E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Bulgaria and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the country,

visited Rila National Park, located in Sapareva Banya Municipality, Kyustendil Province, on June 19. She and Mrs. Ekaterina Pavlova, Editor-in-Chief of "Diplomatic Spectrum", were there at the invitation of the mayor of the municipality and the director of the park.

The purpose of the visit was to hold a meeting at The Rila National Park Visitor Center in Panichishte resort with the park, municipal, and regional leadership to discuss possibilities for future cooperation. Participants in the discussion included: Mr. Kalin Gelev, Mayor of Sapareva Banya Municipality; Eng. Metodi Chimev, Regional Governor of Kyustendil; Mr. Kostadin Nikolov, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Sapareva Banya; Mr. Krasimir Andonov, Director of Rila National Park Directorate; Deputy Mayors Mrs. Mihaela Dineva and Mrs. Iliyana Bazirgyanova; Mrs. Ekaterina Pavlova, Editor-in-Chief of "Diplomatic Spectrum ; and Mrs. Nikolina Georgieva, Chief Expert at Rila National Park Directorate.

The meeting focused on short - and long-term opportunities for bilateral cooperation with the Municipality of Sapareva Banya and the region, particularly in the areas of tourism and culture.

A key highlight of the conversation was the planned initiative for representatives of the diplomatic corps in Bulgaria to visit the Seven Rila Lakes in early July.

Mr. Krasimir Andonov, Director of Rila National Park Directorate, first introduced the guests to the park’s remarkable biodiversity, the origin of its unique lakes, and the efforts to preserve them. Park experts also organized a film screening showcasing its breathtaking natural beauty. Mr. Andonov shared the news of a major project recently awarded to renovate The Rila National Park Visitor Center in Panichishte under the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Programme, which will begin implementation soon.

You can read more about the Rila National Park HERE.

"We are in a wonderful place – with magical nature, healing mineral water, medicinal herbs, and of course, the unique Rila Lakes," stated H. E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui. She expressed her joy in being the patron of the initiative by "Diplomatic Spectrum" and Rila National Park Directorate to organize a visit to the Seven Rila Lakes for ambassadors and diplomats. She also thanked the Mayor of Sapareva Banya and the Regional Governor of Kyustendil for joining and supporting the initiative.

Mrs. Ekaterina Pavlova also expressed her gratitude and noted that this is the second initiative realized in cooperation with Rila National Park Directorate. The first, the ascent of the highest peak in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula - Musala (2925.4 m), was held in 2021, in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Austria and the Musala Basic Ecological Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

You can read more about the initiative HERE.

Mr. Kalin Gelev, Mayor of Sapareva Banya Municipality, expressed his willingness to support the initiative and proposed new areas of cooperation. He extended an invitation to ambassadors and diplomats to visit the town of Sapareva Banya in September during the city’s annual celebrations. "We will be glad to host you and show you our municipality’s landmarks, including the 103-degree Celsius geyser-fountain - one of the hottest in the world and the only one of its kind in Europe. You will also enjoy the rich cultural program we are preparing for the occasion."

"Our region has good transport connectivity, accessibility, and great development potential," said Regional Governor Eng. Metodi Chimev. He emphasized the potential of tourism to drive development throughout Kyustendil Province. He also invited H. E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui to attend the Cherry Festival, held annually in the city of Kyustendil at the end of June, which draws numerous guests from Bulgaria and abroad.

Photos: Sapareva Banya Municipality, Rila National Park and "Diplomatic Spectrum"

Above: participants in the meeting. Bottom. First row: the meeting; the Mayor of Sapareva Banya Municipality Mr. Kalin Gelev and H. E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Bulgaria and Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps in our country; the Regional Governor of Kyustendil Eng. Metodi Chimev and Her Excellency; the Mayor of Sapareva Banya Mr. Kalin Gelev, Ms. Ekaterina Pavlova, Editor-in-Chief of "Diplomatic Spectrum" and the Director of the Rila National Park Directorate Mr. Krasimir Andonov. Second row: Eng. Metodi Chimev, Ms. Ekaterina Pavlova and Mr. Krasimir Andonov; captured moments from Rila National Park.