Initiative to Celebrate 14 Centuries of Bulgaria in Europe Must Find Key to Young People's Souls, Says Sofia University Rector

Ivan Dolev, Filip Pavlov

BTA Director General Kiril Valchev (left) and Sofia University Rector Prof. Georgi Valchev at the BTA-hosted news conference, Sofia, December 3, 2025 (BTA Photo/Minko Chernev)

Sofia,

03.12.2025 13:24

(BTA)

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The "14 Centuries of Bulgaria in Europe" initiative must find a key to the souls of young people, Prof. Georgi Valchev, Rector of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia said at a BTA-hosted news conference here on Wednesday. The event presented an appeal for a celebration of the 1,400th anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian State in 2032.

The initiative is organized by Bulgarian National Television (BNT), BTA, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Valchev emphasized that this is a initiative filled with edification, with a thought for the future. "The initiative must really find a key to the souls, the hearts of young people in Bulgaria, so that they can convince themselves that they have a future in this country," he stressed.

"We are all witnesses to the memory deficit in modern society. With this initiative, we plead together with the important major Bulgarian media to undertake a campaign to popularize our past," the Rector stated, adding that this is not a past that gives birth to the ghost of extreme nationalism, but a past that connects with tradition and inhabited territories. "This is the most important problem facing every modern state, namely how to continue to develop its territories and how to retain young people," Valchev commented.

"Bulgaria has always gravitated towards the European world, towards the field of European cultural traditions, and we must continue to build on these traditions with dignity, tact and good achievements of our modern state," he concluded.

During the presentation, Bulgarian historians, archaeologists and public figures presented an appeal for a solemn marking of the 1,400th anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian State in 2032 with celebrations, scientific conferences and campaigns. The appeal was addressed to President Rumen Radev, National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, and the ministers of culture, tourism, foreign affairs, and education and science.

/DS/