On October 4 2007, French president Nicolas Sarkozy will pay a state visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of President Georgi Purvanov

A welcoming ceremony in front of the St. Alexander Nevski cathedral will mark the beginning of Sarkozy’s official visit.

A meeting of Sarkozy and Purvanov and their delegations in the presidential administration will follow.

Purvanov will award Sarkozy the Stara Planina order, Bulgaria’s highest honour, for his help in the resolution of the case with the six Bulgarian medics accused of deliberate HIV infection in Libya. Sarkozy plans to meet the medics.

After the ceremony the two presidents will give a joint press conference.

Sarkozy’s programme includes also a work lunch with Purvanov, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and National Assembly spokesperson Georgi Pirinski. Stanishev and Sarkozy will have another meeting in the Council of Ministers’ offices.

Sarkozy will give a lecture for students in the Sofia University.