Dozens of Bulgarian intellectuals signed an open letter March 19 against Bulgaria's plans to officially recognise Kosovo, BTA reported.

The number of signatories rose with about 30 names the next day, March 20.

The letter was issued numbered hours after the governments of Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary issued a joint statement on their planned recognition of Kosovo.

The intellectuals sent the open letter to the president, prime minister and parliamentary spokesperson of Bulgaria.

“Reasonable politicians, statesmen from Greece and Romania, declared they would not recognise the self-proclaimed state Kosovo and [both Greece and Romania] are EU and Nato member states,” the letter reads. “Their position is in unison with their fundamental national interests. The EU and Nato have shown understanding."

“However, there are pseudo-politicians in Bulgaria who argue that we should recognise the strange enclave called independent Kosovo as soon as possible.”

Among signatories of the letter feature writers, scientists, artists, actors and regular patriots. To name a few: Leda Mileva, Andrei Pantev, Svetlin Rousev, Andrei Slabakov, Velislava Dureva, Yordanka Hristova, Evtim Evtimov, Christina Angelakova, Ivan Granitski.

“Serbs are our brothers by blood and faith,” the letter reads. “We betray them today and tomorrow we will be betrayed.”

In the letter, the intellectuals expressed concern about the consequences of Kosovo's secession.

“Today the government assumes the historical responsibility to recognise a state founded on crime, which contravenes international law and sets a time bomb on our own national security.”

Addressing Bulgaria's political leadership, the letter asked: “Are you mad, blind or just bought?”