On March 31, 2026, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria, H. E. Mr. Alexios Marios Liberopoulos,

and his wife, Mrs. Theodora Petrou, hosted a reception at the Sofia Balkan Palace on the occasion of the country’s National Day.

Greeks celebrate it on March 25 – the date on which, in 1821, the people rose up against Ottoman rule, an act that led to the liberation and establishment of a sovereign Greek state. In his welcoming speech to the guests, the ambassador said that this year marks 205 years since the beginning of the struggle in which "our ancestors succeeded through determination, faith, self-sacrifice and unity."

"Today, Greece, being a member of the European Union and NATO, OSCE, OECD and other international organizations, is serving, for the years 2025-2026, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Our motto is "Dialogue, Diplomacy and Democracy". More relevant than ever! Greece is a staunch supporter of international law as well as the principles and values of the UN, the European Union and all other organizations we are part of," emphasized Ambassador Liberopoulos.

The ambassador stated that within a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, with numerous wars and conflicts and so much unjustified suffering and loss of human live — many of them civilians — countries must cooperate ever more closely with their friends.

"And Bulgaria is our friend.

This was validated by the visit of the Greek Minister of Defense to Sofia, two weeks ago. Greece reacted rapidly to the request for enhancing Bulgaria’s protective defense umbrella, in view of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. This deployment was a tangible act of solidarity, an immediate response to the request of our friend and ally. We considered it as an obligation of ours. Let us not forget that with the recent drone attack against Cyprus, there was a strike against an EU member state’s territory. In that case, Greece also reacted rapidly to offer defense protection to Cyprus."

Later in his speech, the ambassador spoke about the strategic cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria, which has significantly intensified in recent years in all areas. "A game changer was the gas interconnector Greece – Bulgaria (IGB), which became operational in October 2022..." He highlighted the subsequent projects in energy, transport and connectivity, as well as the enhanced cooperation in internal security, migration, tourism, business and trade. "The Greek FDI in Bulgaria amounted, at the end of 2025, to almost €4.5 billion, clearly demonstrating the trust placed in the Bulgarian economy."

Ambassador Liberopoulos also recalled the increase in bilateral high-level visits, which numbered four during the first three months of 2026 alone. He congratulated Bulgaria on its accession to the Eurozone and stressed Greece’s strong support for Bulgaria joining the OECD as soon as possible.

In conclusion, the ambassador thanked the Presidency, the Government and every Bulgarian authority and institution for always being available to discuss issues of common interest.

The reception was attended by politicians, members of parliament, ambassadors and diplomats, military attachés, representatives of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, ministries and institutions, members of the Greek diaspora in Bulgaria, and friends of Greece.

The photos were provided by the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in the Republic of Bulgaria. Above: H.E. Mr. Alexios Marios Liberopoulos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria.