site.btaDay 82: RSV 421 Commander Danailov Pays Official Visit to Mar del Plata Naval Base Commander

The commander of the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (NAVAL RSV 421), Commander Nikolay Danailov, had an official meeting with the commander of the naval base at Mar del Plata, Rear Admiral Marcelo Fernandez. The meeting was held at the base where RSV 421 docked on March 16 and will remain until March 20 before it continues on its way back to Bulgaria after its successful participation in the 31st Bulgarian Antarctic expedition on Livingston Island.

Commander Danailov shared the experience from the trip to Antarctica with Rear Admiral Fernandez, who was impressed by the work the expedition team had managed to achieve in such a short period of time in the area of the South Shetland Islands, the RSV 421 commander told BTA. In his words, Rear Admiral Fernandez had expressed his support for future cooperation with Bulgaria and new visits of RSV 421 to Mar del Plata.

"The Mar del Plata remains an open door for us and our polar expedition. Here the welcome is always warm, we feel our colleagues from Argentina as Antarctic brothers", the commander of the Bulgarian naval research vessel added.

Commander Danailov presented Rear Admiral Marcelo Fernandez with a plaque on behalf of the head of the Naval Academy in Varna , Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov, as a sign of gratitude and respect for the warm welcome in Argentina. He added that he hopes very much to see the plan for the visit of the Argentinian frigate Libertad to Varna come true.

Apart from the good cooperation in the field of naval affairs, the large diaspora of Bulgarian origin in the South American country, which for years has kept the native spirit and traditions alive there, is a pillar to the friendly relations between Bulgaria and Argentina.

BTA's Daily News editor Konstantin Karagyozov is the only member of the media who is travelling on board the ship to Livingston Island and back and covered the Bulgarian expedition throughout its stay in Antarctica.

All media outlets can use the Bulgaria-Antarctica BTA's Log for free.