A seminar was held on the topic ‘Integrity of Religions and Communities in Bulgaria: Dimensions of Publicity and Diplomacy with Universal Relevance’
31 October 2024 News
Seminar on ‘Integrity of Religions and Communities in Bulgaria: Dimensions of Publicity and Diplomacy with Universal Relevance’, organized by the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MI) and the Foreign Policy Planning, Information and Coordination Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held on 30 October 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event brought together representatives of religious communities in Bulgaria to discuss the importance of inter-religious dialogue and social harmony as a basis for stability and unity in Bulgarian society.
A greeting on behalf of Ambassador Ivan Kondov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, was read by Ms. Elena Shekerletova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The seminar was opened by Ms. Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute, and congratulations were also read on behalf of Ms. Lyudmila Petkova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, His holiness Daniil, Patriarch of Bulgaria and metropolitan bishop of Sofia, H.E. Dr. Mustafa Haji, Grand Mufti of the Muslims in Bulgaria, and Dr. Georgi Krastev, Director of the Religious Affairs Directorate with the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The first session was entitled ‘Interreligious Coherence: The Voice of Religions in Bulgaria’ and was moderated by Angel Orbetsov, Ambassador for Special Assignments in the Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Papers were presented in the session by H.E. Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Mr Vedat S. Ahmed, representative of the Supreme Muslim Council of the Muslim Confession, H.E. Msgr. Petko Valov, Chairman of the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, Mr. Vladimir Raichinov, Vice-Chairman of the United Evangelical Churches in Bulgaria, prof. Garabed Minasyan, representative of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Bulgaria, and Mr. Maxim Delchev, Chairman of the Central Israelite Spiritual Council.
The second session was held under the title ‘The Soft Power of the EU in Bulgaria as an Instrument of Public Diplomacy’ and was moderated by Mr. Dimitar Mihaylov, Ambassador for Special Assignments in the Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session was attended by representatives of the academic community in the country — Prof. Yordan Peev, Doctor of historical science, Assoc. Prof. Ivaylo Naydenov, Dr. Nikolay Neshev, Prof. Simeon Evstatiev, Dr. Bogdan Patashev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Albena Taneva, as well as journalists Georgi Milkov and Boyko Vasilev. Participants discussed how interfaith dialogue serves as an effective tool for achieving sustainable development and social cohesion.
The seminar ended with a free discussion on ‘Interreligious Dialogue as a Tool for Understanding’. In the discussion in which took part Assoc. Prof. PhD Kiril Kartalov valuable ideas and good practices were exchanged to promote dialogue and understanding between different communities in the country.
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