The Rector of UNWE Bestowed the Prize Brand Trakia at the Annual Awards Ceremony Wonders of Bulgaria for 2023

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, awarded the prize Brand Thrace to one of the oldest historical museums in Bulgaria - the Regional History Museum - Pazardjik, for the modernization of the museum and the exhibition of the incredible Ravnogor treasure. The award was received by Boris Hadzhiysky, Director of the Museum, during the 3^rd International Forum Brand Bulgaria - Touch the Wonders, organized by the Cultural Heritage Society - the official representative for Bulgaria of Europa Nostra - the largest European organization for the protection of cultural heritage and the media Standard.

The annual prizes Wonders of Bulgaria for 2023 were also awarded during the forum. The UNWE is a co-founder of the Cultural Heritage Society.

More than 150 representatives of the executive, legislative and local authorities, academia, business, NGOs and the media gathered in Prof. Marin Drinov Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for the solemn ceremony.

The Rhodope Crystal Hall in Madan which keeps over 600 unique mineral specimens, is the Wonder of Bulgaria for 2023. The award Attraction of 2023 was presented to the Mayor Eng. Fahri Molaysenov by Maria Gabriel, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

The Forum was held under her patronage of Europa Nostra and special guests were the Vice-President Pete of Europa Nostra Jasper and Joana Mikru, member of the Board of Directors of Eliniki Eteria /Europa Nostra Greece/.

The discussion and the annual awards ceremony Wonders of Bulgaria were attended by the Minister of Culture Krustyu Krastev, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliament Prof. Andrey Chorbanov, the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Acad. Yulian Revalsky, the owner of Credo Bonum Foundation Tsvetelina Borislavova, the Deputy Governor of BNB Assoc. Prof. Petar Chobanov, the Memebers of the European Parliament Iskra Mihaylova and Tsvetelina Penkova, the Advisor to the Minister of Tourism Prof. Mariela Modeva, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Group Kostadin Kostadinov, the Chairman of the Committee on Children, Youth, Family and Sport Nebbie Kabak, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Tourism in the National Assembly Lyuben Dilov Jr, the Memebers of the Parliament Hayry Sadakov, Bayram Bayram and Fatme Ramadan as well as the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov.

The President of Europa Nostra Bulgaria - Slavka Bozukova, who opened the forum, outlined that Brand Bulgaria should become a national priority like the Euro and Schengen.

On the basis of the unique Bulgarian code, the concept of Brand Bulgaria should be developed and implemented as a new business card of Bulgaria in the world - both as a mission for the revival of Bulgarian spirituality, as a tool for building the country's image and reputation and as a cause that will allow our cultural treasure to take its rightful place in Europe. Meanwhile it should make our country a leading European destination for tourism and innovation, said in her speech Mrs. Bozukova.

Bulgaria's cultural institutes abroad will have a special place in Brand Bulgaria. A unified Bulgarian cultural calendar will be created to be observed both at home and abroad, said the Deputy Prime Minister Maria Gabriel.