Address of the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs to the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service Day – 19 July
19 July 2022 News
Dear colleagues,
Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service Day – 19 July!
On this date 143 years ago, the first Bulgarian diplomatic representatives abroad were appointed by decree of Prince Alexander Battenberg. Dragan Tsankov, Evlogi Georgiev and Dimitar Kirovich were sent to represent our country in Constantinople, Bucharest and Belgrade. Since 1999, this date has been celebrated as a professional holiday of the Bulgarian diplomatic service.
Every anniversary is an occasion for reflection and analysis of the progress made. From the Liberation through the Unification and the declaration of Independence, the native diplomacy has always worked for the consolidation of Bulgarian statehood. Over the past 143 years, generations of Bulgarian diplomats have defended the interests of Bulgaria and Bulgarian citizens on the international stage with professionalism and dignity.
Bulgarian diplomacy has its irrevocable role to be a guarantor of the prosperity and security of the Bulgarian people through its highly responsible activities. Thanks to consistent efforts, the country’s two main foreign policy priorities – NATO and EU membership – were implemented.
This year we celebrated 18 years of Bulgaria’s NATO membership. Our accession to this union of free and democratic states, ready to collectively defend their security, was not just a strategic foreign policy goal, but an inspiration and motivation for several generations of Bulgarians, a powerful incentive to implement important reforms, to promote democratic values and development in peace and prosperity.
We have also come closer to achieving another important priority for our country - joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. At the beginning of this year, a decision of the OECD Council was adopted to start talks with Bulgaria on joining the Organisation, and on June 10 they were officially launched with the approval of the Roadmap with the parameters, stages and conditions of the accession process. This is proof of the consistent efforts, active and responsible actions of our country to achieve this major foreign policy goal.
Joining the Eurozone and the Schengen area also remain our unchanging priority. The issue of regional security is also key, given our geographical position in the strategically important Black Sea region. We continue to work to strengthen bilateral and good-neighbourly cooperation and to be among the biggest supporters of the European perspective of our neighbours in the Western Balkans. We are guided by the understanding that the realisation of this objective will contribute to strengthening regional and international security.
Bulgarian foreign policy has always been, is and will continue to be open, principled and predictable in order to win friends and partners around the world. Our country seeks to deepen its partnership with our regional neighbours, EU partners and NATO allies, as well as with other Asian and American partners with great investment potential.
Bulgaria supports and actively participates in all United Nations peace initiatives and actively participates in shaping the European Union’s policies for stabilisation, security and economic development in Asia and Africa.
Preserving Bulgarian culture, spirit and identity, maintaining bilateral relations between Bulgaria and countries around the world, as well as defending the interests of Bulgarian citizens who live far from their homeland remains our strategic goal. Strengthening the positive image of our country in the world requires a joint effort from all institutions and we need to work ever more actively in this direction.
Dear Sirs,
I would like to thank all Bulgarian diplomats and their families for their perseverance and dedication in doing their duty to promote Bulgaria’s standing. I am confident that the diplomatic service will continue to defend the national interest in line with European democratic values.
Teodora Genchovska
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Velislava Petrova, Irena Dimitrova and Vasil Georgiev
Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria