site.btaUNESCO Director General Bokova Confers with President, PM, Patriarch

UNESCO Director
General Bokova
Confers with President, PM, Patriarch


Sofia, January 9 (BTA) - UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova,
who is on an official
visit to Bulgaria, conferred here on Friday with President Rosen
Plevneliev, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Patriarch
Neophyte.

Bokova and Borissov once again condemned the attack in France
against the satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" as an
encroachment on the freedom of speech and voiced their belief
that the global community will work together to address the
threats against peace and security, said the Government's Press
Service.

The two discussed the 70th anniversary of UNESCO's establishment
and its useful cooperation with Bulgaria, which will continue
in the future. The Prime Minister noted that Irina Bokova can
count on the Government's support in her bid for the post of UN
general secretary.

The Prime Minister informed UNESCO's Director General about a
number of projects, such as the restoration of the Pliska
Basilica, excavations at the Perperikon archaeological complex
and the National Museum Complex. The Council of Ministers will
provide financial support for the restoration and conservation
of the Trapezitsa fortress, the press release said.

The freedom of expression and media freedom are among the most
important values and achievements of modern democratic societies
and no form of terrorism will change this, Bokova and President
Plevneliev agreed, the President's Press Secretariat said. The
two were adamant that the terrorist attack in "Charlie Hebdo's"
office is a barbarian and inhuman act of violence against the
freedom of speech and the values on which the modern democratic
world is built.

Bokova noted that the January 7 tragedy is also a blow against
UNESCO and the principles it stands for, being the only
organization in the UN system directly involved with protecting
the freedom of speech, media independence and journalists'
security.

During their meeting, Plevneliev and Bokova reviewed the current
political global events, the development of cooperation between
Bulgaria and UNESCO, the commemoration of the 70th anniversary
of the organization's establishment and the 60th anniversary of
Bulgaria's UNESCO membership.

After their meeting, the President and UNESCO's Director General
visited the French Embassy in Sofia and expressed their
condolences and sympathy for the people of France.

Bokova and Patriarch Neophyte discussed the opportunities for
improving cooperation between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
(BOC), UNESCO's experts and Bulgarian State institutions for
preserving this country's cultural heritage, the Holy Synod said
in a press release. Specific areas were outlined in which BOC
can cooperate with UNESCO, such as the preservation and
popularization of Christian cultural monuments, as well as
Orthodox sacred places, such as churches and monasteries,
literary works and non-tangible cultural heritage. LI, PK, SN/MY




/МЙ/