Balkans in XXI Century - Bulgarian Vision

The UNWE is the most appropriate place for a meeting of eminent Bulgarian researchers, politicians and diplomats who has the ambition to peer into the future of the Balkans people. Our University has always had a serious contribution to the rich research tradition of the Balkans subjects and to the preparation of specialists in this field. It was pointed out by Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of UNWE, at the opening of the Conference by international participation on the Balkans in XXI Century – Bulgarian Vision. The Forum was organized by the UNWE, Institute of Economics and International Relations, Bulgarian Diplomatic Association and the National Association for International Relations by the assistance of the magazine International Relations. In the Conference participated famous Bulgarian and foreign scientists.

Personal example for development of the Balkans subjects was given by the founder and first Rector of UNWE Prof. Stephan Bobchev and a large number of university researchers: Prof. Petar Bogaevski, Prof. Petko Staynov, Prof. Georgy Genov, Dr. Stoyan Danev, Atanas Burov, Prof. Mihail Genovsky, Prof. Lyuben Georgiev, Assoc. Prof. Petar Arsov, etc. The Rector outlined that since 1975 the International Relations Department has set the Balkans research as an important subject and center of its work and it has integrated the topic in the education of students as specialization Balkans States. “Through that studying have passed a lot of Ministers, Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs, diplomats including also a huge part from the attendants at the Hall, outlined Prof. Stattev. The Rector emphasized on the fact that Bulgaria had very serious and responsible mission as a constructive factor of processes in the southeastern Europe and especially in the Balkans and it played an important role in the implementation of the European Union politics in the region. He expressed his confidence that the Conference would make a new up building in the position on the issues and would trace directions of the Bulgarian role in development of the region.

From the left to the right: Prof. Dinko Dinkov, Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Lyubomir Kyuchukov

Over XVIII, XIX and XX century the Balkans people have lived in a strange historic period, alongside the basic characteristics of the modern Europe. Today we will make some efforts to have a glance in the future and see what kind of perspective bodes the new time for our region of Europe, pointed out Prof. Dr. Dinko Dinkov, lecturer at the International Relations Department.

The European Union globalization and expanding as an opportunity for the Balkans region was outlined by Lyubomir Kyuchukov, Director of the Institute of Economics and International Relations. In his statement he examined the forming of regional identity and regional subjectivity, role of the national state and status of the Balkans.

Three important points in the concept about the role of the national state exposed in his report Corr. Mbr. Prof. Vasil Prodanov, lecturer form the UNWE. He pointed out that he didn`t consider the Balkans as a unified subject and featured the tendencies appearing as a result of globalization, increasing non-balances in the military sphere, etc.

Participants in the Conference…	...at the Large Conference Hall

The work of the Conference was carried out in three stages. During the first stage - Balkans in the Global World - were outlined the interests and strategies of the global and regional “players”, challenges for security and membership in the European Union and NATO. The second one – Balkans Regionalism – Necessity or Utopia - was the topic of discussions and reports of Prof. Maria Chavdarova from the UNWE and Simeon Nikolov, Director of the Center SISMO. In the third stage – Bulgaria and Balkans Neighbours - was made a statement by Chavdar Minchev, Executive Director of NAMO.