A Declaration highlights the value of international scientific and technological integration in solving the tasks of strengthening peace, mutual understanding, and socio-economic progress of all the countries. The document was adopted on 22 November 2021, at the session of the Committee of Plenipotentiary Representatives of the Governments of the JINR Member States held in Bulgaria.

The Sofia Declaration

The signed document confirms the intention of the JINR Member States to continue strengthening and developing JINR as an international intergovernmental scientific organization. It also aims to promote the JINR experience and its expertise in organizing multilateral research and large-scale scientific projects in accordance with the principles, mechanisms, and formats serving the basis of the JINR model and to provide the high-level, competitiveness of scientific results, and integration with world science.

According to the Declaration, it was decided to “undertake accorded, proactive efforts in the interests of the Member States to involve new countries into collaborative activities within JINR framework in the form of full or associated membership in conformity with the principles of openness and inclusivity”, as well as “to strengthen the role of JINR as a unique integrating site for the development of modern instruments applied by the Member States and partner countries in science diplomacy, promotion of science, and intercultural exchange.”

The Declaration was presented to the public at the concluding ceremonial CP meeting that took place in Sofia on Tuesday, 23 November, in the presence of President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Member States and Associate Members of JINR. The Sofia Declaration was named after the venue of the ceremonial meeting.

Plenipotentiary Representative of Bulgaria in JINR, Chairman of Nuclear Regulatory Agency of the Republic of Bulgaria Tsanko Bachiyski in his speech marking the adoption of the Sofia Declaration noted that the document was signed in the special for JINR year, the year of the 65th anniversary of the Institute’s establishment that coincided with the Year of Bulgaria in JINR.

“Thanks to the efforts and talent of scientists and specialists from the Member States and partner countries of JINR, wonderful scientific discoveries were made appreciated and acknowledged by the international scientific community and ensuring scientific leadership of JINR in the fields of studying the fundamental properties of matter. As the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria, I am especially pleased to note that my countrymen were among the international team of outstanding scientists who supported the idea to create the Institute, who stood at the origins of it,” Tsanko Bachiyski said in his speech.

He also noted that by adopting the Sofia Declaration, the CP members would like to highlight that the JINR history, all its achievements, and recognised contribution to world science prove the efficiency of the model of the organization of the multilateral scientific cooperation, which was developed and taken as the basis of the Institute’s activities by its founding states back in 1956. Moreover, Plenipotentiary Representatives would like to note and confirm the enduring significance of fundamental science, which is the main issue of the JINR activities. It is the field for applying the collective intelligence and efforts of the world community to solve the global problems of our time.

“The JINR cooperation model has not dissipated its creative potential, it still remains attractive for our partners. The extension of the community of our Member States and the growing partner network at large prove it. In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to once again welcome a new JINR Member State – the Arab Republic of Egypt,” he said.

Concluding his talk, Tsanko Bachiyski cited the key appeal of the signed document on behalf of the CP JINR, “Adopting the Sofia Declaration, Plenipotentiary Representatives call on all interested countries and scientific organizations, scientists and specialists to join multilateral research and educational cooperation carried out within JINR framework in the name of peaceful scientific, technological, social, economic, and cultural development of all countries on all continents on planet Earth — our common home.”