site.btaCulture Minister Rashidov Visits Edirne

Culture Minister Rashidov Visits Edirne

Edirne/Sofia, December 27 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov made a brief visit to Edirne on Tuesday. He inspected the restoration of the facade of St George Church, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and talked with the rector of Trakya University, Prof. Erhan Tabakoglu, and with Edirne Governor Gunay Ozdemir.

Bozhidar Dimitrov, Director of the National History Museum, and Prof. Nikolay Drachev, Rector of the National Art Academy, were on Rashidov' delegation.

The Bulgarian government allocated nearly 100,000 leva for the church' facade restoration and a new drainage system. The renovation is to be completed in March 2017. Rashidov and Drachev assured Alexander Chakuruk, a Bulgarian priest, that Art Academy students would paint the walls, the altar and the ceiling medallion, which will count towards their graduation. The delegation donated icons for the two Bulgarian churches in Edirne and many books for the Bulgarian library.

Rashidov and his delegation met with Tabakoglu earlier in the day and agreed on the deepening of cultural cooperation. Students of Trakya University will participate in exchanges of exhibitions, and Turkish archaeologists will join expeditions of Bulgaria's National History Museum.

Rashidov and the Edirne Governor discussed a possible exchange of museum expositions, cooperation in music and the theatre, book publishing and librarianship. Gunay Ozdemir suggested that Bulgaria participate in Turkey's latest project - a big Balkan art festival, which may have its seat in Edirne.