Bulgarian president remembers Finns who fought in the Balkans

President Parvanov begins two-day visit to Finland

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The President of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov, arrived in Helsinki on Monday afternoon for an official two-day visit.
      The official part of the visit takes place on Tuesday when Parvanov meets with Finland's political leaders and gives an address to the Paasikivi Society.
      The president will also pay tribute at the monument outside the Defence Staff commemorating the battle of Gornyi Dubnyak, where a Finnish sharpshooter battalion, as part of the Russian Imperial Army, helped to liberate Bulgaria from the Turks in 1877-78.
     
Socialist Parvanov, 47, took a narrow victory against a right-wing candidate in a direct presidential election in 2001. Parvanov is a historian by profession.
      In Bulgaria, political power centres on the government of Prime Minister Simeon Sakskoburggotski, a descendant of the former royal family.
      The president is also a prominent figure, especially in matters concerning national security. He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and chairs the National Security Council.
      Last year, his convoy was fired on while he was visiting the 500 Bulgarian soldiers serving in the Allied Forces in Iraq.
      Parvanov played a key role in persuading the Socialist Party to second Bulgaria's NATO membership, which was formalised last spring.
      In Europe, Bulgaria has a significant standing this year as the chair country of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE.


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  President of the Republic of Bulgaria

Helsingin Sanomat