site.btaForeign Minister Thanks Outgoing UNICEF Representative to Bulgaria for Excellent Cooperation

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova thanked UNICEF Representative to Bulgaria Christina de Bruin for the excellent cooperation during her tenure, ahead of the conclusion of her mandate and her departure from the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website on Tuesday.

"I would like to thank you for the excellent cooperation, as well as for your dedicated commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of children," Petrova said during the meeting.

Petrova and de Bruin agreed that, amid growing international conflicts and numerous global challenges, the protection of children's rights should remain among the priorities of the international community. Petrova said that supporting children is an investment in sustainable development and peace, adding that the work of organizations such as UNICEF is particularly important at a time when the international system faces multiple challenges.

The meeting also addressed Bulgaria's co-chairmanship of the Group of Friends of Children and the Sustainable Development Goals. Petrova said the role reflects Bulgaria's consistent commitment to promoting children's rights within the United Nations. The two also discussed the importance of official development assistance as a tool for supporting children and vulnerable communities.

De Bruin said Bulgaria had made significant progress in promoting children's rights and that the experience it had gained could serve as a valuable example for other countries.

Petrova and de Bruin agreed that this progress had also been made possible by the successful partnership between UNICEF and the Bulgarian institutions working in this field, adding that the cooperation would continue to deepen.