Bulgaria’s National Day celebrated in Tirana/ ‘A Holiday with Special Emotional Content and Day for Reflection’

TIRANA – “This year will mark the 106th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and Bulgaria, but our ties go back a long time and go beyond political dialogue. Today, items on the agenda are connectivity in all its dimensions, energy cooperation, tourism exchange, education and culture,” has said the Bulgarian Ambassador to Tirana, Momtchil Raytchevski.

Ambassador Raytchevski made that comment in a greeting speech during a reception hosted by him last Wednesday (March 5) on the occasion of the National Day which was attended among others by the President, Ilir Meta, the Speaker, Gramoz Ruci, deputies, ministers, representatives of the diplomatic corps and of the religious communities, Bulgarians living in Albania and other guests. It was also present the Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev who was on an official two-day visit to Albania on 5-6 March, and he took the opportunity to extend his greetings to those present and the Albanian people.

Ambassador Momtchil Raytchevski spoke of the significance of the 3rd of March for the Bulgarian people saying that is a holiday with especially emotional content, but also a day for reflection. “About how far we have gone and how much each generation has sacrificed so that today Bulgaria, along with its allies and partners in NATO and in the EU, can reach out to support our neighbors and friends,” he noted.

Further on Sofia’s top envoy to Tirana underscored that security, peace and prosperity are achieved through respect and good neighborliness, cooperation and integration. “This philosophy is rooted in Bulgaria’s policy in the region and in our support for the European future of the Western Balkan countries and the efforts they make for real reforms aimed at lasting change of their societies, strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights, a policy that came to fruition during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2018. Today, and then, Bulgaria has clearly stated its support for the accession of the Republic of Albania to the European family.”

The Ambassador recalled that on November 26, 2019, Albania experienced a catastrophic earthquake that left behind devastation and dozens of personal tragedies. “At that time, Bulgaria, like many other countries, offered material, technical and financial assistance, but more importantly – shared the sadness and offered empathy. In the days and weeks after the disaster, the message was one – you are not alone. Just as Albania and the Albanian people are not alone in their path to the EU membership,” said Ambassador Momtchil Raytchevski in the speech that follows:

 We are glad that you are here tonight with us to celebrate together the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria – the Third of March.

Each one of us cherishes dates of particular personal significance and meaning. In the same way, each nation keeps in its memory the events and personalities that have shaped key moments in its history and destiny. We are all connected and often these dates are part of our neighbors’ history, sometimes differently perceived, but again and again proving how much we have in common.

142 years ago, in the town of San Stefano, one of the successive wars between two empires ended with the signing of a preliminary peace treaty, but for us the Bulgarians, this was the moment when, like other Balkan nations before us, we embarked on the path to freedom and independence, to our return on the map of Europe. From there began the painful journey of the Bulgarian people, who went through five wars and decades of communist regime to build a new, European Bulgaria. Without that day, there would be no other milestones in our history – the Unification, the Declaration of Independence, January 1, 2007.

Therefore, March 3rd is a holiday with especially emotional content, but also a day for reflection. About how far we have gone and how much each generation has sacrificed so that today Bulgaria, along with its allies and partners in NATO and in the EU, can reach out to support our neighbours and friends.

When, almost a century and a half ago, we began our struggle for national emancipation and liberation, we received the support of different peoples, but we also learned the price of being alone. Security, peace and prosperity are achieved through respect and good neighborliness, cooperation and integration. This philosophy is rooted in Bulgaria’s policy in the region and in our support for the European future of the Western Balkan countries and the efforts they make for real reforms aimed at lasting change of their societies, strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights, a policy that came to fruition during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2018. Today, and then, Bulgaria has clearly stated its support for the accession of the Republic of Albania to the European family.

This year will mark the 106th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and Bulgaria, but our ties go back a long time and go beyond political dialogue. Today, items on the agenda are connectivity in all its dimensions, energy cooperation, tourism exchange, education and culture.

On November 26, 2019, the Republic of Albania experienced a catastrophic earthquake that left behind devastation and dozens of personal tragedies. At that time, Bulgaria, like many other countries, offered material, technical and financial assistance, but more importantly – shared the sadness and offered empathy. In the days and weeks after the disaster, the message was one – you are not alone. Just as Albania and the Albanian people are not alone in their path to the EU membership.

The severe earthquake of November 2019 and the assistance offered by the Bulgarian state recalled a curious forgotten fact that Albania made a financial donation to the Kingdom of Bulgaria after the catastrophic earthquake in 1928, when nearly 150 people died and more than five hundred were injured.