Vasil Levski has full historical right to be political and moral corrective not only of Bulgarians but of all Europeans, Tsetska Tsacheva said at the solemn tattoo on the occasion of the 179th anniversary of the birth of Vasil Levski in Karlovo.  

The legacies and deeds of Levski go far beyond the borders of our national identity, they are moral norms per se, stated the President of the National Assembly. Our Levski deserves to be a universal moral symbol, Tsetska Tsacheva said.

Levski was born on this date 179 years ago here, in Karlovo. He took us out of the slave timelessness and led us across the dusty path of the unknown to make Bulgarians know what sacrifice means, to rediscover their love for the Fatherland and thus be worthy of preserving their kinship, noted the President of the National Assembly. Tsetska Tsacheva underscored that with his words and deeds the Apostle had led us across the most severe historical vicissitudes in order to restore and rebuild the Bulgarian statehood so that today we were worthy of our European present and future. That is what we owe to Levski – the moral peak we have reached as a people in our historical development, she said.

If we are confused today by the issues of death and uncertainty encounters, let’s look for the Levski’s legacies, called on the President of Parliament. If we worry about Europe’s future today, let’s draw strength from his unreserved faith in the grandness of humane ideals, Tsetska Tsacheva added.

The President of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva and deputies took part in a solemn tattoo on the occasion of the 179th anniversary of the birth Vasil Levski in Karlovo. The President of Parliament greeted the representatives units of the Bulgarian armed forces and accepted the report of the commander in charge of the tattoo.

The solemn gathering is part of the 25th national gathering dedicated to the 179th anniversary of the Apostle’s birth and the holiday of Karlovo.  

SPEECH
By the President of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva on the occasion of the 179th anniversary of the birth of Vasil Levski  

18 July 2016, Karlovo


Dear ladies and gentlemen,
citizens and guests of Karlovo,  
Dear countrymen,
Levski was born on this date 179 years ago here, in Karlovo. He took us out of the slave timelessness and led us across the dusty path of the unknown to make Bulgarians know what sacrifice means, to rediscover their love for the Fatherland and thus be worthy of preserving their kinship.

“When it comes to Bulgaria, time is in us and we are in time; it changes us and we change it...”. Dear friends, is there any patriotic Bulgarian who can be indifferent to Levski’s words? And to his deed? It was namely with words and deeds that he took us across the most severe historical vicissitudes in order to restore and rebuild the Bulgarian statehood so that we are worthy today of our European present and future. We owe this to Levski. The moral peak we have reached as a people in our historical development. That is why only he and no one else is dubbed the Apostle.

Dear countrymen,
“To be equal to other European peoples depends on our own cooperative efforts...”, the Apostle said. This evening we should look in the depth of this legacy. Let’s say clearly and loudly – we can change the time only with cooperative efforts. The well-being of the Fatherland is in our agreement and unity! There is no other truth. On 18 July, here at the square in Karlovo, we should repeat time and again this truth as it is an inseparable part of the fight against indifference, pessimism and disagreement.  

Where would have Levski been in today’s turbulent times? Recently our days have been full of news, some of which cruel and tragic, on the verge of human reason, and others disturbing about our future. Where would he be today, when more and more self-centred messages are being heard, when our big goal – the building of a common home for the entire European continent – seems weakened? Let’s ask ourselves: would his trail in the road we have taken runs parallel to our steps?

Some will immediately say: Levski is our Apostle, our hero for freedom and independence of Bulgarians and therefore he would rank today among those who challenge our participation in unions and consider them an obstacle to attaining our national interests, and that Bulgaria can pursue its own policy, regardless of others. Yes, there are such people! However, we should clearly say to them – the Apostle would have never considered Bulgaria alone, separated from the democratic world, from the world of the European civilisation. The man who died for the republic, who saw through its underlying principle – equal rights for all citizens – if he were here among us today, he would not pay tribute to extreme nationalism and chauvinism.

Because the legacies and deeds of Levski go far beyond the borders of our national identity. They are moral norms per se. The man who said: “If I win – I win for all our people, if I lose – I lose only myself” has full historical right to be political and moral corrective not only of Bulgarians but of all Europeans. Our Levski deserves to be a universal moral symbol.

Therefore I think that today, when Bulgarian public institutions clearly proclaim the preservation and unity of the European Union, when working in the union is combined with upholding the Bulgarian interests not with an ultimatum but in partnership, when all citizens and institutions are trying to give their input to the development and elaboration of the union, we definitely adhere to the legacies of Levski, i.e. to live as free people, among free people. To protect our own freedom and the common freedom. This is what Levski handed down to us: the cult to liberty;  the dream of a pure and holy republic; the concept of the rule of law;  the moral ideals of the democratic values, responsibility, debt and patriotism.

If we are confused today by the issues of death and uncertainty encounters, let’s look for Levski’s legacies! If we worry about Europe’s future today, let’s draw strength from his unreserved faith in the grandness of humane ideals! Today and forever our path is marked out by the ideals of Levski, who has marked out the future of our Fatherland!

Congratulations, Karlovo!
Long live Bulgaria!