Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev handed the national flag to the participants of the 26^th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. This expedition is a continuation of the country’s rich traditions in the exploration of the White Continent, President Radev said. He accentuated on the importance of the explorations made in Antarctica and the merits of the Bulgarian scientists. The leader of the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition Professor Hristo Pimpirev said in return that in 2017 nine foreign scientists are to work together with the Bulgarian team-six Portuguese, two Turkish scientists and a Mongolian researcher. The scientific projects that will be developed this year include geological, biological, seismological and geophysical surveys, as well as activities related to the measurement of the sea level near the Bulgarian Antarctic base linked with the climate changes and the intensive melting of the glaciers in West Antarctica. Professor Pimpirev invited President Radev to visit the Bulgarian Antarctic base.