The Bulgarian Minister of Culture held meetings in Paris in support of the Bulgarian candidacy for Director-General of UNESCO
From September 8 – 11, 2009, Mr Vezhdi Rashidov, Minister of Culture of Bulgaria, visited the French capital within the framework of the campaign in support of the Bulgarian candidacy for Director-General of UNESCO.
During the first day of the visit, Minister Rashidov held a working dinner with ambassadors and representatives to the Executive Board of UNESCO who will take part in the election of the new Director-General during the 182nd Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO.
On September 9, 2009, Minister Vezhdi Rashidov met with the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura.
During their talk, Minister Rashidov expressed his personal support and that of the Bulgarian government for Ambassador Irina Bokova, candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO.
Minister Rashidov confirmed before his host the commitment of Bulgaria towards encouraging the noble ideals of UNESCO in safeguarding peace, defending human rights, respecting human dignity, understanding and respecting diversity, expressing also his ambition for our country to become a member of the World Heritage Committee.
In the course of the talks, it was emphasised that at the 182nd Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO the decision will be made to open for the first time in Bulgaria a UNESCO Regional Center with headquarters in Sofia for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the region of South-Eastern Europe.
Later that day, during a ceremony at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris, Minister Rashidov presented the Golden Age honorary award of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture to Mr Jean-Paul Villain, French art collector and gallery-owner, for his contribution to popularising Bulgarian art in France and around the world.
The evening ended with Minister Rashidov meeting prominent French intellectuals, public figures, senators, deputies, ambassadors and compatriots at the reception given by Ambassador Bokova to mark the 182nd Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO.
The following day, Minister Rashidov met with the French Minister of Culture and Communication, Mr Frédéric Mitterrand.
The two ministers discussed the traditionally excellent relations and collaboration between Bulgaria and France in the field of culture and exchanged opinions concerning a number of current issues. Minister Rashidov expressed his contentment with the regular high-level meetings between the two countries, and shared his intention to use every opportunity to expand the cultural exchange between Bulgaria and France.