An online connection between the Persian-speaking world, Bulgaria, Romania and the rest – Онлайн връзка между персоговорящия свят, България, Румъния и останалите – Legătură online între lumea persofonă, Bulgaria, România şi celelalte – روابط انلاین بین دنیای فارسی زبان بلغارستان رومانیا و دیگران
A conversation with the Persian language professor at Sofia University about her memories of life shared between Bulgaria and Iran, the history of Iranian Studies in Bulgaria and the particularities of Bulgarian-Iranian relations
Vladimir Mitev
Dr. Hajar Fiouzi was a lecturer in Persian language at Sofia University, New Bulgarian University and Iranian Cultural Center. He holds a PhD in chemistry. She worked at the High Institute of Chemistry and Technologies, the Institute of Chemical Research and the Vladaya Chemical Factory, where he had a work experience of about 12 years before going to Iran between 1976 and 1984. In Iran, she worked at the Tobacco Research Institute of Iran and in Tehran at a factory as head of a chemical laboratory. In 1984, because of the Iran-Iraq war, she returned to Bulgaria. She started working at the cigarette factory in Sofia as a chemical expert. We talk to her about the life and work of an Iranian woman who chose to live in Bulgaria.
The Iranian Cultural Center in Sofia is just a few steps away from the Eagle’s Bridge (photo: Pixabay, CC0)
Interview on Radio Farhang (Culture) with Hamid Reza Azadi – director of the Cultural Representation at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bulgaria, about his recent meeting with the Head of the Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures at Sofia University
This interview can be heard in Persian here. It was broadcast on Farhang Radio on 2th November (12th Aban) 2020.
Radio Farhang: We will have a conversation with Mr. Hamid Reza Azadi – Director of the Cultural Representation at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bulgaria and a representative of the Saadi Foundation with a focus on the dissemination and teaching of the Persian language in Bulgaria. We will talk about the meeting of Mr. Azadi with the director of the Center for Oriental Languages and Cultures of Sofia University, Professor Ivo Panov. Mr. Azadi, welcome to the Phoenix program on Radio Culture.
The former Iranian ambassador in Bulgaria, founder of the Center for Iranian, Balkan and Central European Studies (IBCE) in Sofia dr. Abdullah Norouzi has given this interview about the past, present and future activity of IBCE and about the relations between the Islamic Republic and the regions of Central and Southeastern Europe
Vladimir Mitev
Dr. Abdullah Norouzi is a former Iranian ambassador to Sweden and Bulgaria. He is the chairman of the founding board of the Center for Iranian, Balkan and Central European Studies. Mr. Norouzi has graduated from The American University of the Middle East in Kuwait with a PhD degree in international relations and political philosophy. He has been a career diplomat for 40 years.
The blog “The Persian Bridge of Friendship” entered in communication with Mr. Norouzi on the issue of the IBCE, which has recently announced that it is open to new members and plans new activities.
The Centre for Iranian, Balkan and Central European Studies looks for members and cooperation in its region of interest and beyond
This is a press release of the Sofia-based Center for Iran, the Balkans and Central European Studies.
The Centre for Iran, the Balkans and Central European Studies (IBCE) renewed its activities. Earlier IBCE had been active in the academic field, organising scientific conferences, summer schools, meetings for experts of Iranian Studies in the region of Central Europe and the Balkans. In the coronavirus times IBCE has been promoting or organising online courses in Iranian Studies matters – history, literature, language teaching. Reports on a number of those activities are now posted on the site of IBCE – in Persian or English language.
An interview on the Bulgarian-Iranian cultural relations and how the Department of Iranian Studies at Sofia University works to develop them
Vladimir Mitev
The orientalist and iranologist Ivo Panov was born on October 5th, 1958 in Sofia. His dedication to the East began with study of Persian Philology at the State University of Kabul (1978-1980) and continued graduating Eastern Languages and Literature at the State University of Azerbaijan (1980-1984). In 2001 he defended his doctorate at Sofia University on theme: New Aspects in the Study of the Poetic Heritage of Omar Khayyam.
At present, Ivo Panov is head of the department for Iranian Studies at Sofia University since the department was founded in 1993. He was also a director of the master’s programme Iranian Studies at New Bulgarian University (2000-2004). He is president of the Association of Friends of the Persian Language and Culture in the Republic of Bulgaria since its establishment in 2008. Ivo Panov leaded section Theory, History and Criticism of Translation at the Union of Translators in Bulgaria (2010-2016) and the Union of Translators in Bulgaria (2016-2019).
”Book of Iran” was presented on the fourth floor of the National Palace of Culture (photo: The Bridge of Friendship)
The publishing of this book, which is dedicated to Persian art, is an important event in the life of Bulgarian Iranian Studies
Vladimir Mitev
Bulgarian Iranology marked the translation and the publishing in Bulgarian language of “Book of Iran. The History of Iranian Art” by doctor Habibollah Ayatollahi, with an event at the Book Fair, Sofia. The book’s launch took place on 12th December, 2019 and was organised by the Cultural Representation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bulgaria, publishing house “Gutenberg” and “The Association of Persian Language and Culture’s Friends of the Republic of Bulgaria”.
An interview with the Director of the “Center for Iran, Balkans and Central European Studies” on the occasion of the summer school of Iranian Studies which took place between 11 and 17 September 2017, about the goals, the achievements and the future intentions of this non-governmental organization
Vladimir Mitev
Alireza Pourmohammad is the Director of the “Center for Iran, Balkans and Central European Studies” (IBCE), which was established in Sofia in 2016 with the intention to contribute to the scientific communication and the development of Iranian Studies in Bulgaria and in the Balkan and Central European countries. He started teaching in the department of Iranian Studies in the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in 2008, where he covers “Introduction in Mysticism”, “Persian language and literature”, “Tehran dialect”, “Oral Persian language”, “Introduction in the Persian mythology and epic”.
Alireza Pourmohammad has graduated from the Iranian University “Allameh Tabatabai”. The joint work of the IBCE’s Director and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivo Panov, who is the head of the department “Iranian Studies” in the Sofia University and a president of “The Association of the Persian Language and Culture’s Friends in the Republic of Bulgaria” led to the organization of several international scientific conferences in Bulgaria, to the translation and the publication of books, dictionaries and volumes with scientific articles in Bulgarian language. In the middle of September 2017 the first summer school of Iranian Studies with lecturers from Iran, Hungary and Bulgaria took place. There were lectures about Introduction to the Old Persian and Middle Persian language, Persian Classical Literature, Contemporary Iranian Literature, and about Iranian philosophy and religion. These lectures dealt also with the historical evolution of the Shi’a sects, Iranian mysticism, etc. The Persian language (Farsi) seminars contributed to the overcoming of some specific problems, connected with writing and speaking in Persian language.
After the end of the summer school a meeting of the heads of the academic centers and Iranian Studies courses from Poland, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Serbia, Kosovo, Iran and Bulgaria took place in the central building of the Sofia University. The main goal of the meeting was the mutual acquaintance and the search for possibilities for collaboration in the field of Iranian Studies research. IBCE’s activity became an occasion for the blog “Bridge of Friendship” to talk with the president of this regional center for strategic research.
The Persian Bridge of Friendship - Персийският мост на приятелството - Podul Persan al Prieteniei - پل دوستی فارسی 