As part of a youth exchange, representatives of the “Youth Guard Squads” association visited the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, where they met with Mr. Harris Georgiades, a member of the Cypriot Parliament. The meeting, featuring educational lectures and discussions, was characterized by mutual respect and a commitment to deepening the partnership between Bulgaria and Cyprus.
The event is also supported by the Embassy of Cyprus in Bulgaria, whose partnership contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and the successful realization of the visit. The official Bulgarian delegation that will support the institutional visits of the exchange participants includes:
– Rositsa Kirova – Member of Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Citizens’ Direct Participation.
– Petar Mladenov – Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports
– Tanya Mihaylova – Chief of Staff to the Minister of Education and Science
• Monika Yanakieva – Director of the “Selection, Contracting and Reporting” Directorate at the Center for Human Resource Development
– Col. Petar Kindalov – Commander of the National Guard Unit
– Col. Iliya Milushev – Advisor to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria
– Mariana Shoteva – Chair of the Administrative Court – Plovdiv
• Giuseppe de Francesco – Honorary Consul of Italy in Plovdiv
• Iliyana Andonova – Representative of the Embassy of Cyprus in Bulgaria.
After expressing his gratitude to the youth, Mr. Georgiades began the lecture by acquainting the young guests with the historical development of the country before and after the Turkish occupation in 1974. He detailed the challenges faced by Cypriots over the years and highlighted the landmark accession to the European Union in 2004, which brought stability and development to the country. He congratulated Bulgaria on its upcoming accession to the Eurozone and expressed confidence that it would open up new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
Particular emphasis was placed on the role of good leadership as a prerequisite for success. The Cypriot representative expressed joy at being among young and well-prepared individuals—future national and European leaders. He briefly outlined the political structure of Cyprus, which resembles the American model, where the 56 parliamentary seats are distributed among seven parties, with none holding a majority. This, according to him, necessitates constant consensus and cooperation in decision-making.
The participants showed particular interest in the topic of mandatory military service that Cypriot men undergo for a period of 14 months—a topic that sparked lively discussion due to the different perspectives existing in Bulgaria as well. After the discussion, the young people had a clear understanding and expressed their readiness to maintain and develop friendly relations between Bulgaria and Cyprus, as well as to encourage the active role of young people in international dialogue. The meeting concluded with mutual thanks and expressions of satisfaction from the training conducted.
The “Youth Guard Detachments” Association holds the accreditation No. 2025-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000297794, awarded in 2025, which ensures the sustainability and long-term development of projects in the field of youth policies. In recent years, the Association has established its role as an active participant in international youth exchange. In 2022 and 2023, its delegations visited the Vatican by special invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis and the Swiss Guard. In 2023, the organization was also received at the state level in Montenegro, where it met with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministers of Education, Sports, and Human Rights and Minorities.
Photos by: Milen Torbev
