site.btaAmbassador Stoychev: LIK Magazine Was a Window to World Culture for My Generation

“My generation grew up with the two magazines published at the time by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) — LIK and Paraleli, and indeed, LIK was a window to European and world literature and culture,” said Bulgarian Ambassador to London Tihomir Stoychev,, during a themed event organized by the Bulgarian Cultural Institute (BCI).

The event marked two media anniversaries — the 60th anniversary of the first issue of LIK, BTA’s magazine for literature, art, and culture, and the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

Ambassador Stoychev extended congratulations to BTA’s Director General Kiril Valchev for his initiative to revive LIK with a new strategy and vision, not only to preserve cultural memory, but also to promote contemporary Bulgarian literature.

He emphasized that, especially after Georgi Gospodinov’s Booker Prize win two years ago, Bulgarian poets and writers are increasingly sought after in the West.

Stoychev said that both BTA and BNR are institutions in their own right, symbolizing the lasting importance of Bulgarian media and cultural heritage.

Ambassador Stoychev extended his best wishes to the leadership of BTA and BNR, encouraging them to continue to contribute their energy and enthusiasm to the Bulgarian information space. He thanked them for their presence at the event and highlighted that a special broadcast dedicated to Petar Ouvaliev had also taken place, featuring the participation of the Director General of the Bulgarian National Television.

The ambassador thanked BTA and BNR for covering extensively the activities of the Bulgarian Embassy in London.

“Our main focus is on the Bulgarian community in the United Kingdom,” Stoychev said, “but they also turn to your institutions as sources of information. At the same time, it’s important for Bulgarians back home — those who are interested, of course — to have an idea of what we are doing abroad.”

He concluded his remarks by expressing hope that the strong cooperation already established between the Embassy, the Cultural Institute, and the media will continue and grow in the future.

As part of the event, special anniversary issues of LIK magazine were presented, marking the 60th anniversary of the publication and the 90th anniversary of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

The program also featured two exhibitions that are part of BNR’s anniversary celebrations: the documentary exhibition 90 Years of BNR – The Radio of Generations of Bulgarians and selected works from the national art competition In the Footsteps of Sirak Skitnik.

Among the participants in the event were: BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, BNR Director General Milen Mitev, LIK Managing Editor Yanitsa Hristova, BNR Commercial Directir Plamen Dichkov, and Alexander Doychinov, Director of the National High School of Art sin Sliven.

The event also featured a special performance by pianist Mario Angelov.