Seychelles Celebrates 50 Years of Independence at Vrana Palace and with the Premiere of a New Seychellois Song
Mon, 29 June 2026
Dozens of representatives of the diplomatic corps, state 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, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Bulgaria, H.E. Zakia El Midaoui, as well as dozens of ambassadors and diplomats accredited to Bulgaria.
In a congratulatory address from Dr. Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, it was emphasized: "Bulgaria highly values the friendly relations and constructive cooperation that have developed between our two countries and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening our ties and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including tourism, sustainable development, education, and multilateral relations."
In her address, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Bulgaria and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Zakia El Midaoui, paid special tribute to Maxim Behar and presented him with a commemorative statuette in recognition of his longstanding service as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Seychelles.
"Dr. Maxim Behar is an example of how an honorary consul can build a genuine bridge between two countries. Thanks to his dedication, Seychelles has become much better known in Bulgaria, and the friendship between our peoples continues to grow," said H.E. El Midaoui.
During the event, Behar also received an important certificate recognizing his contribution to honorary consular representation from Borislav Boyanov, Chairman of the Association of Honorary Consuls in Bulgaria and Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Malta.
One of the most emotional moments of the evening was the premiere of the original song "We Are Seychelles," written and performed by Maxim Behar especially for the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Seychelles. The performance also features Seychellois singer Rita Romain. The music was composed by Lil Sha, with his father Big Sha serving 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 has been a tremendous honor for me to represent 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 Boris Venkov, Desk Officer for Seychelles at the Middle East and Africa Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Irena Georgieva, former 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; and Dr. Polina Karastoyanova, Executive Director of the National Tourism Board.
