A meeting of experts from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies and Ethnographic Museum with representatives of the National Assembly Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad was held on January 20 in one of the halls of the museum. The conversation was initiated by Mrs. Antoaneta Tzoneva, Chairperson of the Commission and Prof. Dr. Vladimir Penchev, Director of IEFSEM – BAS, and among the guests was Mrs. Teodora Angelova, Chairperson of the National Center for Parliamentary Research.
The main topics discussed at the event included the problematic aspects of legislation related to cultural and educational policies concerning Bulgarians abroad. The legislative cases and needs that are different for Bulgarians in Bessarabia and the Balkans, for our compatriots in Europe and beyond, for the descendants of second and third generation Bulgarian emigrants, etc. were commented. The questions related to the preservation of the Bulgarian identity were discussed.
The experts from IEFSEM – BAS made a number of recommendations based on their long-standing work among communities of our compatriots abroad and committed to assist the MPs to establish contacts and include various emigrant organizations in the composition of the Public Council of the Committee.
Both sides agreed that this was only the first in a series of meetings necessary to build fruitful relations and achieve real and good results.
