The achievements we have made are evidence that the Bulgarians can do well and succeed even in a highly competitive environment. Thank you for setting up schools and a church and for the consolidation of this big Bulgarian community. These are the words with which President Rumen Radev addressed our compatriots in Chicago at the meeting he held within the framework of his working visit to the United States. The head of state commented on the results from his participation in the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly and answered the number of questions raised by the Bulgarian community.
Rumen Radev congratulated our compatriots in Chicago for the recognition of the Bulgarian language as an official language in the educational system of the State of Illinois, and reassured the people that he will continue to support this cause advanced by the Bulgarians living in the United States in other US states as well. In New York the Bulgarian delegation visited the local Department on Education where was reassured that the issue of the recognition of the Bulgarian language in the state’s educational system is yet to be put to debate.
The president calls on the Bulgarian community in Chicago not to allow the children to forget their native tongue or decide not to return to Bulgaria, considering that their children may not have a Bulgarian identity. “This is a fight we should all take part in”, the head of state said.
“I believe that, at this stage, there is no need for me to engage in canvassing to suggest that you should come back to Bulgaria. We all want this to happen, but every person makes their own decision as to when their criteria for incomes, business environment, crime rate and corruption, the rule of law and trust in the institutions are met, Rumen Radev also said. The president was adamant that he personally will never give up the fight against corruption in Bulgaria.
Before the head of state, our compatriots raised a number of issues pertaining to the referendum held on the introduction of the majoritarian voting system in Bulgaria, the chances to introduce the distance electronic vote and e-government, the waiver of the visa restrictions for the Bulgarian nationals travelling to the United States, the signing of an agreement between Bulgaria and the United States on the Bulgarian nationals’ social security entitlements, among many other issues.