On July 12, H. E. Mr. Joël Meyer, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the French Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria,

and his wife Mrs. Zoé Meyer hosted a reception in honor of July 14th - Bastille Day. In the refined and elegant atmosphere of the halls and garden of the Boyana Residence, they welcomed numerous guests: esteemed Bulgarians and friends from all areas of public life who encourage and develop the bilateral relations, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and fellow compatriots.

The national anthems of Bulgaria and France, as well as the anthem of the European Union, were performed by students from the choir of the French Language High School "Alphonse de Lamartine" in Sofia - one of the leading educational institutions with high achievements in the field of bilingual education in Bulgarian and French.

H. E. Joël Meyer addressed the attendees with a welcoming speech, emphasizing the 145th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Bulgaria on July 8, 1879, the positive development of Bulgarian-French relations today, and their role and significance in EU policies.

Following the ambassador's speech, a congratulatory message to France and the French people from Mrs. Iliana Yotova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, was read. She was absent from the reception due to an official visit outside Sofia.

Afterward, the guests, most of whom were Francophones, enjoyed conversations related to their love for France and its culture, as well as the upcoming opening of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The photos are provided by the Embassy of the French Republic in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Above: H. E. Mr. Joël Meyer, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the French Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria