On February 1, their Excellencies Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco, and Mrs. Lina Jalal Omar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq,

organized a reception on the occasion of the departure of H. E. Mrs. Herro Mustafa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria, and her husband - Mr. Ravneesh Garg. The verandah, the lounges and even the corridors of the Moroccan Ambassador's residence were full with guests who had come to honor the event: ministers, officials from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors, deputies, businessmen, public figures, journalists.

During the event, H. E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui was the first to greet the guests, declaring:

After more than 3 years spent in Bulgaria, Her Excellency Mrs. Herro K. Mustafa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria is about to say goodbye to us. It is therefore on this occasion that we are gathered today to pay tribute to her.

It is a painful moment so dreaded by each of us to separate from a friend whom we have become accustomed to seeing regularly, especially since her professionalism, her erudition, her dedication and her know-how have marked throughout her tenure in this beautiful country of Bulgaria.

Generous in her efforts, imaginative in her initiatives, persevering in her action, she gave each of us the example of an experienced, dynamic diplomat, combining simplicity, kindness, courtesy and efficiency.

Wishing you, Excellency and dear friend, a good return to your loved ones and full success in your future functions, I am convinced that you will remain a great friend to us all.

To your loving husband, my friend Ravneesh - whom we all cherish - and to your entire family, I address my best wishes for health, happiness and success.

In closing, allow me and my colleague and friend, Her Excellency Mrs. Lina Jalal OMAR, to express our gratitude with a small present, inspired by Bulgaria's rich cultural heritage, which will undoubtedly always remind you of the good moments that brought us together and the beautiful actions that we initiated together. Finally, I sincerely hope that our paths will cross again in the future.

Words of welcome to those present were also addressed by H. E. Mrs. Lina Omar:

Thank you for joining us today at this farewell reception in honor of Her Excellency Herro Mustapha, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria and her loving husband, Ravneesh, as they prepare to return to their homeland, before starting a new professional adventure in another country, after completing their term in Sofia.

We add our best wishes to you two my very dear friends, for all those who are dear to you and for your future successes! Congratulations on completing your mission in Bulgaria!

H. E. Herro Mustafa, visibly moved, thanked the two ambassadors for the reception they organized in her honor. She praised their Excellencies Ambassadors Zakia El Midaoui and Lina Jalal Omar, as experienced and professional diplomats, representing a good example of building partnership between countries of different scales and cultural backgrounds.

She also thanked all the representatives of Bulgarian institutions and organizations and friends with whom she cooperated during her tenure in Bulgaria. She also recalled her happy stay in Bulgaria which she greatly appreciated during the last three years under her mandate. She confided that she will work in the United States for a few months, after which she awaits a new diplomatic post, and that her strong personal desire is to write a book dedicated to her father.

H. E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui managed to create an incredibly warm friendly atmosphere in the evening, which is why immediately after the official part of the reception, the guests rushed to engage in lively conversations. Of course, the wonderful Moroccan and Iraqi culinary specialties were in the spotlight and also contributed to this atmosphere. Among them stood out the Moroccan famous couscous, the delicious Iraqi dolma and many other dishes and pastries of the rich and diverse culinary art of the two countries, Morocco and Iraq.

The photos: "Diplomatic Spectrum"