BTA: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Endorses BTA Director General Kiril Valchev for Second Term

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) has officially endorsed the candidacy of Kiril Valchev, Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), for a second term in office. The decision was announced on Monday at a meeting at the Academy, attended by BAS President Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva and BAS Vice President Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov.

At the meeting, Valchev was also presented with the "Correct and Rich Bulgarian Language in Journalism" award, given on the occasion of the Day of National Enlighteners.

„It is a great honour for me that the first organization to support my nomination for a new term is the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the oldest institution in Bulgaria, founded even before the restoration of the Bulgarian state,” Valchev said.

He recalled the historical connection between the two institutions, noting that the Bulgarian News Agency was originally located in the BAS building. "BTA began here, in a room on the first floor. It is moving to have the institution where the Agency was born support my nomination," he said.

Valchev emphasized the symbolic nature of the date, pointing out that November 10 marks World Science Day for Peace and Development, whose 2025 theme is The Science We Need for 2050.

At the meeting, Valchev outlined the two key principles n which he wants to base the development of BTA for the next five-year period: consistency and progress. "These words are often replaced with foreign terms, yet both come from Old Bulgarian roots and embody the ideas of both stability and forward movement," Valchev added.

BAS Vice President Prof. Moutafov highlighted the reasons behind the Academy’s support. "In endorsing your second term, we wanted to recognize your compelling activity and presence in Bulgaria’s cultural and news life. After preparing our letter of support, we witnessed your engagement in Moldova and Ukraine in support of Bessarabian Bulgarians," he said.

Moutafov congratulated Valchev on BTA’s successful cooperation with all 51 universities in Bulgaria, describing this as "an impressive achievement".