The event was hosted by Her Excellency Zakia El Midaoui - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco in Bulgaria, doyen of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Bulgaria and of the group of Arab and African Ambassadors in Bulgaria, and Assoc. Dr. Arch. Prof. Tsvetelina Daskalova-Ivanova, Head of the Center for International Activity and Mobility of UACEG.
The ceremony was attended by about 650 guests, including Mr. Andrey Chorbanov, Deputy Chairman of the 50th National Assembly; Ms. Maria Angelieva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Nevyana Miteva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Mr. Georgi Georgiev, Secretary General of the same Ministry; Ms. Stella Dimitrova, Director of the Directorate for Bilateral European Cooperation; Ms. Boryana Simeonova, Director of the State Protocol; Mr. Rumen Petrov, Director of the BIA Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Nikolay Pavlov, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Industry; Ms. Aksenia Boneva, National Correspondent of the Francophonie in Bulgaria; Ms. Maria Gabriel, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prof. Dr. Elena Peneva-Zlatkova, Deputy Rector for Scientific and Applied Activities, Quality and Accreditation of UACEG.
The Ambassadors of Albania, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Croatia, United Arab Emirates, France, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Kuwait, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland Republic of North Macedonia, Slovak Republic, Russia, Slovenia, Qatar, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Vatican, Yemen, also attended the important celebration, as well as First Secretaries and Chargés d'Affaires of the following embassies - South Africa, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea, Spain, USA, Palestine, Serbia, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, Vietnam, etc. ). Among the guests were also Mr. Les Melgaard, Permanent Representative of the World Bank for Bulgaria; Ms. Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the Permanent Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria; Ms. Christina de Broyne, UNICEF Representative and Representative of the UN system in Bulgaria; Ms. Seda Kuzuju, UNHCR Representative in Bulgaria, Mr. Georgi Bliznashki, former Prime Minister and his wife; Mr. Valentin Yovev, former Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works; representatives of the Ministries of Tourism, Youth and Sports, Culture, Economy and Finance and Interior, as well as members of the Morocco-Bulgaria Friendship Group of the 50th National Assembly, Ms. Polina Karastoyanova, Executive Director of the National Tourist Board and Prof. Ms. Ana Dzhumalieva, Chairperson of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination; Rectors and Deans of Bulgarian Universities such as Prof. Prof. Hristo Bozov, Rector of the University Prof. Mrs. Vyara Lyubenova, President of the Association of Teachers of French in Bulgaria, etc.
Professor Nikolay Nikov, President of the International Academy of United Bulgarians (IAOB) and Acad. Dr. Ivan Simeonov, Vice-President of the same Academy awarded Ambassador Zakia El Midaoui with an honorary certificate and a traditional Bulgarian sleeveless vest - a priceless museum collection piece dating back 200 years for the Ambassador’s. great contribution to the enrichment of cultural life in Bulgaria, through the many cultural activities and actions that she regularly initiates and organizes.
The guests applauded a fashion show of original women's and men's formal wear - kaftans, from the personal collection of H.P. Zakia El Midaoui, presented by students of the UACEG and students from the 9th French Language School "Alphonse de Lamartine".
The event ended with a cocktail reception where attendees enjoyed the unique taste of traditional Moroccan cuisine including tajine, couscous, sweets and Moroccan tea.
The photographic exhibition can be viewed until the end of August 2024 at the Hrabar Popov Hall of UACEG.