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Iliana Yotova: Differences Unite Us, They Do Not Divide Us, Only Together Can We be Free and Have a Future

“Differences unite us, they do not divide us, only together can we be free and have a future.” This is what the Bulgarian Vice-president Iliana Yotova said at the Slavic University in Baku, where she delivered a lecture to professors and students studying Bulgarian language and literature.

The University offers future diplomats and specialists training in international relations, specializing in the topic of Bulgaria and the Balkans. “I am proud that there are a lot of young people here who study the language, history and culture of my nation,” the Vice-president said. Iliana Yotova recalled that Bulgaria achieved its language and spiritual independence due to the holy deed of the two brothers Cyril and Methodius, their disciples, who created today’s Cyrillic alphabet. “Currently more than 300 million people in the world use this alphabet and it is one of the three official alphabets of the European community, together with the Latin and Greek,” the Vice-president said.

In Iliana Yotova’s words, our country is not only a worthy and respected EU member state, but is also a guarantor for stability and security in Southeastern Europe and in the Balkans. The Vice-president added that Bulgaria will play a key role in the future as well in ensuring the security of the external EU borders and the stability in the region. “Moreover, we are the only bridge and intermediary ensuring the understanding between the East and the West.

The major challenges we are facing are coping with the refugee and migrant crisis, which has not been so large-scale since World War II, tackling the economic, financial and social crisis, fighting extremism and radicalization, which threaten our society,” the Vice-president said.  Iliana Yotova pointed out that in less than eight months, Bulgaria will take over the presidency of the European Union. “It is namely then that Europe should find a solution to the greatest part of these problems and we are fully aware of the responsibility we share in this respect, the Vice-president said. At the end of her lecture, Iliana Yotova invited the students to come to Bulgaria, so that they can work, be discoverers, explore our beautiful language and our rich culture. She also donated Bulgarian books to the Center for Bulgarian Language and Culture at the university.

Earlier that day, the Vice-president opened an agency of the Bulgaria-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Baku. A center for the presentation of companies and their products, and also a study center for business administration and correspondence for students studying Bulgarian in the Slavic University in Baku, are located there.

Iliana Yotova also met the leadership of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Science. The opportunities for cooperation and the exchange of young staff were discussed at the meeting.