site.btaPolitical Dialogue between Bulgaria, Serbia Covers Bulgarian Minority

Bosilegrad, Serbia, December 13 (BTA) - Bulgarian Ambassador to Serbia Radko Vlaykov, former National Assembly chairman Dimiter Glavchev and BTA Director General Maxim Minchev marked the second anniversary of the BTA Press Club in Bosilegrad at a news conference in the club. They took part in a charity campaign organized by the local association VOICE [GLAS] in support of poor members of the Bulgarian minority.

"At all meetings in Serbia of the recent months, we have been assured that the problems will be resolved in favour of the Bulgarian minority. It is necessary to show patience because in the new climate of political relations and established confidence between the two countries' politicians, the moment will come when it would also be felt in Bosilegrad," the Ambassador said.

According to Vlaykov, the visit of Vice President Iliana Iotova to Bosilegrad in May 2017 has been one of the strongest signals given by the Bulgarian state that it cares for the Bulgarians in Bosilegrad.

"Unfortunately, we established then that our compatriots live in an environment which bears the characteristics of the past, the characteristics of the totalitarian regimes that implemented assimilation policy in the history of these two neighbouring countries. Today the times are different: the Serbian state sincerely hopes to join the EU and walks along a path of protecting the rights of the national minorities, including the Bulgarian one," Radko Vlaykov said. However this new climate of bilateral relations has not yet been felt in Bosilegrad, Vlaykov noted. The diplomat, however, assured the members of the Bulgarian community that the Bulgarian state is doing its best so that the Serbian side understands the depths of these problems. He noted that it is very important to observe the law.

Dimiter Glavchev raised the issue of the health services for the Bosilegrad citizens who do not have an access to such care. An agreement is to be signed with the Academy of Military Science in Sofia which will service patients from the Western Outlands (an area in Eastern Serbia which Bulgaria lost to Serbia under the treaty of Neuilly).

BTA Director General Maxim Minchev recalled that the Press Club in Bosilegrad is the first regional club outside Bulgaria. The integration and the assistance of the Bulgarian communities abroad, the protection of the national identity and the Bulgarian spirit are among BTA's main causes.

Over 10 thousand leva were collected at a charity event in support of Bulgarians in need from the Western Outlands. The initiative was held in Bosilegrad for a fifth consecutive year. It was organized by the VOICE association whose Chairman Alexader Dimitrov is the BTA representative in the region. Cultural figures, politicians, partners and friends gathered at the event.

Minchev said that a donation of over 3,000 leva had been made by the Association of Bulgarian media Abroad, the Union of Bulgarian National Electronic Media and the Bulgarian News Agency.

"In the hitherto events we have managed to collect more than 15,000 leva for poor students and families from Bosilegrad," said Dimitrov. An auction of pictures was also held the proceeds of which will also go for charity. One of the pictures was bought by the BTA Press Club in Bosilegrad.