On February 13 the doyen of the Bulgarian Antarctic Program Professor Hristo Pimpirev turns 71. Hristo Pimpirev participated at the first national Antarctic Expedition in the 1987/88 season. He is the leader of the annual national scientific expeditions to Antarctica and the founding chairman of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute since 1993. ''The EU should pursue a common policy regarding the polar regions, because they are the future of humanity and our planet'', Professor Pimpirev said from the Bulgarian research vessel St. St. Cyril and Methodius. 

''A common policy brings extraordinary benefits for the future development of these regions, which have yet to pay off for those countries working there’’, said Hristo Pimpirev. ''The polar regions are extremely rich in natural and recreational resources. Antarctica is a vast natural laboratory, free from human pollution," he said. ‘’Antarctica is a strategic continent. It covers 1/10 of the Earth's surface and is governed by 29 countries that are permanent members of the Antarctic Treaty, among them 20 EU countries. Fortunately, Bulgaria is among them'', Professor Pimpirev said for BTA.

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