86 years of history and a new beginning! With a smile, lots of enthusiasm and promises of support, Radio Bulgaria’s Romanian language service was officially presented at the Bulgarian National Radio today, bringing the number of languages the BNR communicates with the world in to 11.

“I feel sure this is just the beginning – we shall develop as text, but also as sound, and in the future – why not as video,” said BNR’s Director General Milen Mitev. “I believe this website will contribute to better and closer relations between Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova. I believe that this is part of the mission of public service radio – to boost relations and cultural cooperation, to provide verified, reliable and complete information.”

The moment in time when the new Radio Bulgaria website in Romania is being launched is very important – against the backdrop of the unfolding geopolitical situation in Europe, and with the two countries on the verge of accession to the Schengen area. This year also marks two important anniversaries – 30 years since the signing of the memorandum of cooperation, goodneighbourhood and friendship between Romania and Bulgaria, and 15 years since the two countries joined the EU. Two landmark anniversaries, made mention of by Romania’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Bulgaria H.E. Brandusa-Ioana Predescu:

“I would like to note, with much pleasure, that this is a modern and long-awaited tool which will bring people on either side of the Danube even closer together. I officially assume the commitment, with our modest potential of ambassador and embassy, to do everything we can to bring our two national radio institutions closer for an exchange of experience, but also of content which will mean the wonderful Bulgarian community in my own country will be able to listen to the kind of articles they are interested in, in the Romanian language.”

The official ceremony in front of the Bulgarian National Radio’s concert studio, Studio No. 1, was attended also by the ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Bulgaria H.E. Anatol Cebuc, who stated his support for the popularization of Radio Bulgaria’s content in the Romanian language:

“It is very important for the growing number of tourists, for the developing businesses in the region, and for all our citizens visiting Bulgaria. I am very grateful!”

Iulia Bahovski, a member of the new Romanian language section addressed the journalists and public figures attending the ceremony with the words that Bulgaria and Romania “have a lot more to say to each other”:

“I would especially like to thank the staff of the embassy of Romania in Sofia and of Bulgaria in Bucharest, and to say that it would be difficult for their events and initiatives outside of politics, connected with culture, with religion and traditions to reach out to people and touch their hearts if we, the media, do not help them. I want you to know that you can count on us. I would like to thank the BNR for this initiative and for the opportunity of being part of this team.”

Relations with Romania have been neglected for too long, says Vladimir Mitev, who now sees Radio Bulgaria as his professional home:

“As a concept, Radio Bulgaria’s Romanian language service is going to be very much connected with the other foreign-language programmes which users and listeners already know. We shall offer translated content from the Bulgarian National Radio, but also original, targeted content on important topics. Our team consists of three people – myself, journalist Iulia Bahovski, who is Romanian with a Bulgarian husband, and editor Alexandru Ionaschku, who has a PhD in philological sciences. We are all in contact with various organizations and people connected with Bulgarian-Romanian relations, and we believe that the content we shall offer BNR’s users will be very interesting and useful.”

Vladimir Mitev has graduated international relations and Iranian studies from the St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia, and worked for the weekly magazine Tema for many years. It was while working there that he decided to pursue his long-standing passion – Romania. So, he learnt the language and started covering events in that country. Seven years ago he launched a Bulgarian-Romanian blog of his own called “Bridge of friendship”, named after the bridge between Ruse on the Bulgarian side and Giurgiu on the Romanian side. There logically followed the question: do we know each other well enough, and how sturdy is the bridge of friendship between Bulgarians and Romanians?

“I think the tendency is positive and the very fact a decision has been made to launch a Radio Bulgaria Romanian language service is recognition of the fact we need to get to know each other better. I believe that there is an inertia from times past between Bulgarians and Romanians, some negative stereotypes. We need to discover our neighbours in their entirety.”

And by getting to know one another, it will be easier to accept each other.

You can visit Radio Bulgaria’s web page in the Romanian language here.