The 20th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, organised by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, has opened in Sofia. The event, which is being held under the motto 'Media and Knowledge', has brought together representatives of 34 media outlets from 25 countries.

At the launch, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev emphasised the urgent need for Bulgaria to introduce a programme to systematically support Bulgarian media outlets abroad, similar to the successful initiative already in place for Bulgarian schools overseas. He noted that, just as teachers pass on knowledge of the past, journalists share knowledge of the present.

In his welcome address to participants, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov wrote, 'I hope that this year's meeting of Bulgarian media will serve as an example of how every Bulgarian, wherever they may be in the world, is important to our country and our society.'

In his speech, BNR Director General Milen Mitev highlighted the role of Radio Bulgaria, which actively engages with and maintains a strong connection to Bulgarians living abroad. He also spoke about the Bridge of Faith podcast, which features Bulgarian Orthodox church communities abroad. The podcast is produced by Radio Bulgaria in cooperation with the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of Western and Central Europe and Church Newspaper, the official print publication of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Radio Bulgaria reporter Yoan Kolev reported.

Svetla Kyoseva, editor-in-chief of the Hemus Bulgarian-Hungarian magazine for culture and society, emphasised in her speech the benefits of such meetings. They not only bring together Bulgarian media scattered around the world, but also facilitate their contact with Bulgarian institutions, she said, quoted by BTA.

The opening of the forum was also attended by Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who addressed participants at the First World Meeting of Bulgarian Media in Sofia on 23 May 2005 when he was prime minister.

Traditionally, the National Donation Fund '13 Centuries Bulgaria' award for contribution to the dissemination of Bulgarian culture by Bulgarian-language media abroad will be presented during the meeting.