On 26 February, the first coordination meeting with Tsanko Bachiyski, the new Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria in JINR, was held. Tsanko Bachiyski was appointed to the position of the Chairman of the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency in December 2020.

JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov, Scientific Leader of the Institute Victor Matveev, Vice-Director Richard Lednický, Chief Scientific Secretary Alexander Sorin, Director of the Laboratory of High Energy Physics Vladimir Kekelidze, Head of the International Cooperation Department Dmitry Kamanin, and Head of the Department of Development of Educational Programmes of the JINR University Centre Yuri Panebrattsev represented the JINR Directorate at the meeting.

Former Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria in JINR Latchesar Kostov, Dean of the Faculty of Physics of Sofia University Georgi Rainovski, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the NRA Gergana Mitkova, and Head of the national group of Bulgaria in JINR Plamen Fiziev took part in the meeting as members of the Bulgarian party.

The parties discussed a number of issues related to the preparation for the Year of Bulgaria in JINR, as well as the session of the Committee of Plenipotentiary Representatives (CP) that would take place in November 2021 in Bulgaria in case of a favourable epidemiological situation. The Bulgarian colleagues informed about drafting the plan of events for the Year of Bulgaria in JINR that would be presented at the CP session. The parties also discussed the opening of a JINR Information Centre in Sofia University and noted its great potential as a point of attraction for young scientists and students and a tool for attracting young people to science.

Vladimir Kekelidze thanked Bulgarian colleagues for their active support of the Institute’s projects, in particular, of the NICA flagship mega-science project. Thanks to the efforts of Bulgarian colleagues, the project was included in the European scientific infrastructure. This opened doors for young researchers from around the world to participate in it.

The parties noted active and fruitful cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and JINR and confirmed their intention to strengthen bilateral ties in the future. Plenipotentiary Representative of Bulgaria in JINR Tsanko Bachiyski announced his intention to come to JINR in March 2021 for a working visit and head the Bulgarian delegation at the upcoming CP session.