Elena Borislavova Poptodorova has served Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to the United States since 2002. From 1965-1969, Poptodorova studied at the English Language School of Sofia. From 1969-1975, she attended the University of Sofia, Department of Humanities, English and Italian Language and Literature, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s. She completed a post-graduate two-year course in international relations and diplomacy in 1979 at the University of National and World Economy in Sofia.

 

From 1975-1990, Poptodorova served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rising from 3rd Secretary to Minister-Counselor. The last three years she served as the Minister-Counselor at the Bulgarian Embassy in Rome and Consul-General of Bulgaria to the Republic of San Marino.

 

From 1990-2001, she served as a member of Parliament, holding seats on the Committee of Foreign Policy and European Integration, National Security Committee, Committee on Radio and Television, Committee on Human Rights and Committee on Agriculture.

 

From 2001-2002, she served as spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, director of the Directorate of International Organizations and Human Rights and deputy chairperson of the National Commission for UNESCO of Bulgaria. 

 

Poptodorova speaks English, French, Italian and Russian.