site.btaUPDATED Visiting Bosilegrad, Parliament Chair Kiselova Says Border Should Not Be Obstacle to Communication

Upon arriving in the Serbian town of Bosilegrad on Monday, Bulgaria’s Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova spoke to reporters, saying that "the unjust Treaty of Neuilly left Bulgarians on both sides of the border, but this border should not be an obstacle to our communication with one another." Kiselova attended the 32nd International Children's Easter Festival in Bosilegrad as a guest.

The Treaty of Neuilly, signed after World War I between Bulgaria - one of the defeated Central Powers - and the victorious Allied Powers, required Bulgaria to cede several territories, including Bosilegrad.

"Members of Parliament have made significant efforts to ensure the continuation of this festival, and I believe it is a wonderful reminder that beauty and creativity still have a place in our lives," Kiselova added. She was welcomed by Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Serbia, Petko Doykov, the Bulgarian Consul General in Nis, Dimitar Tsanev, as well as local residents.

Аsked about the recent decision by the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) parliamentary group to leave the power-sharing coalition and how this might impact the handling of Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov’s request to strip DRF MPs of their immunity, Kiselova said that there are also pending requests for the immunity of MPs from other parliamentary groups, and these matters will likely be addressed in the next parliamentary session. Kiselova recalled that the DRF were not part of the joint governance agreement, adding that they have supported government policies through a separate arrangement and "their decision came as no surprise".

Kiselova visited the local cultural centre to view a photo exhibition titled "Bosilegrad: Before and Now". Later in the day, the Parliament Chair honoured the winners of the 32nd International Children's Easter Festival.

Nearly 150 children from Bosilegrad and the Western Outlands will spend the summer in Bulgaria, Kiselova told journalists. "I hope that our joint initiatives will carry on in the future," she added.

The festival’s organizer, Aleksander Dimitrov, who also serves as the Bulgarian News Agency’s correspondent in Bosilegrad, presented Kiselova with a plaquette as a token of gratitude. In return, Kiselova awarded Dimitrov the badge of honour of the National Assembly. "May it give you confidence that we will continue to support you and your efforts," Kiselova said.

"Our brothers and sisters on both sides of the border should never forget that we are part of a single community. And this community has the strength to continue living together, regardless of the border.”