, of which he will keep a warm memory, writes BTA.