351 Macedonian citizens are receiving Friday their Bulgarian passports to bring the total number of new Bulgarian citizens since the beginning of 2010 to 6 103.

According to the Minister for Bulgarians abroad, Bozhidar Dimitrov, from them 4 562 are from Macedonia while the rest are from Moldova, Serbia, Israel, the Ukraine, Russia, and even some exotic occurrences such a four Americans, and a few from several Arab countries – all of the latter attended college and Bulgaria and have Bulgarian husbands and wives.

The new Bulgarina Citizenship Act also becomes effective Friday, providing that a birth certificate will no longer be the only document accepted as proof of Bulgarian origin for citizens of Moldova, the Ukraine and Russia. Other documents to be admitted, according to the amendments, are notes from the respective municipality, from a Bulgarian association, from Church boards etc.

The Minister without Portfolio explains that the above amendment stems from the fact that during the Communist regime thousands of Bulgarians were not listed in their birth certificates as such, but as Ukrainian and Russians.

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