site.btaPresident Confers Order of Madara Horseman, First Class, on Ambassador of Turkiye

President Rumen Radev presented Turkiye's Ambassador to Bulgaria, Aylin Sekizkok, with the Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class, here on Tuesday, for her services to strengthening and developing the bilateral relations between the two countries. During the ceremony, Radev said that Bulgaria is one of the countries that actively support Turkiye's path to the Europe Union.

The President said that Turkiye has been a long-standing friend of Bulgaria, a NATO ally and a strategic partner in many areas of mutual interest.

Among the topics of cooperation he pointed to security, energy and transport connectivity, border protection, environmental protection. "Many of the decisions on these issues were initiated and implemented during your term," Radev told Sekizkok. The head of State said that thanks to her active efforts and position in recent years, relations at the highest political level have intensified, resulting in a number of fruitful meetings.

Sekizkok said she was grateful for the appreciation of her efforts. She quoted the founder of the modern Turkish State, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who said in 1931: "Turkiye and Bulgaria must remain friends. Whoever is against Bulgaria is against Turkiye, too."