site.btaBulgarian Embassy in Bucharest Hosts March 3 Reception 

The Children’s Choir of the Bulgarian National Radio opened a reception hosted by the Bulgarian Embassy in Bucharest on the occasion of Bulgaria’s national holiday, March 3. performing the anthems of Bulgaria, Romania and the European Union.  

"The Bulgarian people will be forever grateful to the Romanian people for its contribution to Bulgaria’s liberation and the restoration of the Bulgarian statehood, whose 146th anniversary we are marking this year,” said Bulgarian Ambassador Radko Vlaykov in his address. 

He quoted Romanian poet and writer Mihai Eminescu that “every people and every era stands on the shoulders of previous times”, and reviewed key moments in the relations between Bulgarians and Romanians. The diplomat underscored the common goals, which both countries strived for and achieved - membership of NATO and the European Union. 

Vlaykov recalled that in a few days the two countries will mark the first anniversary of promoting their relations to a strategic level.     

The diplomat welcomed members of the Bulgarian community in Romania. 

“I express my enormous respect for preserving the Bulgarian identity, language and traditions through the centuries and passing them on to the next generations. I am proud that you are respected citizens and contribute to the European development of Romania,” concluded Vlaykov.  

For his part, Alexandru Mihai Ghigiu, chef de cabinet of the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, read an address on his behalf, which addressed the need to strengthen security in the Black Sea and for continued support to Ukraine and Moldova.   

"We share a common effort - to join Schengen. Substantial progress was made last December. We maintain close cooperation and we will continue our efforts to reach as soon as possible, and with the support of our European partners, a solution on the abolition of border controls," the message said. 

The reception ended with a traditional Bulgarian horo dance, performed by the Racenita folk dance group from Dudestii Vechi.  

The guests viewed artwork by Bulgarian children from all over the world, dedicated and inspired by Bulgaria and took photos outside the Grand Hotel Bucharest which was lit in the colours of the Bulgarian national flag.