Dr. Eric Martin, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, was in Bulgaria from 6 to 12 September 1974, as the guest of the Bulgarian Red Cross. He was accompanied by the ICRC delegate-general for Europe and North America, Mr. Melchior Borsinger.

Dr. Martin was greeted on his arrival on 6 September by Dr. Kiril Ignatov, President of the Bulgarian Red Cross, Mr. George Gospodinov, First Vice-President, Dr. Mincho Nikov, Vice-President, Professor Nikolov, a member of the Central Committee Executive Committee, and by Dr. Kancho Doskov, and Mr. Pouchkarov, Head and Deputy Head of the External Relations Department. He was later received in audience by Mr. Stanko Todorov, Premier of the Council of Ministers. The following day, after having been received in audience by Mr. Peter Mladenov, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Martin went to the headquarters of the Bulgarian Red Cross Central Committee.