site.btaDefence Minister Tagarev Meets Representatives of Bulgarian Community in Odesa

Defence Minister Todor Tagarev met with representatives of the Bulgarian community in Odesa during a visit on Monday. "The Bulgarian community in Ukraine is a bridge of friendship and cooperation between our two countries. Ukraine is a close partner of Bulgaria. Ukraine's support is extremely important," Tagarev said during the meeting at the Bulgarian Consulate.

While in Ukraine, Tagarev met his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.  

Representatives of Bulgarian organizations and associations from Odesa, Kropyvnitsky and Kherson, participating in the meeting, expressed gratitude to Bulgaria for the assistance to Ukraine during the war.

They told the Minister about their activities in preserving Bulgarian identity by publishing books and newspapers in Bulgarian, opening Bulgarian Sunday schools, organizing folklore festivals, and scientific conferences related to Bulgarian history and culture.

"Bulgaria supported Ukraine from the very beginning of the war, providing military and political aid and support. The Red Cross is also working hard. With the efforts of the Foreign Ministry and our Consulate General, we managed to get 500 Bulgarian and Ukrainian citizens out in the first days of the war," Consul General Svetoslav Ivanov said at the meeting.