site.btaVisiting Bosilegrad, Parliament Chair Kiselova Says Border Should Not Be Obstacle to Communication

Upon arriving in the Serbian town of Bosilegrad on Monday, Bulgaria’s Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova spoke to reporters, saying that “the unjust Treaty of Neuilly left Bulgarians on both sides of the border, but this border should not be an obstacle to our communication with one another.” Kiselova is attending the 32nd International Easter Festival in Bosilegrad as a guest.

The Treaty of Neuilly, signed after World War I between Bulgaria - one of the defeated Central Powers - and the victorious Allied Powers, required Bulgaria to cede several territories, including Bosilegrad.

“Members of Parliament have made significant efforts to ensure the continuation of this festival, and I believe it is a wonderful reminder that beauty and creativity still have a place in our lives,” Kiselova added. She was welcomed by Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Serbia, Petko Doykov, the Bulgarian Consul General in Niš, Dimitar Tsanev, as well as local residents.

Аsked about the recent decision by the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) parliamentary group to leave the power-sharing coalition and how this might impact the handling of Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov’s request to strip DRF MPs of their immunity, Kiselova said that there are also pending requests for the immunity of MPs from other parliamentary groups, and these matters will likely be addressed in the next parliamentary session. Kiselova recalled that the DRF were not part of the joint governance agreement, adding that they have supported government policies through a separate arrangement and "their decision came as no surprise".