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Iliana Iotova: The Handover of Tsar Samuel’s Remains Is an Example of How and When We Are United, We Succeed

Skopje must read the European enlargement policy carefully, said the Head of State 

Today was a great day for Bulgaria; all Bulgarians stood together and paid tribute to our long, glorious and dramatic history, a source of national pride. The return of Tsar Samuel’s remains to Bulgaria is proof that when we are united, we succeed. For over 60 years, many politicians, public figures and academics have fought for today’s success. I, too, took part in this struggle. This was the comment made by President Iliana Iotova to journalists in Blagoevgrad.

According to Iotova, we must honour our history and rid ourselves of the nihilism that has recently weighed heavily upon us. In today’s world, where we are increasingly isolated from one another, it is our Bulgarian identity that holds us together most firmly, the President emphasised.

Iotova stated that Bulgaria has a rather scattered heritage across the world and that a National Cultural Institute would be useful in this regard. It is a shame that, of all the countries in the European Union, we are the only ones without such an institute to tell the world about our glorious history. Bulgaria is entering its 14th century; through our literature and spirituality, we are the founders of a new civilisation – the Slavic civilisation, the President noted.

The head of state also commented on the note sent to Bulgaria by the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia expressing a desire to resume dialogue between the two countries. I shall be cautiously optimistic, because this is not the first time the government in Skopje has received such advice from high-level officials in the European Union, she said. In her view, for the discussion to be meaningful, Prime Minister Mickoski must carefully study the European Union’s policy on enlargement with regard to the Republic of North Macedonia. “Skopje must stop treating this as a bilateral issue with Bulgaria, as it is trying to portray it, Iotova emphasised.

She once again called for a resolution to the issue concerning the treatment of 23-year-old Iva Mihaylova from Kochani. Bulgaria has raised the issue with the highest European and global institutions. I have also brought it to the attention of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It has now been three months since I sent a letter to President Siljanovska, and I have yet to receive a reply, stated the head of state.