Balgarianovinite.com People should listen to each other without raising their voices, Bulgarian writer Teodora Dimova said at the opening of the Thessaloniki Book Fair on Thursday. Bulgaria is guest of honour at the fair.
In her address, Dimova highlighted Bulgaria and Greece’s deep historical and cultural ties and the importance of literary exchange between the two nations. She recalled taking part in the forum three years earlier for the launch of her novel The Mothers, translated by Blagorodna Filevska-Panagou, and called the fair an “intensive and inspiring literary marathon”.
“Our two countries have lived side by side for centuries and influenced each other. Despite difficult and turbulent periods in our shared history, the goodwill and warmth between the Greek and Bulgarian peoples are beyond dispute,” Dimova said.
She noted that literary exchange between Bulgarians and Greeks dates back to Byzantium and continued during the Bulgarian National Revival, when several Bulgarian writers and figures in the national liberation movement received a Greek education. Among them, she cited Georgi Rakovski, Grigor Parlichev, Dr Ivan Seliminski and Petar Beron.
Dimova also highlighted the role of translators in bringing the two countries closer culturally. She singled out Stefan Gechev’s contribution in introducing Bulgarian readers to internationally acclaimed Greek poets, as well as that of Georgi Koufov, who translated works by Greek authors including Nikos Kazantzakis.
“When we speak about contemporary literature, we must first express our gratitude to the translators and mediators between the two languages, because they are the bridges we walk on,” Dimova said. She added that cultural ties between Bulgaria and Greece are developing through joint projects, festivals and active tourism exchange, with traditions from the past being combined with modern forms of cooperation.
“Bulgaria is the focus country of this wonderful book fair. When something is in focus, it is seen clearly, distinctly, in sharp contrast and in all its detail,” Dimova said. She voiced hope that the forum would help ensure that “Bulgaria is always in focus for Greeks, and Greece is always in focus for Bulgarians”.
The event was also attended by Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture Board Chair Nikos Bakounakis, TIF-HELEXPO S.A. Board Chair Christos Tsentemeidis, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, Greek Deputy Interior Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Konstantinos Gkioulekas, Central Macedonia Governor Athina Aidona-Athanasiadou and Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis.
Bulgarian attendees included Deputy Culture Minister Victor Stoyanov, Bulgaria’s Consul General in Thessaloniki Anton Markov, Dimova and others.
The Bulgarian stand will officially open on Thursday. Literature Beyond Borders is the central theme of Bulgaria’s participation.
A wide range of authors and translators will be featured at the fair. Children’s writers Kapka Kaneva and Zornitsa Hristova will take part in the forum in the Greek city. The programme will also feature International Booker Prize shortlisted author Rene Karabash, Alexander Sekulov, Iana Boukova, Dimova, Todor P. Todorov and Ina Valchanova, Elena Alexieva, Yordanka Beleva, Sotir and Penko Gelev, and Leonie Hodkevitch.
The participating translators are Zdravka Mihaylova, Blagorodna Filevska-Panagou and Spyros N. Pappas. Bulgaria’s participation in the literary forum will close with a concert by violinist Svetlin Roussev and the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, at the Church of Agios Georgios, known as the Rotunda, in Thessaloniki. The programme will feature music by Pancho Vladigerov, Nikos Skalkottas and Camille Saint-Saens. Bulgarian Writer Dimova Calls for Dialogue Across Borders at Thessaloniki Book Fair 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-07 06:45:26 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law