The Republic of Seychelles Celebrates 50 Years of Independence with a Reception in Sofia and the Premiere of a New Seychellois Song
Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Seychelles in Bulgaria Dr. Maxim Behar premiered his new original song, We Are Seychelles, created especially to mark the island nation's golden jubilee.
Dozens of representatives of the diplomatic corps, government institutions, and the business community gathered yesterday at Vrana Palace to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Seychelles. The official reception was hosted by Dr. Maxim Behar, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Seychelles in Bulgaria. Among the distinguished guests were Prince Boris of Tarnovo, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Bulgaria H.E. Zakia El Midaoui, as well as dozens of ambassadors and diplomats accredited to Bulgaria.
In an official congratulatory message, Dr. Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, emphasized:
"Bulgaria highly values the friendly relations and constructive cooperation that have developed between our two countries and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening these ties and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including tourism, sustainable development, education, and multilateral relations."
In her address, H.E. Zakia El Midaoui, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Bulgaria, paid special tribute to Dr. Maxim Behar by presenting him with a commemorative statuette in recognition of his long-standing service as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Seychelles.
"Dr. Maxim Behar is an outstanding example of how an honorary consul can build a genuine bridge between two nations. Thanks to his dedication, Seychelles has become much better known in Bulgaria, and the friendship between our peoples continues to grow stronger," said H.E. El Midaoui.
During the ceremony, Dr. Behar also received a Certificate of Recognition for his contribution to the honorary consular community from Borislav Boyanov, Chairman of the Association of Honorary Consuls in Bulgaria.
One of the most emotional highlights of the evening was the premiere of the original song We Are Seychelles, written and performed by Dr. Maxim Behar especially for the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Seychelles' independence. The song also features renowned Seychellois singer Rita Romain. The music was composed by Lil Sha with the participation of his father, Big Sha, as music consultant. The official music video was produced by M3 Communications Group, Inc. and directed by Kristian Nedelchev, Head of the company's Video Department.
"It is a tremendous honour for me to have represented the Republic of Seychelles in Bulgaria for more than two decades. Today we celebrate not only 50 years of independence, but also the friendship between our two countries. We Are Seychelles is my personal gift to the people of Seychelles and to everyone who loves these unique islands," said Dr. Maxim Behar.
Among the official guests were also Borislav Venkov, Desk Officer for Seychelles at the Middle East and Africa Directorate of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Irena Georgieva, former Deputy Minister of Tourism; Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria and former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mircho Ivanov, Director of the Protocol Directorate at the Administration of the President of Bulgaria; and Dr. Polina Karastoyanova, Executive Director of the National Tourism Board.
For more than two decades, Dr. Maxim Behar has worked actively to strengthen relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of Seychelles. Among the initiatives implemented with his participation are the Seychelles Investment Forum, the establishment of the Seychelles News Agency—today one of Africa's leading news agencies—and the modernization of the digital platform of the national newspaper Seychelles NATION. He also serves as Chairman of the PR and Media Committee of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC), as well as Vice President and Spokesperson of the Association of Honorary Consuls in Bulgaria.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Seychelles in Bulgaria was established in July 2004 by Decision No. 578 of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is headquartered in Sofia, and its consular district covers the entire territory of Bulgaria.