By decree of the President of the Italian Republic Prof. Dr. habil. Alexandre Kostov, Corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, from the Institute of Balkan Studies and Centre of Thracology 'Prof. Alexander Fol' (IBSCT–BAS) was awarded the Order of the Star of Italy (Ordine della Stella d'Italia). He was honored for his contribution to the development of relations between the two countries in the fields of science and culture. The order was handed over by H.E. Stefano Baldi, Ambassador of Italy to Bulgaria.
Corresponding member Alexandre Kostov has various publications on the modern and contemporary history of the Balkans and in particular on the development of Italy's relations with the countries in the region. For ten years he has been the head of bilateral research projects of the IBSCT–BAS with the Roma Tre University (Rome), and more recently - with the Institute of Studies on Mediterranean Societies (Naples) at the National Research Council.