site.btaPrime Ministers of Bulgaria and Macedonia Get Together for May 24 Ceremony in Rome

Rome, May 24 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and official delegations led by them paid homage to St Cyril and St Methodius in a joint ceremony at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome on May 24, the Day of Slav Letters. It was in this basilica that Pope Adrian II consecrated the Slav alphabet and Slav books in 867 after the alphabet was devised by the brothers Cyril and Methodius.

Borissov and Zaev underscored the importance of the accomplishments of Cyril and Methodius for the intellectual development, education and unity of the Slav people.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also noted the two brothers' role in the field of diplomacy. He said: "Coming here in front of the memorial plaque to St Cyril and St Methodius, the place where our alphabet was consecrated, we have come back to diplomacy. I would describe the two brothers as diplomats." Borissov recalled how Cyril and Methodius convinced Pope Adrian II that the Slav alphabet was not inferior to other writing systems.

"Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia have shown that holidays should be celebrated together, rather than cause discord," Borissov said.

Zaev noted that by marking the Day of Slav Letters together, Macedonia and Bulgaria have confirmed their true friendship.

Borissov and the delegation led by him also laid flowers at the monument to the patriarch of Bulgarian literature, Ivan Vazov, in Rome. The monument, situated in Thorvaldsen Square near the Villa Borghese Gardens, was unveiled by Borissov in 2010.