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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) defined as an expression of aggressive propaganda the theses presented in an exhibition at the University of Belgrade under the title "Crimes against the civilian population in Serbia under the Bulgarian occupation /1915-1918/".

This is stated in the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their official website.

In connection with an open exhibition at the law faculty of the University of Belgrade, entitled "Crimes against the civilian population in Serbia under Bulgarian occupation /1915-1918/", which received a negative public response in Bulgaria, on the instructions of the MFA leadership, the director of the Directorate "Southeastern Europe" Vanya Andreeva held a conversation with Slavica Panich, temporary manager of the Embassy of Serbia in Bulgaria, according to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the conversation, the Bulgarian side expressed strong concern about those presented in the exhibition, defining them as an expression of aggressive propaganda directed against Bulgaria and against the development of good-neighborly relations in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that according to the conclusions of the EU Council on enlargement of December 13, 2022, the candidate countries for EU membership are expected to make determined efforts for the processes of reconciliation and stability in the region, including by overcoming of the legacy of the past.

"In the context of European integration processes, the Council of the EU expects to avoid any actions that have a negative impact on the development of good-neighborly relations. In particular, Serbia is required to work to strengthen good-neighborly relations and contribute to stability and reconciliation in the region ", added the MFA.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, against this background, the organization of an event on the eve of the New Year holidays, directed against Bulgaria, has a clear propaganda purpose and incites extreme nationalism.

"We accept its organization as part of the agenda of certain circles that work against good-neighborly relations between Serbia and Bulgaria," added the position.

The Foreign Ministry also expresses serious concerns that such events will be used for outbursts of hate speech against the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia.

Such actions can in no way be considered in isolation from the overall context of current issues in the wider region.

They are indicative of a tendentious and one-sided interpretation of past events, in a way that imposes permanent dividing lines in societies and contradicts European values, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out.

In connection with the information in the public space that the event in question was supported by the Ministry of Culture of Serbia, the Bulgarian side expects to be informed whether state institutions of Serbia have supported such an event, directed against the development of good neighborly relations with Bulgaria.