
An event in October 2022 showed the prevalent respect for one of the individuals who are bridge of friendship between Bulgarians and Iranians
Vladimir Mitev
In Bulgarian-Iranian relations, and in international relations in general, there are people who play a very important role – that of a “bridge of friendship” between nations. This is a role perhaps more difficult and more important even than that of diplomats, because diplomats have their diplomatic status and move in a somewhat more protected environment. People who are bridges of friendship have no defenses and nowhere to run, they are permanently connected to both nations and feel with their own bodies every positive or negative emotion in their relationship. They are also people who often sacrifice their own emotionalism or righteousness and instead think about how to promote peace and trust in international relations. Accordingly, every turmoil in international and national relations resonate more strongly in their souls.
On October 20, 2022, Iranians in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Iranologists, friends of Iran in Sofia and representatives of the Iranian Embassy in our country gathered at the Zoo Hotel in Sofia to show their respect and appreciation for a Persian bridge of friendship – Mrs. Hajar Fiouzi. For years, her home in Sofia has been a kind of Mecca – all kinds of people who have relations to the ties between Bulgaria and Iran come there, and her modest apartment is a kind of “qeble-ye alam” (a hub of the (Bulgarian-Iranian) universe). Mrs. Fiouzi was a long-time lecturer in Persian language and other disciplines at Sofia University. Kliment Ohridski”. She is known for her numerous simultaneous translations of Iranian events in Sofia, for her translations of Bulgarian literature into Persian or Persian into Bulgarian, and for her teaching at the Iranian Cultural Center in Bulgaria. Readers of The Persian Bridge of Friendship blog have read this interview with her from the summer of 2022. They also know of her pain at the untimely loss of her extremely talented daughter, Sharare Peacock.
Ms. Fiouzi’s contribution to Bulgarian-Iranian relations was the focus of the event in Sofia. But it was also a celebration of Persian culture itself. Thanks to Nabiollah Masumi, another activist for Bulgarian-Iranian friendship, and several Bulgarians, poems by poets such as Hafez and Rumi were read, focusing on the mystical and life wisdom of the Iranians. The floor was taken by many of the guests, including His Excellency Mr. Seyed Mohammad Javad Rasouli – Iranian Ambassador to Bulgaria and Iranian Cultural Attaché Javad Amini. On the Bulgarian side, many university professors participated – such as Prof. Dr. Ivo Panov – the doyen of Iranian Studies and professor of Iranian Literature, Prof. Dr. Alexandra Kumanova from the University of Library Science and Information Technology, Snezhana Todorova – President of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists and others. The hall was almost full – with several dozen Iranians, Bulgarian Iranologists and others.
The Persian Friendship of Bridge blog received some of the speeches at the event and published them here with minimal editorial intervention (e.g. the title of each speech was chosen by the blog). They testify to the need to have more trustworthy personalities on both sides between our nations. In times of war and confrontation in international relations, the need for these individuals is even greater.
Continue reading “Bulgarians and Iranians express their admiration to Dr. Hajar Fiouzi”