Frederik & Mary in Bulgaria for official visit

The Crown Prince Couple is visiting Bulgaria for three days at the invitation of President Georgi Parvanov to strengthen and expand the ties of friendship between Denmark and Bulgaria as partners in the European Union (EU) as well as in political, financial and cultural areas. Frederik and Mary are to be guests of honour at an official dinner and they have been invited to experience some of the cultural and historical sights in Bulgaria. The Crown Prince Couple are accompanied by the Danish Minister of Education and Minister of Nordic Co-operation, Bertel Haarder. In March 2006 President Parvanov and Mrs Parvanova made a state visit to Denmark. On the first day Frederik and President Parvanov have had talks and the president thanked Denmark for its support of Bulgaria's admission to the EU, both agreed on the importance of next year's climate conference to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark's help in administrative training for Bulgaria and Bulgaria's upcoming plan for canditature for director-general of UNESCO. Frederik also had talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament Georgi Pirinski (pictured below), while Mary had a meeting with the president's wife, Mrs Zorka Parvanova.



Above, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary visit Sofia's neo-Byzantine Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Below, September 16, Frederik and Mary look at pieces of treasure from a 4th century B.C. Thracian tribe from Panagyurishte, one of Bulgaria's most precious treasures, exhibited at the National History Museum in Sofia.





Above, September 16, Frederik and Mary are 120km east of the capital Sofia in the ancient Thracian city of Plovdiv, a city which was contemporary with Troy. They are walking at an ancient theatre during their visit to the old part of the city. Seeing Plovdiv appears important given Bulgaria's desire to assume the director-generalship of UNESCO.

Photos © Daylife/Reuters, President.bg, plovdiv24.com.bg, GPD AP/royalblognl

Sofia Echo 'Bulgarian President meets Danish Prince' - ...Over talks, Purvanov stressed the good relations between Bulgaria and Denmark, including co-operation in culture, education, tourism and investments. The two officials agreed that in spite of what has been achieved so far, a number of unexploited opportunities still remain in all spheres of bilateral ties.
Purvanov thanked [Crown] Prince Frederik for Denmark's support during the process of accession of Bulgaria to the European Union, as well as for the training of personnel for Bulgaria's state administration.
The two looked into the importance of reducing noxious carbon dioxide emissions, with Frederik inviting Purvanov to attend an international conference dedicated to these problems in Copenhagen in the autumn of 2009.
During the meeting, co-operation between Bulgaria and Denmark in international organisations received high assessment and Purvanov introduced his guest to the Bulgarian candidature for the post of director-general of UNESCO.
The heir to the Danish throne and his wife will stay in the country until September 17.
Other than Purvanov, on September 15 Prince Frederik held talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament Georgi Pirinski, while [Crown] Princess Mary had a meeting with the president's wife, Zorka Purvanova. They also visited Sofia's St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Over the next two days, they will also visit the National Museum of History in Sofia, along with the old town of Plovdiv and Troyan Monastery, among other attractions.

More will be added and different activities covered as info and pics become available...