With a solemn ceremony, the Directorate Pirin National Park celebrated the 60th anniversary since the establishment of the protected area.

The ceremony yesterday began with a minute of silence and paying tribute to the border policeman who lost his life in the line of duty.

Those present at the event were greeted by Martin Lazarov, acting director of the Directorate Pirin National Park, Miroslav Kalugerov, director of the National Nature Protection Service Directorate at the Ministry of Environment and Water, Nikolay Shushkov, regional governor of the region of Blagoevgrad, and Stoycho Banenski, deputy mayor of Bansko Municipality.

Miroslav Kalugerov read a congratulatory letter on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova. The Minister notes in her address the contribution by all the employees of the directorate for the protection of the natural wealth over the years. The Minister thanked them for making their daily work a personal cause for the preservation of the park’s ecosystems.

The ceremony continued with the award of plaques for major contribution and tremendous efforts and love in the work of former directors of the national park - Konstantin Ikonomov (director for the period 1979-1995); Georgi Gruncharov (director for the period 2002-2010); Valeri Mechev (director for the period 2011-2013 and 2022) and Rosen Banenski (director for the period 2013-2022).

Representatives of the Regional Directorate for Forests - Blagoevgrad, the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Water - Blagoevgrad, and the Regional Directorate “Fire Safety and Protection of the Population” were also awarded for their contribution and as a token of gratitude for the successful cooperation.

Participants in the contests dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the establishment  of the Pirin National Park - the photo contest “Pirin through my lens” and the drawing contest “Across nine mountains to the tenth” received diplomas and prizes.

Ceremony attendees heard a performance by the children’s choir of the “Paisi Hilendarski” Primary School led by Marin Burdarev. Park employees Yanko Stoykov and Dimitar Kehayov presented a performance of bagpipes and an authentic kuker costume. A film about the biodiversity of the Pirin National Park, specially prepared for the event, directed by Ivan Uzunov, was also premiered