site.btaVice President Iotova Points Out Need for Media Empowering Citizens, Controlling Powerholders

Chisinau, October 5 (BTA) - There is a need for media which empower the citizens and control those in power, said here Thursday Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova during the opening of the 13th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, organized by BTA and the Association of Bulgarian Media Worldwide in the Moldovan capital.

Addressing the Bulgarian media representatives, Iotova said their work abroad goes beyond journalism. "You are at the heart of the Bulgarian national spirit and the live link between our compatriots and the motherland," she said.

The Vice President noted the importance of this meeting, because it brings up the issue of journalists' unique role in explaining the world, in its globality, complexity and contradictions.

According to her, the present is full of challenges and the media has an important place in these times, with categorical positions, intellectual intervention, offering a diversity of viewpoints and opinions, as well as seeking solutions. Nobody can direct the public debates better than the media, it is not the politicians, nor the institutions, she noted.

The presidential team strives to achieve true policies for Bulgarians abroad, she said, adding that this must be done with more persistence. According to her, such policies should not be "for the Bulgarians abroad" but rather "for Bulgaria, together with the Bulgarians abroad".

The Vice President noted that the Bulgarian language is among the EU official languages and one of the oldest. Iotova told the participants that she will count on their help to collect the signatures for a petition before the EU institutions to recognize Bulgarian as a language eligible for holding matriculation exams, adding that this would further increase interest in it by young Bulgarians.

It is clear that there is much more to be accomplished for improving the links with Bulgarian communities abroad, Iotova said, noting that she will propose during the Bulgarian EU Presidency to have special presentations of Bulgaria and its priorities in non-EU countries.

Moldova's President Igor Dodon welcomed the participants in the meeting and thanked the organizers for choosing his country to host the forum. This is a wonderful initiative, he said, adding that he does not know of any another country holding such a forum in Moldova. According to him, Moldova is a country where various communities co-exist peacefully, which he described as an asset. "It is very important to us that they feel at home," he said. Parliamentary representation will be ensured for all communities after next year's elections, and the Bulgarians in Moldova will for the first time directly elect their candidate, President Dodon explained.

BTA's "Born Free" photo exhibition was also opened on the forum's sidelines. It presents the Bulgarian press of the 19th-century with 29 photo panels, featuring newspapers and magazines published more than 130 years ago.

The 13th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media gathers representatives from over 30 leading news media in Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Spain, the Vatican, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, the United States and Canada. The main topic of this year's forum is Policies of Communality. The discussions will focus on new education platforms, the connection between business and education, knowledge-based economy, tourism, transfer of professionals and technologies, as well as the media's responsibility for preserving the Bulgarian language.

The 13th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media is held with the support of Sopharma, Huvepharma, Dundee Precious Metals, and Aurubis Bulgaria.