On the 23rd of March H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece, along with his wife gave a reception in Sofia Hotel Balkan on the national holiday of the country.

Independence Day - March 25th, is the date on which the Greeks mark the anniversary of the uprising in 1821 that led to the end of the Turkish rule and the establishment of an independent Greek state in 1830.

The reception was attended by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev. Among the distinguished guests were His Holiness Neophyte, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, Mr. Simeon Sakskoburgotski, Prime Minister (2001-2005), ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, politicians, businessmen. There were representatives of numerous Greek community in Bulgaria.

In his address to the guests H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis said that Greece - almost two centuries after the historic uprising, remains an island of independence in the troubled region of the Eastern Mediterranean. The ambassador stressed that Bulgaria is the closest neighbour of the country and an important ally with which the excellent relations and historical cultural ties are becoming stronger as the two countries develop strategic partnership and political cooperation to a higher level. They work together at a European, Euro-Atlantic and regional level within many regional organizations and initiatives. During the 90s, Greece did not spare effort and stood by Bulgaria in the realization of its aspirations to access the EU and NATO. Now Sofia and Athens share similar positions in the EU, supporting each other in many areas of the European debate, as Greece is among the most ardent supporters of the Accession of Bulgaria to the Schengen area. The two countries have strong ties both in economic and trade exchange, as well as in cultural, educational and touristic.

The guests at the reception had the opportunity to taste Greek wines and traditional dishes and products specially delivered from the island of Crete for the holiday.

Photos courtesy of the Embassy of Greece and the Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria.

Above: President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic

1. H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis welcomes the guests at the reception.
2. H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis and His Holiness Neophyte, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia.
3. Mr. Simeon Sakskoburgotski, Prime Minister of Bulgaria (2001-2005).
4. H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis and his wife Ms. Paraskevi Mantziara with H. E. Mr. Stavros Avgustidis - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus and his wife Daniela Avgustidi.
5. H. E. Ms. Sri Astari Rasjid - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia.
6. H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis and the former Bulgarian ambassador in Athens H. E. Mrs. Emilia Kraleva and other guests at the reception.
7. H. E. Mr. Grigorios Vasilokonstandakis and his wife, Ms. Ekaterina Pavlova and Ms. Aneta Peni, publishers of "Diplomatic Spectrum".