One more piece of graffiti from the MFA’s street art competition ‘Bulgaria — More Beautiful in NATO’ was unveiled in Pernik
02 December 2024 News
The next art graffiti, awarded in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ street art competition ‘Bulgaria — More Beautiful in NATO’ was unveiled with a solemn ceremony today in the city of Pernik.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ street art competition ‘Bulgaria — More Beautiful in NATO’ is part of the National Programme of Initiatives to celebrate in 2024 the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's NATO membership.
The work of street art, which was painted on the wall of the Regional Administration in Pernik, is the work of the talented graffiti-artist Ventsislav Yosifov and was presented by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nevyana Miteva and the Mayor of Pernik Stanislav Vladimirov. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Governor of the region Lyudmil Veselinov, the Ambassadors of the Republic of Turkey in Bulgaria H. E. Mehmet Sait Uyanık and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Bulgaria H.E. Nathaniel Copsey and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Montenegro in Sofia, Radivoje Brajović. Despite the cold winter conditions, the event was very popular and brought together many young people, students, residents and visitors.
In her address to the guests at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nevyana Miteva expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Ivan Kondov and on her own behalf to the Mayor of the city and to the team of Pernik Municipality for the successful realization of the mural. She stressed that Bulgaria is not just part of NATO, but an active participant and bearer of ideas and values that strengthen the Alliance. Deputy Minister Miteva also focused on the symbolism of the mural depicting a human figure between two warm hands: ‘These warm hands are in fact all 32 Alliance Member States, enabling you to be inspired, to realise your dreams, to get more opportunities, to communicate with Alliance representatives and to shine as well as these hands protect you, because the most important of all is life. The life that is guarded by all NATO Member States. Life, which is precious and achieving peace is part of preserving it.’
‘In these complex times, when the world is facing enormous challenges, membership in this military alliance guarantees our future, our security’, Pernik Mayor Stanislav Vladimirov said in his speech. Lyudmil Veselinov, the Governor of the region, welcomed the participants as well. ‘This mural could become one of the best ambassadors of the Alliance's ideas and values. This is the role of art — it is the best ambassador. I am proud that Pernik has such a work — significant, emblematic, reminding us not only of the anniversary, but also giving us confidence in NATO’, he said.