site.btaVP Iotova Opens Exhibition at 19th International Book and Education Fair in Podgorica

Vice President Iliana Iotova opened the Alphabet and History exhibition at the Bulgarian stand at the 19th International Book and Education Fair in Podgorica, Montenegro, the President's press secretariat said on Thursday. This year, Bulgaria is featured as the guest of honour at the cultural event.

During the opening, Iotova highlighted two significant anniversaries for Bulgaria: the 1,160th anniversary of the Christianization of the Bulgarian people and the 1170th anniversary of the Glagolitic script. She emphasized that the exhibition presents historical documents showing the deep connection between spirituality, faith, and writing. "The path of the letters is not only a path of a graphic system but of an entire new civilization created in Bulgaria – the Slavic civilization," Iotova said. She also noted that Old Bulgarian became the foundation of literacy for Slavic peoples.

The Vice President pointed out that after Glagolitic, the Cyrillic alphabet was born in Bulgarian lands, which today is used by over 250 million people worldwide and is one of the three officially recognized alphabets in the European Union.

Iotova thanked the Ministry of Culture, the Bulgarian Book Association, and the Bulgarian Embassy in Podgorica for organizing the Bulgarian stand.

On Wednesday, Iotova and Culture Minister Marian Bachev arrived in Montenegro to open Bulgaria’s programme at the fair and to unveil a street in Cetinje named after writer Ivan Vazov. Speaking to Bulgarian media in Cetinje, Iotova urged Parliament to revive a draft law granting special status to Bulgaria’s early capitals, saying it would tap EU funds for cultural tourism. "I’m a strong advocate and I believe the Culture Ministry under Minister Marian Bachev will revive the bill on the status of the old Bulgarian capitals – Pliska, Preslav, Veliko Tarnovo, and possibly other historic cities as well," she said. Iotova also noted that once Montenegro joins the European Union, joint cultural routes could be developed that would benefit not only businesses and tourism, but also both countries.

A range of cultural events accompany Bulgaria's participation in the fair, with the Days of Bulgarian Culture in Montenegro held under the patronage of the Vice President.

The Alphabet and History exhibition, created by Professor Vasya Velinova, is a joint project of the State Institute for Culture with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Prof. Ivan Dujchev Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies with the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, and the Elena and Ivan Dujchev Foundation. The exhibition's first presentation in April at the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library marked the beginning of the celebrations for the 1170th anniversary of the Glagolitic script.