“You are the inextricable link between the Bulgarian and Slovak cultures and a real ambassador of Bulgaria to Slovakia. The Bulgarian community has a worthy place in the Slovak society and enjoys the respect of the Slovak public.” These are the words with which President Rosen Plevneliev addressed the Bulgarian community in the Republic of Slovakia, where he is on an official visit. In the Archbishop’s palace in Bratislava, the Head of State met Bulgarians who work and live in Slovakia, together with representatives of the Slovak community in Bulgaria.
The President thanked our compatriots in the Republic of Slovakia for their active contribution in all spheres of the country’s public life whereby they enhance Bulgaria’s positive image in Slovakia.
The Head of State once again recalled the centuries-long cultural and spiritual link between Bulgarians and Slovaks. “Together we are commemorating 1150 years since the Great Moravian mission of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius and we remain committed to preserving and popularizing our common spiritual heritage,” Rosen Plevneliev said.
The Head of State congratulated the students and teachers from the Bulgarian secondary school Khristo Botev in Bratislava on the occasion of the 65th anniversary since it was founded. According to a survey conducted by the Slovak Ministry of Education among 560 schools in the Republic of Slovakia, the Bulgarian school in Bratislava occupies the 17th place in terms of the achievement of good results, the education level and the professional development of students upon graduation. “I am honored to be among the students and teachers of one of the most prestigious schools in Bratislava, which has won recognition as a hub of Bulgarian language and culture and a school for modern European education,” the President emphasized in his statement.
In 2008 the Komensky University in Bratislava offered Bulgarian Studies as a major once again and 11 students are studying there during the academic 2013-2014 year. The restored interest in studying Bulgarian language is undoubtedly indicative of the enhanced prestige Bulgaria enjoys in Slovakia. “This fact is largely due to your efforts, commitment and the positive example you have set as worthy European citizens who respect their history and culture,” the President addressed our compatriots in Slovakia.
In reply to a question asked by a lecturer at the Komensky University related to the Bulgarian students’ active civil position in the past days, President Plevneliev recalled that the Bulgarian civil society in 2013 has more than once voiced its expectations that the institutions will change their attitude to the citizens’ problems. “The Bulgarian students are no exception in this respect. The events unfolding today in the Bulgarian universities are a clear sign that the citizens hope the institutions will address the pressing public problems, not those of the powerful of the day,” the President said. We should not worry if the students have something to say. However, we should worry if the politicians hide behind the thick walls of their buildings,” the President said.
Before the representatives of the Bulgarian community in Bratislava, Rosen Plevneliev reiterated that the Bulgarian government is putting efforts into solving the problems caused by the inflow of refugees in Bulgaria. In his words, Bulgaria will continue to seek solidarity with its European partners “so as to come up with a solution within the EU, because such an issue cannot be solved solely by using Bulgaria’s own capacities.” The problem is due to be debated at the Consultative Council for National Security.
The meeting was attended by Milan Ftacnik, mayor of Bratislava, His Eminence Rastsilav, orthodox bishop of Slovakia, Bulgarian Studies students at the Yan Komensky University in Bratislava, representatives of the Association of the Slovaks in Bulgaria, and of the academia in the Republic of Slovakia. In the presence of the Head of State, an edition of a Slovak-Bulgarian dictionary published by the Institute of Slavic Studies at the Slovak Academy of Sciences was presented.