site.btaVolume on Cultural Diplomacy in the Balkans Presented at Sofia University

The volume Cultural Diplomacy and the Balkans: Achievements and Challenges in the Present Time was presented on Thursday at the Aula of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in the presence of students, scholars, representatives of diplomatic missions and State institutions. 

The event was hosted by Bulgarian National Radio journalist Irina Nedeva.

"Cultural diplomacy reminds us that international relations are not limited to interests and power. At its core, foreign policy is also about the values that unite nations around the principles of humanity, the rule of law and the prohibition of aggression," said Dr. Alexandra Milanova, editor of the volume and Chief Assistant Professor at the Institute of Balkan Studies and Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The volume was introduced by diplomat Stefan Tafrov, former Bulgarian ambassador to Italy, the United Kingdom and France and former Permanent Representative to UNESCO. He described the book as an engaging read, rich in facts and analytical depth, highlighting in particular the texts on France's role in cultural diplomacy in the Balkans and on the fate of Bulgarian Jews during World War II.

"Sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish between bilateral cultural diplomacy and propaganda. Multilateral diplomacy, embodied by UNESCO, seeks to bring together only the positive aspects of cultural diplomacy," Tafrov said.

Greeting messages on behalf of caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky and caretaker Culture Minister Nayden Todorov were read during the event. In the message from the foreign minister, it was noted that cultural diplomacy today is not only an instrument of foreign policy but also an expression of identity and responsibility for the future.

The message on behalf of the culture minister emphasized the importance of the publication for deepening dialogue in the Balkan region, noting that culture remains one of the strongest bridges between nations, fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and shared values.

The volume Cultural Diplomacy and the Balkans: Achievements and Challenges in the Present Time is the result of an international conference on the same topic held in Sofia in October 2024. It explores how art, language, memory and cultural heritage have become tools of influence and understanding in the Balkan region over two centuries, from wartime propaganda to contemporary UNESCO initiatives.

The foreword to the publication was written by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO from 2009 to 2017.