site.btaInternational Forum Exploring Ties between Southeast Europe and Middle East Kicks Off in Sofia

An international scientific conference entitled "The European South-East and the Middle East: At the Crossroads of Entangled Regions, Cultures, and Religions" was launched at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) here on Monday. The forum, which will continue through July 15, is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Egypt and brings together scholars from Bulgaria, Egypt, Montenegro, and other countries.

The head of the Institute for Historical Studies at BAS, Assoc. Prof. Nadya Filipova, noted that the conference is the result of many years of academic collaboration between Bulgarian and Egyptian researchers and is being held as part of a joint project dedicated to relations between Bulgaria and Egypt. She added: "A century of active Bulgarian-Egyptian contacts provides us with an exceptional opportunity to study the relations between the two countries in the fields of diplomacy, economics, politics, culture, technology, and education."

Prof. Abdallah Abdel-Ati Al-Naggar of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Cairo and Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest described the conference as the start of the celebrations marking the centennial of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Egypt. In his words, this gathering is an opportunity to reflect on a century of encounters, exchanges, misunderstandings, cooperation, and a constantly renewed dialogue between the two countries.

Prof. Simeon Evstatiev, head of the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies at Sofia University, highlighted the importance of historical research for understanding the shared past of the Balkans and the Middle East. Egypt's influence extends far beyond the borders of the modern state, Evstatiev said.

BAS Vice President Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov emphasized that hosting this prestigious forum is of particular significance because it coincides with the centennial of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Egypt. He said that the cultural ties forged over the centuries have served as a true bridge between the two cultures, and the upcoming discussions will shed new light on their shared historical heritage and the contemporary challenges facing both regions.

Egyptian Ambassador to Bulgaria Nader Saad said that the centuries-old relations between Sofia and Cairo are based on friendship, mutual respect, and fruitful cooperation. He emphasized that scientific research and higher education are powerful instruments of peace, and that knowledge serves as a bridge between peoples and civilizations.

The Director General for Bilateral Relations at Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Petko Doykov, noted that Egypt was the first Arab country with which Bulgaria established diplomatic relations. "Bulgaria highly values Egypt's role as a pillar of stability, moderation, and dialogue in a region that faces serious challenges today," he added.

More than 30 Bulgarian and foreign researchers are expected to participate in the forum. The conference's thematic areas cover the Middle East and the Balkans in the context of international relations, interactions between societies, religions, and identities, cultural and artistic exchange, as well as the historical and contemporary dimensions of the ties between Southeast Europe and the Middle East.

The conference is held within the framework of the joint research project "Beyond the Boundaries of Time and Space: Bulgaria and Egypt in the Dynamics of Transformations in the Middle East". The project is being implemented between 2025 and 2027 by the Institute for Historical Studies at BAS and by Damanhour University under a bilateral agreement between BAS and the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology.