site.btaBulgaria Celebrates Day of Valour and Armed Forces

The Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, celebrated every year on St George’s Day, May 6, saw many festive events across Bulgaria on Tuesday.

In a traditional ceremony in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Sofia, Armed Forces' field flags, services' colours, and standards that were carried in crucial battles of the past, were sprinkled with blessed water. The event was followed by a military parade through Prince Alexander I Square in the centre of the capital, involving more than 700 servicepersons forming eight blocks. A Mi-17 helicopter carrying the national flag and two Cougar helicopters flew over the square at the beginning of the parade.

President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Rumen Radev told the servicepersons in Prince Alexander I Square that he has no doubt that they will foil any attempt at fomenting disunity and humiliation, will keep up their military pride and will continue to defend the Bulgarian cause with professionalism and dedication, because the Bulgarian people relies on its military.

Later, Radev welcomed young guards at the President’s Administration, after which he received the first of more than 2,000 guests on the Presidency’s Open Day.

National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova welcomed young guards from across Bulgaria in the debating chamber of the legislature.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said in a Facebook message that we should bow in reverence to all who lost their lives while defending Bulgaria, and should be grateful to those who protect the Motherland today with dignity and determination.

Vice President Iliana Iotova travelled to Kosovo to celebrate Armed Forces Day together with the Bulgarian military contingent there.

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told journalists that he is optimistic because the modernization of the Armed Forces proceeds in a constructive way. Chief of Defence Emil Eftimov thanked all military and civilian employees working to defend Bulgaria for their sense of responsibility and professionalism.

Zapryanov and Eftimov discussed the recent arrival of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet for the Bulgarian Air Force. Eftimov explained that the plane has shown a minor technical issue, which will be tackled in a matter of days. Zapryanov commented that the Armed Forces test all military technical systems, and when a technical glitch occurs, it should not become a political issue.

Political leaders extended greetings.

The holiday was celebrated with various events across Bulgaria. A national flag raising ritual was held at the Varna Naval Base. People in Veliko Tarnovo laid flowers at the monuments to war heroes. The Aviation Museum in Krumovo welcomed thousands of visitors.

As usual, the holiday of the Bulgarian Armed Forces was marked with a ceremony at the Bulgarian military cemetery in Novo Selo, North Macedonia.