site.btaBulgarian Ambassador to Romania: Bulgarian Literary Society's Founders Laid Statehood Foundations Before Liberation

The founders of the Bulgarian Literary Society in 1869 laid the foundations of the first institution of Bulgarian statehood even before the Liberation, said Bulgarian Ambassador to Romania Radko Vlaykov on Wednesday during the celebrations in Braila marking the 155th anniversary of the Literary Society, which was later superseded by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS).

Vlaykov thanked Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube, describing the service he conducted together with the representative of the Bulgarian Patriarchate in Bucharest, Archpriest Kiril Sinev, in the Church of Ascension in both Romanian and Bulgarian as extremely emotional. "With your wise words, you brought us back in time, capturing the atmosphere of these 155 years. This was especially true when you sang together, we heard the united voice of Bulgarians and Romanians. This requires of us to remember that period in the mid-19th century when the Romanian society provided full protection to Bulgarians who came to Romania to work on the future of their state. Some of the brightest figures in Bulgarian history worked to prepare the revolution for the Liberation of the Bulgarian state, while others laid the foundations of Bulgarian statehood," Vlaykov added.

Vlaykov expressed gratitude for the support the Romanian people provided to Bulgarians before the Liberation, describing the relations between the two neighbouring nations as exceptionally friendly. He noted that the 155th anniversary of BAS is an occasion to assess what the two countries have achieved together and what they can accomplish in the future. Together with Archbishop Casian, they highlighted the good partnership between them, and the good partnership within the European Union.

BTA will help promote sites related to Bulgarian history in Braila. This was announced by Vlaykov after a meeting with the Mayor of Braila, Viorel Dragomir.

"The mayor of Braila said today Romania is committed to continue supporting the Bulgarian minority. The local municipality also provides funds to maintain the area around the Church of Ascension. Braila has many sites connected to Bulgarian history," Vlaykov said.

He noted that the restoration and promotion of these historical sites could significantly increase tourist flow from Bulgaria to Braila.

"BTA Director General Kiril Valchev had a very sensible idea, which was accepted by the mayor. He suggested that BTA would actively assist with information on the preparation of such sites related to Bulgarian history, making them accessible and visible, providing opportunity for more people to visit them," Vlaykov added.

The Bulgarian delegation visited the monument of Hristo Botev in Braila, whose memory was honoured with wreaths and flowers. Among the guests and participants in the events in the city were representatives of the Bulgarian community from the Hristo Botev Association of Bulgarians in Braila, the local municipality and the Romanian Academy (RA), with which the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences signed a new cooperation agreement on Tuesday in Bucharest.