national holiday

Support in principle for legal reforms, but no particular familiarity, reluctance to reduce the powers of presidents, almost no support for changing the national holiday or for tolerating dual citizenship in power - this is what the latest Gallup International Balkan study in Bulgaria points to.

The movement in downtown Sofia will be hampered in the coming days due to the celebration of the national holiday and the visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. This was warned by the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, stressing that strict measures have been taken to protect public order, traffic organization and avoidance of city disturbances.

Bulgaria celebrates the national holiday - 140 years since the liberation from Ottoman Rule. On March 3 (February 19th in old style), in 1878, the San Stefano Peace Treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire was signed, which provides for the rebuilding of Bulgaria. Independence was proclaimed thirty years later - on September 22 (October 5 in a new style) 1908.

Large-scale police operation is taking place at key locations across the Bulgarian capital during the long weekend which began on Thursday with the celebration of the country's national holiday (Liberation Day) and will last until Sunday.

In a message sent on Thursday on the occasion of Heroes' Day, President Klaus Iohannis says that the way the heroes unconditionally served their country is an example worth following to the future generations.

Photo credit: (c) Silviu MATEI / AGERPRES PHOTO

Turkey marked the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, a national holiday, on May 19. 

The day was celebrated across the country at official ceremonies where students marched, performed folkloric dances and took part in sporting activities. 

Turkey marked May Day in places across the country with celebrations, apart from its largest city Istanbul, where riot police did not hesitate to use tear gas and water cannons to halt groups that attempted to rally in the streets to reach the symbolic Taksim Square. 

I happened to be in Beirut last week. It was a good chance to catch up with Lebanese and regional politics and see friends. Besides, I could follow the Armenian Genocide commemoration. It was a sad week for Lebanon to mark two tragic events, since it also marked the 40th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war. 

U.S. President Barack Obama sent a message of support to the Greek people in his proclamation on the occasion of Greece's Independence Day, celebrated every year on March 25. Read below the full proclamation, titled "Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 2014."

Greek Independence Day

BELGRADE - By a decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 14 Serbian World War II veterans have been decorated on occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day, a national holiday in the Russian Federation.

Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Chepurin presented the decorations late Thursday at a ceremonial reception he hosted to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day.