Mesic Lays Down Wreath for Unknown Soldier

After a ceremonial welcoming, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, according to custom, layed down a wreath for the unknown Bulgarian soldier.

Two-day official return visit of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic to the Republic of Bulgaria began with a ceremonial welcoming before the Sofia Alexander Nevesky Cathedral, which was organised by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on Wednesday.

Right after the welcoming, the two presidents set out for the monument dedicated to the Unknown Hero in order for President Mesic, as it is a custom upon visiting highest foreign state officials to Bulgaria, to lay down a wreath.

This monument, erected in 1981 for the memory of thousands of Bulgarian soldiers who have layed down their lives for their homeland in wars, is situated in the vicinity of the Cathedral and right next to the 6^th ct St. Sophia`s Church. It consists of a central part out of which eternal fire burns, a place where turf from Stara Zagora and Shipka Pass, sites of two of the most important battles of the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation (the Battle of Stara Zagora and the Battle of Shipka Pass), a sculpture of a lion (a national symbol of Bulgaria).

After laying down wreaths and taking photos together, Mesic and Parvanov started separate talks, with delegation members from both countries joining them later. Bulgarian and Croatian presidents are supposed to give a statement for the media afterwards.

 A lunch will follow in Mesic`s honour, hosted by Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, after which the Croatian delegation will attend a monument revealing ceremony dedicated to the great Croatian historian and Bulgaria`s friend Franjo Racki at the building of the Bulgarian Academy of Science.

In the evening, President Mesic will visit the Croatian Embassy in Sofia and will end the first day of his visit with a dinner, thrown in his honour by the host, Bulgarian President Parvanov.

This is the second official visit of President Mesic to Bulgaria. The first one occurred in July 2003, while Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov stayed in Croatia in 2002 and 2004.