site.btaDecember 9, 1927: Mollov-Kafandaris Agreement Signed in Geneva

On December 9, 1927, the Mollov–Kafandaris Agreement was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, by Bulgaria and Greece, with mediation from the League of Nations. It was named after the finance ministers of the two countries at the time, Vladimir Mollov and Georgios Kafandaris, who signed the document. The agreement aimed to settle the two countries' obligations arising from the previously-signed Convention Respecting Reciprocal Emigration of Minorities between Bulgaria and Greece, in accordance with the Treaty of Neuilly of 1919.

It addressed financial issues relating to the liquidation of Bulgarian and Greek properties, the exchange of populations, and Greece's payment of its debt to Bulgaria, which amounted to 1,050,000 leva.

According to Prof. Daniel Vatchkov, director of the Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the agreement resulted in the expulsion of nearly 90,000 ethnic Bulgarians from Greece, with the expellees being provided with documents by the Greek State, which indicated that they would be compensated. However, research has shown that they left their homes without receiving adequate compensation. As early as 1931, Greece declared that it would not pay these compensations until Bulgaria paid its share of reparations as part of the Treaty of Neuilly, which it had suspended in the same year and hasn't resumed since.

To this day, descendants of migrants in both countries still raise the issue of unpaid compensations.

Here is how the Bulgarian News Agency reported the event in its December 1927 bulletin:

Geneva, 9 December 1927 (Swiss Telegraph Agency) – The Council heard a brief report from the Finnish representative on the Bulgarian refugees' demands and Bulgaria's financial recovery. Mr Mollov thanked the Financial Committee and members of the UN Secretariat who had travelled to Sofia to assess the situation in the country. He expressed his hope that a comprehensive agreement could be reached by the Council's next session in March. Mr Niemayer noted that only three or four points remained that required further clarification. He added that the Finance Committee expected to be able to present its final report shortly.  

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Geneva, December 9, 1927 /Swiss Telegraph Agency/ The Financial Committee's report on the settlement of Bulgarian refugees notes that the committee members who recently visited Sofia spoke highly of the competence with which Commissioner Sharon and Mr Sarafov manage the services. 

Regarding Bulgaria's financial situation, the report states that, although significant progress has been made, some issues have not yet been fully clarified. The committee intends to continue its investigations in cooperation with the Bulgarian government and present its report at the next Council session.

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Geneva, December 12, 1927 / Swiss Telegraph Agency / At its last meeting, the Council of the League of Nations considered the agreement on Greek-Bulgarian emigration. The rapporteur, Mr Holsti (Finland), recalled that the issue had been referred to the Finance Committee for consideration in September. Negotiations concluded successfully on 9 December this year, when the Bulgarian and Greek governments signed an agreement based on the principles approved by the Finance Committee. Following the rapporteur's proposal, the Council unanimously approved a resolution congratulating the Bulgarian and Greek government representatives, the Joint Committee chairman, and the Finance Committee on the successful conclusion of their work, and approving the report. Messrs Mikov and Dendramis, representing the Bulgarian and Greek governments respectively, stated that they accepted the report. 

Sir Austin Chamberlain then spoke and said that he was pleased to join in thanking the governments concerned, the Mixed Commission and the Financial Committee. He noted the successful resolution of the complex and important issue that had been brought before the Council in December 1923.

The Council then adjourned the session.