Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian diplomacy-from royal decrees to letters of credence

Photo: library

July 19 is marked in Bulgaria as the Day of the Bulgarian Diplomatic service. On that day in 1979, Prince Alexander 1 Battenberg issued a decree appointing the first Bulgarian diplomatic representatives abroad.

Going back in time to the historical archives, it turns out that the Bulgarian state established its first diplomatic relations with France during the reign of Khan Omurtag in 824. Once, the King’s messages were known as royal decree (a golden ornament resembling a seal). The word diplomacy comes from Greek word diploma which was a letter of credence that certified the ambassador’s power to negotiate. On April 17, 1879, the First Grand National Assembly elected Prince Alexander 1 Battenberg to head the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. Three months later, the Third Bulgarian Kingdom elected its first government. In line with the Tarnovo Constitution, the authorities established a central state institution in charge of the foreign affairs policies, i.e the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was launched. Milko Balabanov was appointed Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister. When Prince Alexander 1 Battenberg informed the leaders of the neighboring countries about his appointment, the first diplomatic representations in these countries were opened. With a decree from July 19, 1879, Dr Dimitar Kirovich was appointed a diplomatic representative in Belgrade, Dragan Tsankov was appointed an envoy in Istanbul and Evlogy Georgiev became envoy in Bucharest. In 1879 ten European countries: Russia, Austro-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Romania and Turkey established diplomatic relations with the newly established Bulgarian state. The job of a diplomat has been for many years a male priority. After the WW1, the Bulgarian legation in London welcomed the first female Bulgarian diplomat- Nadezhda Stanchova who was appointed a secretary of the Bulgarian legation. Several years ago Nadezhda Mihaylova (currently Nadezhda Neynsky) became Bulgaria’s top diplomat, as she was elected Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Today, the principles, the activity of the diplomacy, the rules and the statute of the diplomats at the embassies are based on the international acts, in line with the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations from 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relation of 1963.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Assoc. Prof. Spas Tashev

Eurointegration will not be among the top priorities of the newly elected government of North Macedonia

Holy Spirit Monday is also celebrated in Bulgaria as Macedonia Day. The tradition dates back to the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising (1903), originally it was the Day of the Struggle for the Liberation of Macedonia and Adrianople, and after the First World..

published on 6/24/24 12:31 PM
Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin

The Grace of the Holy Spirit is in Unity, Purity of Faith and Piety

Immediately after the great Christian feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the Day of the Holy Spirit - the third person of the Holy Trinity. It is also the Church's last feast before the Feast of All Saints, which concludes the Easter cycle. The Divine..

published on 6/24/24 6:45 AM

Bulgarians mark Cherry All Souls' Day

Every year on Saturday before the great Christian holiday of Pentecost, the Church marks the second All Souls' Day of the year, which the people call Cherry All Souls' Day because it always coincides with cherry harvest season...

published on 6/22/24 5:50 AM