The respect for the cultural and spiritual ties between Bulgaria and Serbia sets an example for young people from both countries. Today we show together that, despite our differences, we are capable of rationally, wisely and consistently solving everything that has separated us thus far, declared Head of State Rumen Radev during the joint ceremony with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vu?i? for the unveiling of a monument to the Holy brothers Cyril and Methodius in the schoolyard of the secondary school in Dimitrovgrad (Tsaribrod). The two presidents broke ground for the monument in the school bearing the name of the Apostles to the Slavs during Mr. Rumen Radev’s visit to Serbia in 2018.

We are close not only geographically, but spiritually as well, the President emphasised, and added that the newly unveiled monument on the eve of the 24th of May is a symbol of the cultural ties between Bulgaria and Serbia and between the two neighbouring peoples.

“Young people see today an example of friendship and cooperation, and I hope they will follow it in the future too,” Mr. Rumen Radev noted. The Head of State further pointed out the decision made in Serbia to officially celebrate the 24th of May as the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture.

“We built a marvellous monument with writings in both Serbian and Bulgarian. We studied Glagolitic and Cyrillic. It is important for us to look towards and build the future,” the Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? declared during the ceremony, and further added that the Serbian people think of Bulgarians as brothers. He expressed his certainty that the two people can develop bilateral relations in the best way possible and support the development of the region. “We want all Bulgarians living on Serbian territory to have the right to their own language, their own schoolbooks, to love their motherland and the Bulgarian people,” Aleksandar Vu?i? emphasised.

The two Presidents were also present during a recital of pupils from the Saints Cyril and Methodius school in Bulgarian and Serbian. The Head of State, Mr. Rumen Radev, presented the Saints Cyril and Methodius Award to Mr. Bratislav Stamenov, current headmaster of the secondary school, and the Presidential Honorary Badge to Ms. Snezhana Simeonova, former headmistress for many years. Mr. Rumen Radev and Mr. Aleksandar Vu?i? visited the premises of the newly refurbished school building, its library and the open-air sports fields.