Bulgaria: Ministry of foreign affairs compliments Poland on 104th independence day

The Bulgarian ministry of foreign affairs congratulated Poland on its 104th anniversary of independence yesterday through its Twitter account. They wrote, “Warm congratulations & best wishes to our friends in Poland on the occasion of their Independence Day! Bulgaria remains committed to further consolidaring – cooperation and working together for Europe’s security and prosperity”.

104 years ago, Poland regained its independence from Germany on November 11, 1918, and returned to the maps after 123 years of partition by Austria, Hungary, Germany and Russia. Today, Both countries are members of the EU, NATO, Bucharest Nine, OSCE, Three Seas Initiative Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization.

Yesterday, Poland honoured all patriots who contributed to regaining the country’s freedom while sacrificing their lives. As per reports by Wikipedia, the independence of Poland had been successfully promoted to the Allies in Paris by Roman Dmowski and Ignacy Paderewski.

Poland and Bulgaria have had diplomatic ties since the Middle Ages. At the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396, Bulgarians and Poles fought side by side as a part of a greater European alliance to stop the Ottoman invasion and annexation of Bulgaria. 

Bulgarian revolutionaries fought together with polishes in hope of regaining independence, but the battle ended with the demise of the Polish King and defeat of the coalition army.

Several engineering projects have been completed by Bulgaria and Poland together. Bulgaria and two Polish businesses entered into a contract in October 2015 to repair six engines for the nation’s Mig-29 fighter jets. 

These Mig-29 engines, manufactured in the Soviet Union, are the only ones Bulgaria has to protect its airspace. Therefore Bulgaria recently signed a new contract with Poland to repair more pairs of aircraft engines. This contract will keep the Mig-29 engines functioning until 2023.

To safeguard Bulgarian airspace, an ideal jet fighter successor must be found, as MIG-29s are only expected to be in service through 2023. 8 American-built F-16s have already been ordered by Bulgaria and are expected to arrive in 2025. 

The Bulgarian MIG-29’s service can be extended till the arrival of new combat aircraft made by Lockheed Martin with Poland’s help by delivering a pair of new Engines and fixing old ones.