On September 24, 2025, H. E. Mr. Emil Jacotǎ, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Bulgaria, and his wife, Mrs. Liubomira Jacotǎ,
hosted a reception on the occasion of their country’s National Day in the "Sofia" Grand Hall of the Marinela Sofia Hotel.
The date - August 27th - marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence adopted in 1991 by the deputies of the Moldovan Parliament, through which they expressed the will of their people to live freely and democratically. Since then, every year on this day, Moldovans celebrate their Independence Day.
In his welcoming speech to the guests - officials, ambassadors, diplomats, members of parliament, cultural figures, journalists, Moldovans living in Bulgaria, and friends — the Ambassador emphasized that during these 34 years of independence, "Moldova has built and strengthened a vibrant democratic system." He also highlighted that Bulgaria was among the first countries to recognize Moldova’s independence in 1992 and to open a diplomatic mission in Chișinău. Regarding the 33 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, H. E. Mr. Emil Jacotǎ stated:
We sincerely appreciate the constant and consistent support provided to the Republic of Moldova over the years in pursuit of our citizens’ European dream. Bulgaria has been a devoted friend and a skilled advocate of our pro-European aspirations, including during times of crisis. Today, we state clearly that Moldova’s accession to the European Union is not a distant dream, but a project we are actively working on.
We have no right to allow these terrible times to return, nor for an insurmountable gap to form again between us and Europe.
Moldova and Ukraine are ready to continue accession negotiations. Our integration will make the region safer and more stable. Moldova has been and will always remain a peaceful country. We do not accept aggression; we stand for peace.
We were among the first countries to open our hearts and homes to Ukrainian refugees, victims of the horrors of war. I am pleased that in Moldova they have found a new home, allowing them to look to the future with hope.
Dear friends,
This year has brought a series of important political events for the bilateral relations between our countries, including the visits to the Republic of Moldova by Vice President Ileana Iotova, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, as well as by members of the Bulgarian Parliament.
We hope to continue fostering this positive trend in the future.
Consider that we are going through a fruitful phase, in the spirit of the special relations built over the years, and that the Bulgarian minority, living compactly in our country, represents a true bridge of friendship and cooperation.
We hope that this bridge will become one of development, guiding Moldova toward European integration within the greater European family, following the example of Bulgaria.
I should also mention that our countries have once again become a space for economic initiatives and very dynamic trade relations. Bulgaria has confirmed its status as one of the Republic of Moldova’s main trading partners within the EU, ranking among the top ten.
Certainly, we hope that the volume of bilateral trade will reach an even more impressive level, and we will continue to work steadily toward this goal.
However, there is no doubt that in the economic field, the most important projects on the bilateral agenda are those in the energy sector. In this context, I am pleased to highlight Moldova’s participation in the Vertical Gas Corridor project, supported by the European Union, which currently includes Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine - a strategic multilateral project for the region’s energy security.
I would also like to mention the field of education, particularly the quality education that has been generously provided over the years to the youth of the Republic of Moldova, with university graduates contributing to Moldova’s European path.
In this context, this year’s opening of the branch of "Anghel Kanciev" University from Ruse, in the city of Taraclia, is also significant.
This European university is more than an investment in education, it is an investment in the future of our youth, in the strengthening of European identity, and in the economic development of the region.
We hope that this branch will become an educational and cultural center for the Bessarabian Bulgarians in Moldova and Ukraine.
Then, the Ambassador called on the citizens of the Republic of Moldova living in the Republic of Bulgaria to vote in their country’s parliamentary elections, which would take place in just three days - on September 28 - at the polling station located within the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Sofia. According to him, these elections "are not only a choice of a political party, they are also an expression of our will for the future of our country."
E. Mr. Emil Jacotǎ also expressed his gratitude - to his guests, for attending the reception on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova; to the Embassy’s partners, for their contribution to the celebration: Dr. Eng. Veselin Chipev, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova in Plovdiv; Mrs. Zhenya Atanasova, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova in Burgas; Banker newspaper; Plovdiv Media; PlovdivPress.bg; Capital Security; Capital Holding Group; and the Royal Spa Velingrad Hotel; as well as to his colleagues at the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova for organizing "this wonderful event."
Finally, he invited the guests to taste the renowned Moldovan wines produced by Porcari Winery and Angel’s Estate, to experience the flavor and heartfelt warmth of Moldova. "Our country ranks among the top 20 wine-producing countries in the world," the Ambassador proudly declared.
He then raised a toast "to the strengthening of the ties between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Bulgaria, to the European future of the Republic of Moldova!
Many happy years to the Republic of Moldova! Many happy years to the Republic of Bulgaria!"
The guests in the hall truly enjoyed the excellent wines, the lively conversations, and the beautiful exhibition of folk crafts and paintings displayed in the venue. Everyone left not only with fond memories of the evening but also with a bottle of red wine from Purcari Winery - a vineyard dating back to 1827!
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The photos were provided by the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova.
Above: H. E. Mr. Emil Jacotǎ, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Bulgaria
