Ambassador Ivan Sirakov was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for services to Republic of Austria
30 September 2021 News
The Bulgarian Ambassador to Vienna Ivan Sirakov was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for services to Republic of Austria. The high state award is given for his special merits in many areas of bilateral relations in his capacity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of our country to Austria since December 2016.
The award for Ambassador Sirakov was proposed by the Austrian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior and was granted by President Alexander Van der Bellen. The order was presented to the Bulgarian diplomat at an official ceremony at the Austrian Embassy in Sofia.
Among the merits of Ambassador Sirakov, highlighted in the speech of the Ambassador of Austria to Bulgaria Andrea Wicke, are his activities in supporting the preparation and conduct of the Bulgarian and Austrian Presidencies of the Council of the EU in 2018, the significant contribution to cultural exchange and and in the field of police cooperation. It was emphasized that in extremely intense times for both countries, with his commitment and initiative, Ambassador Sirakov has significantly contributed to overcoming the challenges and to the sustainable deepening of bilateral relations.
Within the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU alone, more than 50 political, cultural and scientific events were held in the first half of 2018 under the leadership of Ambassador Sirakov. In the same year, an honorary consulate was opened in St. Pölten (Lower Austria), and in 2020 in Graz. The Austrian side also stressed the significant contribution of Ambassador Sirakov in solving one of the major financial frauds within the EU.
"I am honored to receive this high award. Thanks to Ambassador Wicke, the government and the President of Austria. I will wear it and defend it with pride," said Ambassador Sirakov. He stressed that Austria is an important strategic partner of Bulgaria and second in the field of trade.
"Our two countries are closely linked, both politically and culturally, as well as humanly. My goal is to raise these relations to the level of a strategic partnership, corresponding to our close relations in the EU and international organizations," said Ambassador Sirakov, sharing that he and his family value the people, the country and the culture of Austria.
Among the holders of the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the Republic of Austria are the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel and Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General in 1997-2006.