At an official ceremony in Sofia President Rosen Plevneliev presented the national flag to the participants in the 25th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, who are leaving soon to the icy continent. The Bulgarian head of state pointed out that research work on the Antarctic continent was more important than ever and that thanks to its Antarctic Institute, Bulgaria has managed to develop its potential for polar research. This season the program of the expedition includes renewing a joint study of Bulgaria, Spain and Portugal, related to the frozen soil on the continent, as well as continuing the mapping of the area near the Bulgarian base there.