Dear Mr. Nicoloff, President of MPO,
Distinguished MPO members, supporters and families,

I am truly regretful to be missing a rare occasion to experience the unique atmosphere of the MPO Annual Convention, which is so dear to the hearts of us Bulgarians. I just landed after a month in Bulgaria and could not possibly accommodate a trip to Cleveland, Ohio. And I know what I am missing - I keep fond memories from previous conventions I have attended and thoroughly enjoyed.

I am glad that Bulgaria is represented this time by our Consul General from New York Mr. Radoslav Tochev.

One more time I wish to reiterate my deep respect and admiration for all of you and for the organization which has managed for 90 years already to keep alive customs, history and traditions from our part of the world and promote them in the United States and Canada. Thank you also for keeping alive the dance and the music, the unique sad songs that tell the story of painful times in our history and will resound this year again. This is a common heritage which we need to preserve together.

A lot has been going on in the relations between our two peoples today. Just two days ago, on September 1, the new Foreign Minister of Macedonia Nikola Poposki paid an official visit to Bulgaria and held talks with the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov, which focused on Macedonia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The two countries’ top diplomats signed a memorandum of cooperation on Macedonia’s EU integration. Minister Poposki also visited the National Assembly of Bulgaria and was given standing ovation by the Bulgarian members of Parliament who held the opening session of Parliament for the new political season on that same day.

Only last April Bulgarian and Macedonian high officials commemorated together the 96th anniversary of Yane Sandanski’s death.

It is therefore only natural for us to join the Macedonian Patriotic Organization of the United States and Canada in celebrating a spirit and heritage which make us what we are today.

Enjoy your time together!

ELENA POPTODOROVA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Of the republic of Bulgaria to the United States of America