Since 2002, on the 10^th of February, all Russian diplomats worldwide celebrate their professional holiday. On this occasion, H. E. Mr. Anatoliy Makarov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria,

the military, air and naval attaché colonel Viktor Avdeev, employees of the Russian Embassy and the Russian Cultural and Information Centre, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and various non-governmental organizations laid wreaths and flowers at the monument of Count Ignatiev in the Doctor's garden in Sofia.

The ceremony has become a tradition for the representatives of the Russian diplomacy in our country. We will remind that the monument of Count Ignatiev was officially opened on January 18^th, 2008 by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries within the framework of the visit of President Vladimir Putin.

E. Mr. Anatoliy Makarov said that the Russian diplomats in Bulgaria have a double celebration because they mark their professional day, but they also pay homage to all those who laid the foundations of the Russian-Bulgarian friendship and for many years worked to build strong and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. A striking example of this is Count Ignatiev, whose 185- birthday anniversary we celebrated recently.

On the occasion of the Day of the diplomatic worker, a lesson in diplomacy was held for students from the school of the embassy. The diplomats told them about their work, about the history of the Russian foreign office and then they answered numerous questions of   the children.

Photos provided by the press service of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Above: H. E. Mr. Anatoliy Makarov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria presenting a wreath at the monument of Count Ignatiev, Sofia.

Picture below: diplomats and embassy staff holding a lesson in diplomacy in the Russian school.