The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Warsaw organized a reception on the occasion of the National Day and the 141st anniversary of the Liberation, attended by more than 300 guests, including representatives of the government and the MFA, the Sejm and the Senate, the local authorities and the diplomatic corps in Warsaw on the 1^st of March 2019.

Present were the Deputy Chairman of the Polish Sejm, Ryszard Terlecki, the President of the Cabinet of President A. Duda - Mr. Krzysztof Szczerski, Deputy minister of Foreign Affairs P.Wawrzyk, Senator Marek Rocki, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Senators Jacek Wilk and Jacek Wloszowicz, Deputy Chairmen of the Friendship Parliamentary Group with Bulgaria, Honorary Consuls of Bulgaria in Poland Jan Strawinsky, Witold Karczewski and Janusz Zaton. More than 50 ambassadors and many diplomats from missions accredited in Warsaw were also present. Traditionally, in connection with the Bulgarian spring customs Baba Marta, guests were given martenitsas.

The national anthems of both countries sounded. In his address to the guests, Bulgarian Ambassador E. Yalnazov stressed the historical significance of the date of March 3 in the latest history of Bulgaria. It was a tribute to the memory of both the Bulgarian freedom fighters and the liberation warriors who participated in the Liberation War, including those of Polish nationality. Ambassador pointed out the upward development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Poland on the basis of common values ​​and NATO and EU membership. The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Polish-Bulgarian diplomatic relations at the end of last year confirmed the historical significance and the strength of the relations between the Bulgarians and the Poles. The Ambassador raised a toast for the ascendant development of Bulgarian-Polish friendship in the next century of bilateral relations, for prosperity and prosperity of the Polish and Bulgarian people, for the health of all present.

On behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Ekaterina Zaharieva, the Ambassador honored with  diplomas Honorary Consuls Jan Strawinsky, Witold Karczewski and Janusz Zaton for their contribution to the first Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Diplomas were also handed out to lecturers from Warsaw University and PAN for their active participation in the 100th anniversary conference held in Warsaw on 6-7 December last year.

On the Polish side, greetings were presented by the Mazovia Voivodship Governor Adam Struwik and by the Mayor of Lomza, Mr Hjanovski, who spoke about the successful partnership of his city with the town of Pavlikeni in Bulgaria. After the official part, the specially invited folk ensemble "Iglika" from Krakow, performing Bulgarian and Balkan folklore, presented to the guests Bulgarian folk songs and people.

On the 3^rd of March this year a celebration of Bulgarians living and working in Poland accompanied by their families, Polish relatives and friends took place in our embassy building in Warsaw. More than 200 people came to the invitation of the embassy, ​​many of whom contributed with their own contribution to the general festive buffet and the program of the celebration. The feast was opened with the performance of the national anthems and a greeting from the ambassador, who congratulated the guests on the occasion of the National Holiday and stressed the role of the Bulgarian communities abroad in preserving and continuing the Bulgarian identity and traditions. The Ambassador called for active cooperation between the Embassy and the Bulgarian community, highlighting a number of positive examples and giving gratitude for voluntary contributions to the cause of preserving the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage and deepening bilateral cooperation.

The festival continued with exciting performances of the children from the Bulgarian Sunday School "Dora Gabe", the students of Bulgarian philology from Warsaw University and the performance of the amateur folk ensemble "Bulgarika" composed of Bulgarians living in Warsaw. In the halls of the embassy, the traditional Bulgarian horo was formed, in which Bulgarians and Poles joined together.

Attendees of the celebration filled in the latest polls with opinions and wishes related to the 100th anniversary of Polish-Bulgarian diplomatic relations. The sealed envelopes will be placed in a metal capsule designed to be opened for the celebration of the 200th anniversary in 2118.