NEWS

President: I Expect the Consultative Council of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad to Work Effectively in the Interests of Our Compatriots Abroad

Bulgaria is actively working, including at the highest political level with the authorities in the Republic of Albania, to solve the problems of the Bulgarian national minority in that country, President Rumen Radev told journalists in Tirana before a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian national minority in the Republic of Albania. The head of State is on a visit to Tirana, where tomorrow he will represent Bulgaria at the European Union-Western Balkans Summit.

The President recalled that as a result of the constructive dialogue with Albania in 2017, that country recognised the Bulgarian national minority and its inclusion in its national legislation, so that Bulgarians in Albania can freely exercise their rights and preserve their national culture, language and identity. The head of State noted that the development of relations with Bulgarian communities abroad was a priority. This issue is the focus of various programmes of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, but much more can and should be done.

I expect the Consultative Council of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad to work efficiently so that our compatriots abroad with Bulgarian identity can obtain a document of origin if they have been denied one by the local authorities, Radev said and specified that this should be done on the basis of clear criteria.

During the meeting, the representatives of the Bulgarian community in Albania raised a number of issues related to the facilitation of the procedure for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship, access to information on the projects through which this country supports Bulgarian communities abroad, education in their native language, etc.