Bulgaria marks 125th Unification Day

Bulgarians marked their 125th Unification Day on Monday, holding commemorative ceremonies throughout the country.

The unification of two neighboring states inhabited by Bulgarians -- Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Roumelia -- was announced in Plovdiv on Sept. 6, 1885.

These territories belonged to Bulgaria, founded in 681, but at the end of the 14th century they were occupied by the Ottoman Empire. After the Russian-Turkish war in 1877-1878, Bulgarians believed that their freedom should be re-established, but according to the Treaty of Berlin (1878) Southern Bulgaria was named Eastern Roumelia and separated from the newly-formed Bulgarian state, and returned to the Ottoman Empire with partial autonomy.

Bulgarians considered the decisions of the Berlin Treaty as unfair. Finally, revolutionaries from across the country took over the power in Eastern Roumelia, and announced its unification with the Principality of Bulgaria.

A festive fireworks show in Plovdiv, some 130 km east of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, was the culmination of the country's celebrations on Monday. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, cabinet ministers, members of the National Parliament, generals and thousands of citizens attended this event.

Source: Xinhua