Ulaanbaatar, June 22, 2023 /MONTSAME/. Representative of MONTSAME Mongolian National News Agency attended the Rose Festival and the 18th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media at the invitation of Bulgarian News Agency /BTA/. 

Delegates from news organizations of more than 20 countries, including Vietnam, Algeria, Italy, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Albania, Israel, Greece, Moldova, Cote D'Ivoire, Senegal, Spain, and Iran, took part in the 18th World Meeting of the country's overseas media on June 2-3 in Kazanlak, Bulgaria. 

The opening ceremony of the Conference, organized by the Bulgarian National News Agency BTA, took place on June 2 at the Ivan Milev Exhibition Hall in Kazanlak, and the opening remarks were made by Kiril Valchev, the Director General of Bulgarian News Agency /BTA/. Officials, such as Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov, and Mayor of Kazanlak Galina Stoyanova, wished success for the Conference and extended greetings. 

Additionally, since June 2 is Kazanlak City Day, a ceremony was held in the central square of the city to raise the city's flag and say a blessing for prosperity, and guests and representatives of the Conference enthusiastically participated. Then, a flag procession was organized in honor of Poet and National Revolutionary of Bulgaria Hristo Botev, under the theme "The one who died in the battle for freedom lives forever." 

During the second day of the Conference, a cooperation agreement signing ceremony was held between the Bulgarian News Agency /BTA/ and the news agencies of Vietnam, Algeria, Iran, Spain, Senegal, and Cote D'Ivoire. 

Bulgaria's famous Rose Festival is widely celebrated on the first weekend of June. The official activities of the holiday begin on June 4 with a rose-picking ceremony in the meadow of a rose farm near the city of Kazanlak. It was very interesting that after the opening speech of the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, government officials and citizens of the country performed a rose-picking ceremony. 

Following the aforementioned ceremony, everyone makes their way back to Kazanlak for the Rose Festival parade, which is held in the central square of the city. Students from all levels of schools, dressed in national costumes, march past with their school flags held high, and representatives of organizations, companies, and military units join them in a solemn ceremony. 

Bulgaria's national holiday, the Rose Festival, was first observed in 1903. Celebrated on the first weekend of June, the festival begins with a flower-picking ceremony in the Rose Valley near Kazanlak and then moves to the city center, where various folk art groups perform, and trade fairs of handicrafts are held, attracting many tourists from around the world.  

Since 1975, this event has featured the "Rose Queen" competition, which is open to female contestants of any age. This festival and the festival parade left me with unforgettable memories.