Several hundreds of ethnic Bulgarians living in Moldova gathered today at the monument to the Bulgarian Volunteers in Chisinau to mark the Liberation Day -- Bulgaria's national holiday -- by laying flowers and keeping a moment of silence in memory of those who died to see the country liberated from Ottoman occupation, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The 3rd of March 1878 meant a new start for us which put an end to the Ottoman rule. That day marked the beginning of a new Bulgaria. Today many years ago Bulgaria made that important step for which thousands of Bulgaria's sons and daughters sacrificed their lives”, Bulgaria's Ambassador in Moldova Nikolay Iliev said in his speech. According to him, the history of every nation has days which, in addition to opening new beginnings, brings it back on the international arena, enabling the nation to vindicate its ancient rights. “The 3rd of March 1878 is exactly this kind of day in Bulgaria's history. This is the day when, 131 years ago, a treaty was signed between the Russian and Ottoman empires in San Stefano, which, once and for all, broke down the already fissured wall separating Bulgaria from Europe”, said the ambassador. Nikolay Iliev says the San Stefano Treaty laid the foundation of a Bulgaria which is today an active and fully-fledged participant in discussing the European Union's agenda, being a state with a stable, democratic political system, and a developing economy. “We all must know history. Romanians, Ukrainians and Russians fought and died alongside Bulgarians for the independence of Bulgaria, that is why this day should be a reason for commemoration for all the people living in Moldova”, said Theodor Sabiy, the chairman of the Bulgarian Community in Moldova. The Day of Liberation was declared Bulgaria's national holiday on March 3, 1978, on the 100th anniversary of the San Stefano Treaty. The Republic of Moldova is home to approximately 70,000 Bulgarians.