The Director of the National Museum of History in Sofia, Professor Bozhidar Dimitrov:
“We are fortunate that the procession organised by the extreme nationalist Ataka movement (on March 3) did not go beyond the limits of constitutional order. As far as I know, the municipality had given them permission to stage the rally. The procession marched along the streets and expressed their indignation at the ruling government, which is their civil right by law. However, it is very insulting to the memory of Bulgaria’s greatest national hero that the Turkish nationalist organisation Millet-Trakia, meaning “The People of Thrace” should choose the death anniversary of Vassil Levsky to present anti-constitutional claims, and in my opinion the move by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev to approach the Prosecutor’s Office, was justified.

I don’t think ethnic peace in Bulgaria has been threatened. On the contrary, Bulgarians and Turks have been living alongside each other very peacefully. It is politicians who have been trying to play the ethnic card to win supporters and popularity. In my opinion the ordinary people in the countryside in regions of mixed population regard this attitude with squalor and tend to ignore it.

Xenophobia, racism and chauvinism however have nothing to do with nationalism, which is a natural feeling just like the love for one’s parents, and the other word for it is ‘patriotism’.”

The Director of the Institute for History Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Professor Georgi Markov:
“In my opinion two extreme positions have collided, and they are both dangerous to Bulgaria’s present-day social and political life, because seeking to establish an autonomous state within the confines of the Republic of Bulgaria is a dangerous precedent, and an attempt at violating the country’s territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the state. The Bulgarian nationalists from Ataka movement, on the other hand, uphold some kind of clamorous nationalism that scares the minorities in Bulgaria. Both parties should sober up to prevent ethnic peace in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria’s agenda ought to be busy with activities striving at improving the economic situation for the rank-and-file Bulgarian. Outbursts of nationalism could only hinder the country’s accession to the European Union. Bulgaria ought to be a stable state not only economy- or politically wise, but also in terms of ethnic peace. True nationalism leads to progress because it seeks to defend the nation’s common interests.”