Statement H.E Mrs Baya Bensmail,
Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to Bulgaria
At the opening ceremony of archives and art exhibition in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Bulgaria
Your Excellency, Mr Nicolay Milkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Mr Ivan Stefanov, President of Bulgaria Algeria Friendship Association
Excellences, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is truly an honor and a privilege for me to serve as Algeria’s Ambassador to Bulgaria during the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Bulgaria. Algeria is proud and fond of this long and rich history of friendship with Bulgaria.
60 years ago, on March 20, 1962, Bulgaria was one of the first countries in the world to recognize and formally establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
Throughout its painful struggle to free itself from the shackled of colonialism and recover its freedom and sovereignty, the Algerian cause has enjoyed overwhelming support and solidarity of various countries throughout the world, not least of which was that of Bulgaria.
Who can forget the acts of Captain Vassil Valtchanov whose courage and valour remain engraved in the collective conscious of the Algerian People. His contribution was recognized by the highest Authorities of Algeria who awarded him the “Medal of the Friends of the Algerian Revolution”” in 2004 and 2012.
By such gestures did not stop there, as Algeria and Bulgaria established in the past decades a strong cooperation framework that over 7,000 highly qualified Bulgarian doctors, Engineers, construction workers worked closely with their Algerian counter parts in establishing a country-wide network of infrastructures and health clinics. For them, Algeria remains a home and country in the heart that they cannot forget.
My country, which is celebrating this year the sixtieth anniversary of its independence , is pursuing with determination the process of building a new Algeria under the leadership of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and, as such, affirms once more, its determination and commitment to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the achievement of sustainable development.
It is in this spirit that Algeria is hosting the 1st and 2sd November the important summit of Arab league and is currently working to ensure its success by placing unity and joint Arab action to meet current challenges on both the regional and international scenes.
Ladies and gentleman
As a summary of this year of celebration, we invite you to Archives photos and Art exhibitions showing the history of our friendly ties, title of the exhibition «Algeria- Bulgaria, 60 Years of Friendship & Cooperation». The Archives Photographic exhibition we are launching today presents an exclusive set of photos that illustrate the strength of the relationship that binds the two countries on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Bulgaria. The exhibition runs until November 30 in this august building and the National Archives Agency will also host the exhibition from 1st to 15th December 2022 .
This exhibition is a journey through 60 years of bilateral relations in various fields, and includes a large number of photos taken over the past six decades that reflect the strong cooperation between the two countries.
The Art exhibition “Algeria & Bulgaria Beauty through the Arts” of Mr. Georgi Gyoshev, Mrs. Amira Habibes and Mr. Ilyes Belkaid, brings together 20 artworks of Bulgarian and Algerians artists who have lived and worked respectively in Algeria and Bulgaria. Each piece of artworks tells a story of 60 years of friendship with the aim of promoting and deepening cultural exchanges between artists of both countries.
Ladies and gentleman
The close relations that exist between Algeria and Bulgaria are the best example of diplomatic relations based on mutual respect, win-win approach beneficial for both countries and multilateral cooperation.
I am happy to contribute to the strengthening of this friendship. We are proud of what we have accomplished together in the past 60 years and look towards the future with serenity and confidence, convinced that we will work hand in hand to promote the values of peace, prosperity and sustainable development that bring us together.
To conclude on behalf of Algeria Embassy I express my sincere thanks to all the institutions and friends, both Algerian and Bulgarian, who actively contributed in bringing this event to life notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of bulgaria, the State Cultural Institute to the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the State Agency of Archives, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), the Bulgaria-Algeria friendship Association and last, but not least, the National library of Bulgaria “Saints Cyril and Methodius and the family Mr Hamza Benamran first chargé d’ affairs in Bulgaria 1963.
I hope you will enjoy the exhibition and our long lasting friendship!
Thank you
