On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria and Liberation Day, H.E. Ambassador Margarita Ganeva invited guests to a concert by the Globalkan ensemble at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw on March 11th.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of the Republic of Bulgaria and Poland. After warmly welcoming the guests, H.E. Ambassador Margarita Ganeva said:
– In Bulgarian history, the date of 3 March 1878 is synonymous with the most precious thing our nation had been striving for for almost five centuries: freedom. From that moment on, Bulgaria rose again and took its place again as a country on the geographical and political map of the world. (…) By reappearing on the map of Europe to continue its thirteenth-century history, Bulgaria has reopened the way to its modern construction as a sovereign state, whose goal was defined by Vasil Levski – the Apostle of Freedom: Equality with other European nations depends on our own collective efforts!
Her Excellency the Ambassador also emphasised the fact that Bulgaria and Poland share a similar difficult historical destiny, having gone through hundreds of years of heroic struggle for freedom, self-determination and democracy. Turning to current affairs, she said that the main objective of Bulgaria’s foreign policy is to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights. Bulgaria is currently a member of three important UN bodies: UNICEF Executive Board and UN Women Executive Board for 2023-2025, which contributes to Bulgaria’s long-term commitment to respect, promote and uphold the right of every child and woman to live in dignity, and the UN Human Rights Council for 2024-2026, where it actively cooperates with all States and stakeholders to ensure broad support and effective implementation of human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.
She also stressed that the most precious thing for any nation is its freedom and independence, which remain eternal universal values. She also mentioned Ukraine, saying that in Brussels in early March, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelezkov reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. As allies and partners in the EU and NATO, Bulgaria and Poland pledged their continued commitment to helping Ukraine, including in achieving a just peace, which is only possible with the participation of the European Union and Ukraine in peace negotiations.
Ambassador Margarita Ganeva added that Poland and Bulgaria enjoy a good level of bilateral political relations based on the countries’ shared values and commitments as allies and partners in the EU and NATO.
In recent years, the bilateral dialogue between the countries has focused on the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation in a number of areas: the economy, investment, energy, climate, bilateral cooperation in innovation, the IT industry, and the development of start-ups and ecosystems in both countries. 2024 was another record year for the growth and value of trade between Poland and Bulgaria, while maintaining the current ratio of imports to exports. According to Polish statistics, trade between the two countries last year reached almost €5 billion (compared to €2.3 billion in 2021), and Bulgarian exports to Poland exceeded €2.7 billion (compared to €1.5 billion in 2021).
Bulgaria continues to contribute to security and stability in the Black Sea region by strengthening its defence capabilities. The cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries is deepening. Bulgaria and Poland are strategically located in Europe – on the north-south axis between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. Building stable infrastructure, energy, and defence facilities will ensure greater security for the entire EU.
Poland is one of the most important tourist markets for Bulgaria. Her Excellency the Ambassador expressed great satisfaction that Polish citizens feel comfortable in Bulgaria, which is reflected by the increasing number of tourists year after year. According to preliminary data, 478 000 Polish citizens visited Bulgaria in 2024, more than two thirds of them for tourist purposes. The increasing number of air connections also contributes to this. Poland is currently connected to Bulgaria via 13 Polish airports.
At the end of her speech, the Ambassador expressed her deep gratitude to the Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Bulgaria in Poland for their active contribution to the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations, the promotion of Bulgarian culture, tourism and development and mutual economic exchange.
She concluded her speech with a very relevant message for today: Together, we can achieve more in our common European home!
The guest of honour at the event was State Secretary Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, who spoke of the good relations between the two countries and the importance of peace and European unity in the face of the conflict in Ukraine, which has far-reaching implications for European stability. Minister Mościcka said, among other things:
– I am happy to celebrate the Bulgarian National Day and the Day of Liberation with you. Thank you, Ambassador, for your kind words about Polish-Bulgarian friendship and cooperation, which I can confirm from here. However, today’s celebrations also remind us of the importance of freedom. Poland and Bulgaria know the price and the importance of the struggle for independence. (…). We firmly believe that defending freedom and sovereignty against external threats is a duty not only to history but also to future generations. And today, in the face of Russia’s unprecedented aggression against Ukraine, the concepts of freedom, unity and solidarity become even more important. Ladies and gentlemen, today, when Europe’s security is threatened, we must act together, boldly and effectively, on behalf of the European community!
The highlight of the celebrations was a concert by the Bulgarian band GloBalKan, who combined Bulgarian 7/8 or 11/8 time with jazz harmonies, juxtaposed with improvisation on traditional instruments such as the plectrum, tambourine and drum, creating a unique concert atmosphere. Their music – full of energy and emotion with jazz performances and rich original arrangements – was a real feast for lovers of improvisation. Throughout the concert, the band created a space I which each instrument had a chance to shine. At the end of the evening, the musicians gave an extraordinary demonstration of their drumming skills.
– We all like to combine our ‘non-dual’ or ‘non-ordinary’ rhythms with jazz; and the audiences, especially international ones, love it – said Nedyalko Yordanov, the group’s founder, after the concert.
A concert by the GloBalKan band highlighted the celebration of the national holiday for Bulgarians and all lovers of Bulgarian culture.
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