site.bta"BTA Magazine, Academy of Sciences Journal Convey Heroic Age Memory," Prof. Atanas Semov Says

Prof. Atanas Semov of Sofia University, Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), spoke at an event here on Monday at which the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) launched the latest issue of its LIK magazine and BAS presented the latest issue of the Journal of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, both dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the outbreak of the April 1876 Uprising.

Semov described the two publications as a combination of an academic and fictional text "tasked with conveying the memory of that heroic age and a clear idea of duty to the memory of history, to national awareness, and to Bulgaria's future for which our ancestors laid their lives 150 years ago".   

He acknowledged the activity of BTA Director General Kiril Valchev in recent years in asserting Bulgarianess, history, memory, and the value texture of public discourse. He thanked the BAS management for contributing to the observance of the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising on a countrywide scare and also noted the very substantial role played in this respect by Sofia University, in the person of its Rector, Prof. Georgi Valchev. "The activity of BTA deserves appreciation because it is untypical of the Bulgarian media outlets that are often preoccupied with the ad-lib buzz of the day," Semov pointed out.

"It is important to know that, in addition to the feat, self-sacrifice and grand ideal of Koprivshtitsa, Panagyurishte, Klisura, Perushtitsa, Batak and many other focal points of national upsurge in Southern Bulgaria, there are such focal points of dignity, self-sacrifice and idealism in Northern Bulgaria, too: Batoshevo, Kravenik, Novo Selo, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa," the Correspondent Member said. In his opinion, the 150th anniversary of the uprising should get across an exceedingly important message: Bulgarians are a people with an exceedingly eventful and proud history, a coherent nation with exceedingly numerous merits which therefore deserves a bright future ahead." 

Semov has been deeply impressed of what he has learnt from the hundreds of events dedicated to the 150th anniversary countrywide that have been organized "despite the government that has been running Bulgaria during the last year and its conspicuous inaction". He specified that these events have been arranged by public non-governmental organizations, without political interference or hindrance and without State aid except such provided by the Ministry of Culture.