site.btaHungarian Ambassador and Mayor of Shumen Lay Wreaths at Local Monument of Lajos Kossuth

Hungarian Ambassador to Bulgaria Tekla Harangozo and Shumen Mayor Lyubomir Hristov laid wreaths and flowers at the Shumen monument to Lajos Kossuth on Tuesday. In the days around the National Day of Hungary – March 15, a delegation headed by the Hungarian ambassador traditionally arrives in Shumen to honour the memory of Kossuth.

In her speech in front of the monument to the Hungarian revolutionary, Harangozo said that in Bulgarian and Hungarian history the nineteenth century was a time when both nations were striving for their independence and Lajos Kossuth was one of the ideologues of this struggle. She reiterated her gratitude to the municipal government and the people of Shumen for keeping his memory alive, thus contributing to the development of friendly relations between the two countries.

Marangozo said that 2023 is the last year of her mandate as head of the diplomatic mission of the Embassy of Hungary in Sofia. "We have a historical connection and the memories of Hungary and Kossuth are kept here in Shumen. There is much more we can do. I will tell my deputy to come to Shumen to take another look at the Industrial Park in the city and pass on to Hungarian businesses to look at the good business opportunities it offers. It is not only our cultural relations that are important, but also the economic relations that we can further develop," Harangoso said.

The Hungarian ambassador visited the Lajos Kossuth House Museum and the Armenian Church of St. Mary, where in 1849 Kossuth and his companions celebrated Christmas. On the 200th birth anniversary of the Hungarian poet Sandor Petofi, Shumen will also host a travelling information and documentary exhibition, titled "Petofi travels around the world", which is currently in Sofia.

After the defeat of the national revolution of 1848-1849 in Hungary, the leader of the revolution, Lajos Kossuth, along with his companions, arrived in Bulgaria, which at the time was part of the Ottoman Empire. They found refuge and a warm welcome, first in Vidin and then in Shumen.