NEWS

UNESCO will Support the Establishment of an International Institute for Sustainable Technologies with Apparatuses from CERN in Bulgaria

UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of President Rumen Radev to take part in the celebration of the Day of the Bulgarian education and culture and the Slavic script – 24 May 

Bulgaria will continue to actively work within UNESCO to achieve a consensus on the programs of the organization, the conducted reforms and also to overcome the financial difficulties related to its budget. This is what President Rumen Radev said today at a meeting with the Director General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization / UNESCO/ Audrey Azoulay at 2 Dondukov street. Audrey Azoulay is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of President Rumen Radev to take part in the celebration of the Day of the Bulgarian education and culture and the Slavic script – 24 May.

Rumen Radev emphasized at the meeting that as a country with a rich cultural and historical heritage, deepening the cooperation with UNESCO is Bulgaria’s priority. “Bulgaria is a country that has contributed to the development of European civilization and is working toward building a peaceful world based on cooperation and on overcoming the ethnic, religious and racial differences,” Rumen Radev said.

UNESCO will support the establishment of an International Institute for Sustainable Technologies with apparatuses from CERN in Bulgaria, which will focus on scientific and medical investigations and the treatment of oncological diseases, UNESCO Director General said at the meeting. Rumen Radev presented the idea for establishing such a center back during his first meeting with Audrey Azoulay in Paris in 2017.

“We are not speaking only about the development of science in Bulgaria, we are speaking about a scientific connectivity in the region, about the opportunity for our young specialists to work with world-famous researchers, about the establishment of a center that will prevent the young people from leaving our region and which will have a great social effect,” the President said. In Rumen Radev’s words, the regional center will have a positive impact also on healthcare and an initial funding for its construction has already been provided. “I strongly hope that the Bulgarian government will support the project,” the Head of State added.

“Thank you for inviting me to attend this important, rich and bright holiday, which fits in the spirit of UNESCO. There can be no better idea than that to be here on 24 May so that we can celebrate the alphabet, culture, creativity, the young people. This is a very important holiday for all Bulgarians. Therefore it is a great honor to me to have the pleasure to share it with you tomorrow,” Audrey Azoulay said.

She highly appreciated Bulgaria’s support in the Executive Council of UNESCO and our country’s contribution to the modernization of the organization. “This gives us the chance to ensure a peaceful and an ambitious framework for our work, given that we cannot cope with a lot of challenges without culture, without science,” Audrey Azoulay said and highlighted UNESCO’s efforts to protect the cultural diversity and the world cultural heritage, particularly in regions affected by crises and wars.

A lot of issues pertaining to the digitalization of the cultural heritage, the development of a sustainable cultural tourism and the protection of the biodiversity in Bulgaria, among other issues were discussed at the meeting.

Earlier UNESCO Director General delivered a lecture on the topic “UNESCO and the challenges of the 21^st century” in the aula of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.

Tomorrow the Head of State and UNESCO Director General will attend the festive program dedicated to the Day of the Bulgarian education and culture and the Slavic script – 24 May.