Svishtov's contribution to Europe is one of the first Bulgarian community centres, which is a window to knowledge about the latest developments in the world, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said at the opening of a local conference within BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project. The conference is taking place at the BTA National Press Club here on Wednesday.
The first Bulgarian community centre was opened on January 30, 1856, at the initiative of Dimitar Nachovich, Emanuil Vaskidovich, Georgi Vladikin, and Hristaki Filchov. It was named after the donors for the construction of the building, Elenka and Kiril Avramov. Valchev emphasised that the conference in Svishtov takes place on the eve of January 30, and that precisely the knowledge born out of the sincere interest in the achievements of people around the world and especially in Europe turns Svishtov into the "Town of the 100 First Things in Bulgaria".
He recalled the Roman base of operations Novae, which was situated in today's Svishtov, as well as Filip Stanislavov, creator and publisher of the first printed book in Cyrillic in Rome in 1651, who was born here. The first major donation for educational purposes on Bulgarian territory were made in Svishtov in 1812, Valchev underscored, adding that the first arithmetic textbook was also printed in the Danube town, and later the leading economic academy in Bulgaria was established as well.
"Here are the first steam mill, the first printing press. These first European things came to Bulgaria precisely through Svishtov thanks to its alert residents, who made the best use of the town's location on the Danube River", Valchev stressed. He pointed out that the town must be connected to the cities of Vidin and Ruse through a good road and permanent shipping lines in both directions with daily river transport.
He stressed that Svishtov gave Bulgaria the symbol of the "travelling" Bulgarian, Aleko Konstantinov, who is the founder of organized tourism in Bulgaria and the curious man to explore people in Prague and Paris all the way to Chicago in the USA. "This curiosity for both the native and the foreign is also a Bulgarian contribution to Europe, where there are other nations completely closed to others and knowing only about themselves," Valchev said. He added that many nations in Europe do not have the self-criticism of the Bulgarian people that gave birth to Bay Ganyo, a famous character created by Konstantinov.
Valchev also noted that Svishtov ranks among the first non-regional towns in Bulgaria with a BTA correspondent and a BTA National Press Club.
Through the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project, BTA aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. Until September 2025, BTA will host discussions at its press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
/DS/
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