Here we should have been reflecting a celebration on the occasion of the national holiday of the French Republic in Sofia.
Instead, today we write words of condolence. In front of the open book of condolences at the French Embassy queued ambassadors, diplomats, politicians, citizens ... And I'm sure that each of them asked the question: "Why? Why did this happen?"
July 14th, 1789 the day of the destruction of the Bastille. A climactic moment in the French Revolution, giving to the world the idea of "Liberty, equality and fraternity", as well the right of everyone to fight for it. After the French citizens other peoples of Europe revolted as well. And July 14th became a symbol. A symbol of the way of thinking of every man who does not bear chains and who believes that everyone is born free and equal in rights to the other. Today, it is a core value for France, Europe and worldwide.
On this July 14th all remained speechless by the news of the tragedy in Nice. On that date exactly, the date of the National Day of the French Republic a bloody terrorist act against hundreds of innocent people who were enjoying the holiday of freedom was carried out. Dozens lost their lives. This was another targeted attack against a symbol of the European spirit and the values of the European way of thinking and living.
Why? I do not know the answer yet. But I know that there is another slogan that helps in difficult moments like this and that we are all grown with, raised again by a great Frenchman and that is "One for all, all for one." France, we are with you! The whole democratic world is with you!”
In the morning after the tragedy in Nice H. E. Mr. Xavier Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic in the Republic of Bulgaria, made the following statement:
Statement of the Ambassador of France in Sofia
A terrorist act was carried out in France again.
Yesterday, on our national holiday, a holiday of a nation that revolted for its freedom; there is no doubt that the desire of the terrorist was to strike precisely this so emblematic date for the modern history of Europe.
All French people in Bulgaria are watching over their relatives and worry about them. In these hard hours countless testimonies of solidarity reaching us from our Bulgarian friends bring us consolation.
I would like to personally thank the Bulgarian Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for their words of solidarity.
I would like to thank the Chairwoman of the National Assembly and to all Bulgarian Members of the Parliament for their empathy, spontaneously expressed today.
Thanks to Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova, who came so quickly to the Embassy and personally handed to me her condolences.
As announced yesterday by the President of the French Republic, the state of emergency throughout the territory of France should be extended to three months.
Photo: "Diplomatic Spectrum" magazine
Hundreds of officials and citizens laid flowers in front of the French Embassy in Sofia in memory of the victims of the terrorist act in Nice.
