site.btaBulgarian Ambassador in Ankara Speaks on Importance of Cultural Diplomacy

Addressing a meeting on Culture and Education - a Bridge between Bulgaria and Turkiye here Tuesday, Bulgarian Ambassador in Ankara Anglel Cholakov dwelled on the importance of cultural diplomacy. "Cultural diplomacy is one of the most powerful delivery vehicles of our foreign policy," said the diplomat.

The meeting is taking place in the BTA National Press Club in Ankara ahead of a performance of Tosca by the Sofia Opera and Ballet in Ankara on November 8 and Istanbul on November 11, mottoed "Bulgaria congratulates Turkiye: Happy centenary of the Republic!," 

Ambassador Cholakov said that the Tosca performance will be "the culmination of an ambitious season for Bulgaria in Turkiye." 

"We have had over 15 events, starting with the iconic calendar and exhibition about [Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk's Sofia years, and culminating with the opera tour in Ankara and Istanbul," he noted.

The tour of Sofia Opera and Ballet is taking place under the patronage of Desislava Radeva, wife of the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, and Emin Erdogan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Noting the presence of the Rector of the Trakia University in Stara Zagora, Prof. Dobri Yarkov, at the Tuesday meeting, Ambassador Cholakov underscored the importance that is attached to academic exchanges. "In addition to the large number of cultural events, in April we had a conference organized by Varna University of Economics, which brought together more than ten Bulgarian higher education institutions with an economic profile, in connection with the opportunities and mobility between students and teachers," the Bulgarian diplomat recalled.