The Bulgarian Embassy in Cairo marked the country’s National Day with a reception celebrating the legacy of the National Revival and a century of formal diplomatic ties with Egypt, set against a backdrop of centuries-old historical connections.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Katratchev underscored Egypt’s strategic importance, noting that Bulgaria established its first official presence in the Arab world with a Consulate General in Alexandria in 1911. Formal diplomatic relations were later established on 3 February 1926, despite disruptions caused by the two World Wars.
“What makes our relations distinctive is their resilience,” Katratchev said, highlighting how ties endured even during periods when the two countries found themselves on opposing sides of global conflicts.
Bilateral relations have since reached new heights, with trade turnover hitting $1.81 billion in 2024. Egypt is now Bulgaria’s top trade partner in the Middle East and Africa, while Bulgaria ranks as Egypt’s eighth-largest partner within the European Union.
Cooperation spans several key sectors, including food security through increased Bulgarian wheat exports, infrastructure contributions by Bulgarian engineers to national projects, and academic exchange, with over five decades of Arabic studies at Sofia University. Cultural and archaeological cooperation also continues, including a Bulgarian mission in Luxor active since 2012.
Katratchev also praised Egypt’s “indispensable role” in mediating the Gaza crisis, expressing gratitude for Cairo’s efforts in facilitating hostage releases and evacuating Bulgarian citizens.
“Peace must be just, lasting, and credible,” he said, reaffirming Bulgaria’s support for regional stability and its commitment, as a NATO and EU member, to a rules-based international order and a just resolution to the war in Ukraine.
Cultural ties featured prominently in the celebrations, reflecting a long-standing artistic exchange. Recent collaborations included concerts by “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Choir, building on a legacy that dates back to the revival of the Cairo Opera Orchestra in the 1990s.
The event also highlighted enduring people-to-people connections. The Cairo Celebration Choir performed the Bulgarian revolutionary song “Hubava si, moya goro,” written by Lyuben Karavelov, who had links to the “Bulgarian Egyptians”—19th-century merchants who settled in Egypt and contributed to major projects such as the Suez Canal.
Concluding the evening, the ambassador expressed hope that the centenary of diplomatic relations would inspire future generations to deepen a partnership rooted in both history and shared interests.
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