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President Iliana Iotova Represents Bulgaria at the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly

President Iliana Iotova is on a visit to New York, where she is representing Bulgaria at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The delegation led by the Bulgarian Head of State includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova, Minister of Health Katya Ivkova, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Natalia Efremova, and Chair of the National Assembly’s Committee on Foreign Policy Petar Vitanov.

Iliana Iotova participated in the high-level event “Protecting Children’s Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: The Coalition for Children’s Rights and Protection in the Age of AI as an Operational Tool”. The meeting was co-chaired by President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, and President of Kenya William Ruto.

In her address to the United Nations General Assembly, Iliana Iotova called for transforming the Black Sea from an area of increased risk and threat into an area of national and international security – a zone of safety, a zone of free transport, energy, trade and digital corridors, tourism, and a place where different cultures, religions and political systems meet in peace.

President Iliana Iotova held talks with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who expressed his appreciation for Bulgaria’s active participation in the policies and activities of the United Nations. The Bulgarian Head of State held bilateral meetings with President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini, President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin, King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly.

During her visit, Iliana Iotova also met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder, the leadership of leading Jewish organisations in the United States, as well as Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo. The Head of State held talks with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed during a meeting focused on promoting women leaders in times of conflict, crisis and growing inequality.

The Head of State met with representatives of the Bulgarian community in New York, as well as with representatives of the American business community interested in investing in Bulgaria.