NEWS

 

Iliana Iotova holds talks with representatives of the local and Bulgarian self-government

 

Vice President Iliana Iotova was a guest of the Bulgarian community in the Hungarian town of Halasztelek. The first Bulgarian self-government in Hungary was established in Halasztelek, known as the Bulgarian town. To this day, there are two inscriptions at the beginning of the town with its name - in Hungarian and in Bulgarian.

 

The Vice President paid tribute at the monument "Bulgarian Dulap", erected in honour of Bulgarian gardeners, who were mainly emigrants from Bulgaria in the past. Iliana Iotova held talks with representatives of the local government and the Bulgarian self-government in Halasztelek. The Vice President highlighted the historical ties between the Bulgarian and Hungarian people and thanked the Hungarian state for its policy towards the different ethnic communities to preserve their language, culture and identity. This is a forward-looking policy with the conviction that a nation is rich in the diversity of its communities. In the global world it is even more important to preserve our identity, to know our roots in order to build our future, Iotova said. She defined the Bulgarian community as the natural bridge in the relations between Bulgaria and Hungary.

 

Iliana Iotova honoured the chairman of the Bulgarian self-government in Halasztelek Nikola Kushev with the Vice President's badge of honour for his long-standing services to the development of the Bulgarian community in Hungary.

 

The Vice President is visiting Hungary at the invitation of the Bulgarian community on the occasion of the Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day.

 

Statement by Head of State Iliana Iotova

For projects aimed at improving connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkiye must be viewed as a whole, to be successful, and within the context of closer cooperation in Southeastern Europe. This will bolster both economic development and security in the region, whose strategic importance is growing. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is on a formal visit to Bulgaria.

Albulena Haxhiu expressed her gratitude to President Iotova for Bulgaria’s support on Kosovo’s path toward membership in NATO and the European Union.

Iliana Iotova raised the issue of depopulation in the area along the Bulgarian-Serbian border and highlighted the need for investment to counter the adverse demographic trend.