site.btaBulgarians in Moldova Take Part in New Interethnic Programme

More than fifty residents of the village of Colibesi in Southern Moldova spent a day in the village of Corten, Taraclia region - one of the main settlements with Bulgarian population in the country. The visit took place within the framework of the National Mosaic Programme recently launched by the Moldovan Agency for Interethnic Relations, the state institution said.

The aim of the programme is to promote social cohesion and dialogue between different ethnic groups in Moldova, a country with a rich cultural diversity where Moldovans, Bulgarians, Gagauz, Ukrainians, Roma and other communities coexist.

During the visit, the guests from Colibesi had the opportunity to learn about the daily life, traditions and cultural heritage of the Bulgarian community in Korten. The programme included visits to the local museum, church, school, cultural and educational institutions, as well as participation in workshops on folklore, traditional cuisine and inter-community cooperation.

“These are not just excursions. These are opportunities for real dialogue, for getting to know each other and building links between people,” said the Agency's Director General Vyacheslav Ryabchinsky. He added that the programme aims to overcome isolation between different ethnic groups and create a basis for long-term cooperation between villages and communities.

The event concluded with a round table discussion where participants discussed opportunities for future joint initiatives. This was followed by a short artistic programme under the motto “The culture that unites us”.

The Mosaic programme, short for Multietnicitatea si Organizarea Societala in armonie si Interactiuni Comunitare (Multi-ethnicity and organization of society in harmony and interactivity of communities), started at the end of June and foresees a series of inter-community meetings, exchanges and cultural initiatives. It is being implemented with the support of state institutions and local partners, focusing on the practical benefits of inter-ethnic dialogue in a multicultural environment such as that of Moldova.

As BTA reported, according to 2004 census data, the village of Corten is home to 3,407 people, 89.11% of whom are Bulgarians. The village was founded in 1830 by a group of Bulgarian settlers.