site.btaPresident Radev Confers with WWII Veterans' Union Representatives

President Rumen Radev conferred with the leadership of military unions that are founding members of the National Initiative Committee of WWII Veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of the Bulgarian Army’s participation in the fight against Nazism, the head of State’s press secretariat said. The meeting took place at the President’s Administration building in Sofia on Friday.

Participants in the discussion included representatives of Bulgaria’s military-patriotic unions: the Union of War Veterans in Bulgaria, the Union of Reserve Officers and Sergeants, the Union of Military Invalids and War Victims, and the Sofia-based War Invalid society.

Radev congratulated the military-patriotic unions for their initiatives to preserve historical memory, protect military monuments in Bulgaria, and safeguard cultural and historical heritage. Radev emphasized that the heroism of Bulgarian soldiers in World War II must not be forgotten. “In the final phase of the war, the Bulgarian Army demonstrated self-sacrifice, high fighting spirit, skilled command, and military leadership, reinforcing the authority of the Bulgarian state,” the head of State said, adding that the reserve force deserves care and recognition from state institutions, along with support for marking the 80th anniversary of Bulgaria’s involvement in the Second World War.

The meeting also addressed contemporary challenges arising from nearby military conflicts and highlighted the need for patriotic military education for the younger generation in Bulgaria, as well as respect for traditions and national memory.

Veterans and reserve and retired military personnel were traditionally honoured ahead of May 6 – the Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.