site.btaFrance Awards Journalist, Long-Time BTA Correspondent Svetoslav Terziev

Journalist Svetoslav Terziev, long-time correspondent of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Indochina and France, was awarded the Ordre national du Merite (National Order of Merit of the Republic of France), Chevalier class, the French Embassy in Sofia said on Tuesday.  

French Ambassador to Bulgaria Joel Meyer said that France is extremely happy to pay tribute to an important figure, who has witnessed and contributed to the development of a free and independent press in Bulgaria over the past three decades. "Your fate, dear Mr. Terziev, is entirely linked and dedicated to the promotion of freedom of expression and pluralism of opinion in the public space in Bulgaria after 1990 through the development of new media in the service of the European and democratic development of the country," Meyer added.

He highlighted Terziev’s remarkable career, which began at BTA and continued at independent news outlets such as the newspapers Continent and Sega. Meyer recalled that Terziev was BTA’s first correspondent in Vietnam (1981–1985), also covering developments in Cambodia and Laos, a period that marked his first meaningful encounter with the French language.

Already drawn to the Francophone world, Terziev was later posted to Paris, where he served as BTA correspondent from 1988 to 1991. Meyer also noted Terziev’s instrumental role in the Bulgarian publication of Robert Schuman’s For Europe. He also noted that Terziev has won a number of prestigious awards for his journalistic work.

"Your high professionalism, ethics and perception of honest and committed journalism, as well as the accuracy and rigor of your analyses of current events in Bulgaria, Europe and the world, have won the recognition of your colleagues, readers, but also the European community," Meyer said.

In his speech, Terziev reflected on his nearly 50-year career, noting that he had never received any formal recognition from Bulgarian institutions. “The first sign of recognition came from France,” he pointed out.

“France has built a tradition of respectful relations with Bulgaria, never acting intrusively," Terziev said, emphasizing how France has been "with him" both professionally and personally for over four decades.