Mintimer Shaimiev opens IV International Bolgar Forum

Tatarstan’s State Counselor, Chairman of Board of trustees of the Republican Foundation for historical and cultural monuments revival Mintimer Shaimiev opened IV International Bolgar Forum in Varna (Bulgaria).

More than 100 scientists from different countries gathered at the International House of Scientists “Frederic Joliot Curie” to discuss problems of ancient history of peoples whose origins are closely connected with the history of Great Bulgaria. The atlas “Bulgarica. Time and space of Bolgar civilization” was also presented within the framework of forum.

Mintimer Shaimiev thanked President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev, Bulgarian Academy of sciences, Bulgarian Ministry of culture, Governor of Varna district, Mayor of Varna, the Union of Bulgarian scientists for excellent organisation of the forum and warm reception of Tatarstan researchers and scientists from other Russian scientific centers and foreign countries.

He told about the research project offered by scientists of the Institute of history named after Sh.Mardzhani that implies studying of processes happening on the territory stretching from the Great Chinese Wall to Danube where ancestors of Turkic and Slavonic peoples formed a unique Eurasian civilization.

Mintimer Shaimiev stressed that Tatars and Danubian Bolgars are tied by inseparable blood ties, common history and culture.

Tatarstan’s State Counselor also presented a fundamental scientific work of Tatarstan historians- the atlas “Bulgarica. Time and space of Bolgar civilization” that is a serious stage of international coordination in terms of studying urgent problems of the Tatar-Bolgar civilization. It was published under the auspices of the Republican Foundation for historical and cultural monuments revival.

Mayor of Varna Kiril Yordanov read out greetings on behalf of the President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev.

President of Bulgaria highly estimated the role of the International Bolgar Forum that would give impetus to further study of origins of the Bolgar civilization. He thanked Tatarstan leadership for overall support in organisation and assistance to historians and archeologists.

Bulgarian Minister of culture Vezhdi Rashidov, Mayor of Varna Kiril Yordanov, President of the RT Academy of sciences Akhmet Mazgarov, Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian scientists Damyan Damyanov, Director of the Institute of history named after Sh.Mardzhani Rafael Khakimov, Director of the National Archaeological Institute Lyudmil Vagalinski, scientific secretary of Bulgarian Academy of sciences Slavia Byrlieva also welcomed participants of the forum.

Further, the Badge of highest distinction of the Bulgarian Ministry of culture “The golden century” for exceptional contribution to development of reationships between Tatarstan and Bulgaria in the sphere of culture was presented to the first President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev.

Doctor of historical sciences, corresponding member of the RT Academy of Sciences Fayaz Khuzin held a detailed video presentation of the atlas “Bulgarica. Time and space of Bolgar civilization”. It is a complex scientific cartographic description of the history of Bolgar civilization. The book also contains information about overall activity of the Tatarstan leadership, the Republican Foundation for historical and cultural monuments revival and wide public in ancient city of Bolgar and island-town Sviyazhsk. It has 100 historical maps, plans and schemes reproducing the history of Bolgar civilization.

The book was prepared and published by the Institute of history named after Sh.Mardzhani and the Republican Foundation for historical and cultural monuments revival.

Aide to the Tatarstan President on social issues, CEO of the Republican foundation for historical and cultural monuments revival Tatyana Larionova and Tatarstan’s Minister of culture Airat Sibagatullin participated in the forum.

The International Bolgar Forum in Varna will last till October 26.