Balkans | The Bulgarian Embassy prepared the 2023 calendar under the slogan “Bulgaria 1913-1915 in the eyes of Atatürk”

The 2023 calendar “Bulgaria 1913-1915 in the eyes of Atatürk” has been prepared by the Embassy of Bulgaria in Ankara.

In the calendar in which Bulgarian and Turkish information was exchanged, pictures of Bulgaria from that period were included, and information and visuals about the period when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lived in the country were also shared.

On the first page of the almanac it says that Atatürk was appointed military attaché at the Ottoman Embassy in Bulgaria on October 27, 1913, and arrived in Sofia in less than a month.

It is mentioned in the almanac that the house used by the Ottoman government as an embassy in Sofia is still the residence of the Turkish ambassador to Bulgaria, and Atatürk stayed in this house until he was assigned to the III Corps on January 20, 1915.

In the almanac, which drew attention to the fact that Atatürk was a sought-after guest in the homes of the Bulgarian social and political elite, it was shared that King Ferdinand also invited Atatürk to many public events.

Finally, the following views of Atatürk on Bulgaria were included in the almanac:

“The memories of my short stay in Bulgaria remain fresh in my memory and are very precious to me. The sincere feelings of sympathy for Bulgaria that arose in me never faded. They form the basis of my work in the field of mutual relations between the two countries. We use all means to expand our friendly and trusting relations with Bulgaria.

In addition, in the almanac where it is mentioned that the Bulgarian painter Hristo Lozev was in Istanbul between 1928-1931 and met with Atatürk, it is recorded that Lozev started to paint a portrait of Atatürk.

Losev wrote in the almanac, “I seized the opportunity and began to paint it. Noticing this, he came up to me and asked what I was doing. ‘I want to paint,’ I said.” “More natural, without posing. Kemal Pasha approved the final draft. Then I made a postage stamp based on Atatürk’s face.” expressions were used.

On the occasion of our anniversary, we wanted to send a special greeting to our Turkish colleagues, friends and partners.

Angel Khristov Cholakov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to Ankara, stated in his letter to A. This idea to life.

Cholakov said: “As a special greeting to our Turkish colleagues, friends and partners on the occasion of our anniversary, we decided to go back to those days and show how Atatürk saw Bulgaria, the places he visited and the cultural life he lived as an opportunity to touch.” Use the phrase.

Ambassador Cholakov stated that they wish everyone who receives the calendar to have an enjoyable trip to Bulgaria, with pictures of Atatürk’s time in office.

Cholakov stated that this year the Bulgarian Embassy in Ankara and the Consulates General in Istanbul and Edirne prepared a large-scale program to promote Bulgaria as a commercial, tourist and cultural destination.

Noting that the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, the Bulgarian partner of AA, will open a representative office in Ankara in a few days this year, Cholakov noted that this is a symbol of cooperation between the two agencies.

In his letter Cholakov included Atatürk’s remarks, “My advice to you, go to Bulgaria, you will love the Bulgarians.”

The Turkish ambassador in Sofia conveyed his thanks

Turkey’s ambassador to Sofia, Aylin Etcuk, shared on Twitter about the prepared calendar, and said:

The Embassy of Bulgaria in Ankara prepared its calendar for the year 2023 under the name “Ataturk and Bulgaria” on the centenary of the founding of the republic. A different dimension of Ataturk’s days in Sofia is explained on each sheet of the calendar. Sincere thanks to Ambassador Chulakov for such a valuable gift.

AA