News - Poland, Warsaw, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria

On March 1, 2023, a solemn celebration of the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria – March 3rd – took place at the Masovian Institute of Culture. The event was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Poland together with the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Warsaw and included a ceremonial part, a concert by the talented young Bulgarian pianist Simeon Goshev, followed by a cocktail.

In her speech to the guests, Ambassador Margarita Ganeva noted the significance of March 3rd, 1878, as one of the most important dates in the 13-century history of the Bulgarian people, marking the victory of the freedom-loving Bulgarian spirit, the restoration of the sovereignty of the Bulgarian state. She pointed out that 145 years later, in the face of the current geopolitical situation, which once again prompts us to deeply reflect on the value of freedom and independence, the dimensions of the National Day we celebrate retain their significance without devaluation. Ambassador Ganeva pointed out that the historical dimension lies in the importance of democratic principles and values, which unite us even today in the protection of freedom and the right of every people to national self-determination. Bulgaria continues to act as a responsible and reliable partner and ally within the EU and NATO, participating constructively in collective work and common decisions. Bulgaria remains firmly committed to its unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as for its European perspective.

Further in her speech, Ambassador Ganeva focused on the development of Bulgarian-Polish relations, pointing out that this year we celebrate the 105th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, but the ties between our two peoples have much deeper historical roots. He recalled that one of the symbols of these relations is the memorial erected in Varna, paying tribute to King Władysław III Jagiełło, known in our country as Varnenchik, with the memory of the battle in 1444 in the name of the freedom of Christian peoples, including the Bulgarian one. He pointed out that over the centuries the destinies of the two peoples have converged in a similar way. The Bulgarian ambassador emphasized that today Bulgaria and Poland are facing common challenges and share similar positions on all important topics of the Pan-European agenda. Bilateral relations and cooperation are mutually encouraged by our shared values and commitments within the framework of our European and Euro-Atlantic partnership.

A statement from the Polish side was made by Mr. Arkady Żegotski, Deputy Minister of the Polish Foreign Ministry, Head of the Diplomatic Service, who noted with satisfaction the successful development of Polish-Bulgarian relations and emphasized that our two countries - partners in the EU and NATO, share common values and goals. He also stressed Poland’s determination to continue to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine for as long as necessary.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of the Badge of Honor of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria to Mr. Witold Karczewski, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Bialystok. Mr. Karczewski was awarded the high distinction for his contribution to the development of Bulgarian-Polish relations and on the occasion of his 70th anniversary.

The program of the following concert consisted of works by Robert Schumann, Polish composer Karol Szymanowski and Pancho Vladigerov performed by the talented Bulgarian pianist Simeon Goshev, a graduate of the Vienna Academy of Music.

The cocktail party, held in honor of the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria, was attended by high-ranking representatives of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Poland, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Poland, as well as journalists, representatives of the Polish cultural, scientific and business circles, local authorities, the Bulgarian community, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps.

The guests were also given martenitsa with a description of the Bulgarian traditional holiday.