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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community in Bulgaria is very active and is engaged in almost all spheres. Bulgarians like both the local Armenians, and the citizens of Armenia, Ambassador of Armenia to Bulgaria Armen Yedigaryan told reporters at a briefing.
“According to our estimates, around 30,000 Armenians live in Bulgaria today. Conventionally, the community can be divided into two categories: the first one is the old community that was created in 1922. This year we celebrated the 100th anniversary of their settlement in Bulgaria. And the second wave arrived in early 1990s. The community is very well integrated into the Bulgarian society and is represented in all areas, as business, intellectual life, culture. I can responsibly say that Armenians are loved by Bulgarians”, the Ambassador said.
There are Armenian schools and churches in Bulgaria. According to the Ambassador, the good integration of Armenian community also involves some risks in terms of assimilation. In order to avoid it, everything is being done by the cultural “elite” of the community. The Ambassador assured that the Embassy tries to assist the community in every way by implementing cultural, educational programs in order to keep the preservation of Armenian identity on a high level.
Commenting on Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan’s state visit to Bulgaria, the Ambassador said this is the first state visit in the past 14 years. “This visit is of significant importance. I think it is successful not only from procedural terms, but also in terms of concrete agreements. There are agreements in business field which must be fulfilled”, he said.
Relations were established also between the Bulgarian and Armenian businessmen. The Ambassador expressed confidence that the results will be visible in the future.
As for Bulgaria’s reaction to the latest aggression of Azerbaijan against Armenia, Ambassador Yedigaryan recalled that the Bulgarian people show great sympathy to both the local Armenians and the citizens of Armenia, but noted that the country’s government is trying to keep a balanced position.