Public Relations and Protocol

Plans for the development of water transport are based on smart, sustainable and comprehensive growth, at a fundamentally new level, meeting the new political, economic and social goals. This is what the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Vladimir Varbanov said at the ceremony marking the 141st Anniversary of the establishment of the Naval Academy "N. Y. Vaptsarov".

Purposeful state policy and investment in maritime education are needed. This is what the Minister of Transport and Communications Nikolay Sabev said at a meeting in the National Assembly with representatives of the maritime industry.

The participants in the dialogue pointed out that there was little interest in certain extremely important specialties in maritime transport. Therefore, the capacity of retired captains and professionals who could contribute with their experience and knowledge would be used.

An intermodal hub will be built on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia. This was agreed by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Hristo Alexiev and the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Momirovic during a meeting today in Dimitrovgrad, Serbia.

The Bulgarian state has incurred expenses in the amount of BGN 2 million for the operation to salvage the cargo ship Vera Su and this amount will be presented to the insurers of the vessel next week. This is what the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Hristo Alexiev said to journalists in Varna.

The ship was moved to TEREM-SHIPYARD so that it could be reinforced and then placed on the quay, because presently it generated additional costs for draining water out of it every day, the Minister added.

Today, the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Hristo Alexiev held a series of meetings at the Maritime Administration - Varna in connection with resolving the situation around the trade ship Vera SU. The Minister met with representatives of the salvage company, the ship's insurer and the cargo insurer.

Due to the weather conditions, there is no change in the circumstances around the cargo ship Vera SU. The big waves today give the impression that the vessel is displaced. A representative of Maritime Administration Executive Agency is on site and monitors the condition of the ship, not reporting a change.

A Bulgarian captain and crew should board the ship Vera Su in order to control the situation and prevent diversion. This is what the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Hristo Alexiev ordered after the evacuation of the crew of the ship announced earlier today.

Last night, all of the settings were made for the evacuation of the crew of the stranded ship VERA SU in the area of Yailata. "Actions are preventive, the State must have a preliminary plan and model of behavior, and not wait for the last moment", Minister Alexiev said. A team of nine climbers and divers have developed two parallel methods for possible evacuation - a cable car type "trolley" and a safety net.

The long-lasting lack of equipment and procedures for emergency situations, such as the shipwreck at the Yailata area near Kamen Bryag, is punishable by law irresponsibility, the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Hristo Alexiev stated.

"The construction of the longest two-pipe railway tunnel, built so far in Bulgaria and at the Balkans, has started today," Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Georgi Todorov said. He started the construction activities under a project for modernization of the Elin Pelin-Vakarel railway section. The site is part of the main railway highway in the direction East - West and is one of the extremely important for Bulgaria and neighboring countries European Corridor No. 8 and the passing TEN-T Network in our country.

The railway connectivity of the countries of the Western Balkans is of exceptional importance, which necessitates the rapid implementation of infrastructure projects in the directions to Serbia and Northern Macedonia. This is what the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Neli Andreeva announced at the launch ceremony of the project "Development of the Railway Junction: Sofia-Voluyak". It is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

"Responsible state policy and the attraction of foreign investment will contribute to achieving sustainable connectivity, accelerated economic development and improvement of competitiveness in Eastern Europe", Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Georgi Todorov stated at the opening of the Transport panel at the business forum of the Three Seas 2021 initiative, hosted by Bulgaria.

Protecting the lives and health of children on the road is a top priority. This was stated in Karlovo by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Georgi Todorov during the opening of a playground for training of children on road safety.

As long as I am a Minister, I will not allow even one lev of European funding for railway infrastructure not to be allocated. This is what the Caretaker Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Georgi Todorov stated at the start of the modernization of the Orizovo-Mihailovo railway section.

"I have instructed the Director General of the National Railway Infrastructure Company to report to me on a daily basis on the progress of each of the projects", the Minister added.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications Hristina Velinova and the Rector of the Higher School of Telecommunications and Posts Prof. Dr. Miglena Temelkova validated a publication dedicated to the educational institution. The executive director of Bulgarian Posts EAD Deyan Daneshki also took part in the event. The university inherits the traditions of the State Telegraph and Post School, which was established 140 years ago by decree of Prince Alexander I Battenberg.

Sofia Flight Training Center (brand name of Institute of Air Transport Ltd.) established itself over the years as a forge for personnel, with sustainable trends for future development and innovative projects. This is what the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Georgi Todorov stated within the validation of a postage stamp dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the organization. The stamp is printed in a limited edition and will arouse the interest not only of aviators and philatelists, but also of all people who send letters, he added.

One hundred and fifty years since the issue of the Sultan's Firman for the recognition of the independent Bulgarian Church, under the name Bulgarian Exarchy, has been commemorated with the validation of a postage stamp. The seal of validation was affixed by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Andreana Atanasova and the Secretary General of the Holy Synod, Bishop Gerasim.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Sovereign Order of Malta was marked by the launch of a postage stamp. The seal of validation was affixed by Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Andreana Atanasova and Secretary General for Foreign Policy of the Sovereign Maltese Order Stefano Ronca in the presence of President Rumen Radev and Grand Master Fra Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetlo.

The European Supercomputing Infrastructure will bring the European Union to a leading position. This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov at the Council of Telecommunications Ministers in Luxembourg. Within the session, Commissioner Gabriel announced the eight countries, including Bulgaria, as hosts of European supercomputer centers.

Bulgaria is ready to host the Regional Cyber Security Forum for Europe in 2020. Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov stated this during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Houlin Zhao. This will be the fourth edition of the forum holding in Bulgaria.