The Azerbaijan State News Agency

WORLD

BTA presents its "News on File: 1899-2023" book in Sofia

BTA presents its "News on File: 1899-2023" book in Sofia

Baku, October 8, AZERTAC

A book presenting each of the 125 years since the establishment of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) by one major domestic and international development was presented in BTA’s MaxiM Hall on Tuesday, on the eve of the Day of the Bulgarian Archives.

The book, titled News on File: 1899-2023, is the third in a set marking the anniversary that BTA celebrated in 2023.

The previous two books were Personal Stories, in which current and former staffers of the Agency shared their experiences, and History of BTA 1898-2023, written by Panayot Denev, who was BTA Director General between 1997 and 2002, and edited by Prof. Roumiana Preshlenova, PhD, Director of the Institute of Balkan Studies with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Prof. Preshlenova also acted as a consultant for the third and last book in the series, and Denev wrote the foreword.

THE LESSONS

“We can take away three very important things from this book. One is that you cannot hide anything from history. Even though some of the news was inaccessible to the public and could only be read in classified BTA newsletters, now that time has passed, we open these archives and see that fortunately, despite the restrictions, all the news was available in BTA, even though it was only read by those in power, both during the reign of the Bulgarian Kingdom and during the communist regime,” BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said.

He added that the second key lesson is that there is no point in trying to prevent certain news from reaching the public because time always provides the most accurate judgment of events.

The third important point is closely related: “we have a huge responsibility for the news we write today because it becomes tomorrow's history”.

AN APPROACH THAT LOOKS AT BULGARIA’S ENTIRE HISTORY

Archive State Agency President Mihail Gruev said that Tuesday’s event is dedicated not only to this book but the entire trilogy, which is a set of interconnected texts that reveals BTA’s 125-year history.

Gruev pointed out that his team has restored the oldest BTA newsletters. "One gets a special kind of kick from picking up and leafing through newsletters that are more than 120 years old," he said. He said that an ingenious approach has been adopted, adding that it looks at the entire history of Bulgaria in the context of world history.

Digitization of the archive is currently underway. “It is done year by year, and we are currently working on the second half of the last century,” Valchev said. He added that in parallel with the archive digitization, a process of its physical relocation is also underway and it will be completed in time for BTA’s 127th anniversary at the latest.

Valchev stressed that the three books of BTA's history are available on BTA’s website

CHALLENGES

Prof. Roumiana Preshlenova said that the third book of the set was the most challenging, adding that selecting just one domestic and international development for each year was a demanding task.

Genka Ivanova, head of Home News, said that a large number of people from all of the agency’s departments have contributed to the book. She and Milena Georgieva, senior editor at the Reference Department, were tasked with bringing the publication to life.

Ivanova said that a list of the events in Bulgaria and the world had been compiled with the help of various agency departments. She noted that what was really challenging was finding BTA news items for all these events. Additional news items were found in the process, she added.

WHAT’S NEXT

Valchev said that the BTA archives are yet to be examined and made accessible to the public. Some of them have already appeared in LIK magazine, which will mark its 60th anniversary in 2025.

The BTA Director General also spoke of an idea to publish archives on various topics jointly with the Archive State Agency, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and universities.

“Next year, we will probably publish three books dedicated to the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media,” Valchev said, adding that the 20th edition of the forum will take place in 2025. “The idea is to have a book presenting the 20 meetings, to include personal stories of the people who have participated in these events, and to try to produce a catalogue presenting Bulgarian media around the world,” Valchev announced.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

Azerbaijan’s Victory Day marked in Saudi Arabia

COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company completes official handover of Baku Stadium to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

Prime Minister of Bahamas arrives in Azerbaijan

Magnitude 4.0 earthquake rocks Italy's Molise region

Turkish foreign ministry: We will continue to support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister expresses condolences to Kazakh side

Azerbaijan Army holds military oath-taking ceremonies

Azerbaijan’s Victory and National Flag Days marked in Malaysia

ICESCO Director General arrives in Azerbaijan

At least 20 people killed in bomb explosion in Quetta Pakistan

Turkish Parliament Speaker congratulates Azerbaijan: May our brotherhood last forever!

To His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia

Prime Minister of Tuvalu arrives in Azerbaijan

AZ Alkmaar beat Fenerbahce 3-1 in Europa League

President of Marshall Islands arrives in Azerbaijan

President Ilham Aliyev made post on National Flag Day

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva made post on National Flag Day

Vice President of Tanzania arrives in Azerbaijan

Media partners announced for COP29

Marches accompanied by military orchestras held on Victory Day

Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: Karabakh is Azerbaijan!

President Ilham Aliyev visited National Flag Square in Baku to raise Azerbaijan's tricolor flag

From Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Release from the Press Service of the President

Media leaders and representatives briefed on final preparations for COP29

COP29 information points launched

President Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of Victory Park in Baku VIDEO

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva shared post from National Flag Square VIDEO

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva shared post from Victory Park

President: From now on, the people and state of Azerbaijan will live as a victorious nation and a victorious state

President Ilham Aliyev: The developing Azerbaijan is our source of pride, and our glorious victory is our historical achievement

President: The Patriotic War and anti-terror operation are a bitter and humiliating defeat for those behind Armenia

President Ilham Aliyev: Armenia must end its policy of armament

President Ilham Aliyev: No trace or sign of separatists remains in the lands of Karabakh

President: Some Islamophobes and Azerbaijanophobes in Western capitals are inciting Armenia to a new war

Azerbaijani President: Some Western supporters now want to portray Armenia as a "peace dove"

President: Economic development, significant political influence, and unity of people and government led us to victory

President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on Victory Day

President Ilham Aliyev: The Patriotic War is our glorious history, our brilliant victory

From Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Türkiye

World Bank: COP29 is a great opportunity for Azerbaijan to showcase its commitment to addressing global climate challenges – INTERVIEW

President Ilham Aliyev shared post on anniversary of Shusha’s liberation VIDEO

Foreign Ministry: The 44-day Patriotic War and counter-terrorism measures created historical conditions for sustainable peacebuilding

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva made post on Victory Day

President Ilham Aliyev made post on occasion of 8 November - Victory Day

Delegation of Vietnamese Academy of Journalism and Communication visits AZERTAC

Azerbaijan’s Victory and Flag Days marked in Chisinau

Elon Musk's net worth rises $26 billion in a day after Donald Trump's election victory

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s leadership visits military police unit

German government coalition collapses; early elections expected by end of March 2025

Tbilisi highlights Russia's obligation to withdraw troops, ensure IDP return at Geneva International Discussions

Graduation ceremony of underwater attack special force course held

® Discover Azerbaijan with Nar’s affordable TouristSIM tariffs!

Kylian Mbappe left out of France squad after Didier Deschamps snub

Azerbaijan, Spain explore cooperation within COP29

® Kapital Bank Joins the UN Global Compact for a Stronger Commitment to Sustainable Development

Defense Ministry leadership visits graves of National Leader and martyrs on the eve of Victory Day

"ASAN Service" to organize Ministerial Forum on Green Good Governance within COP29

Azerbaijan names chess players to compete at European Individual Chess Championship 2024

Azerbaijani U16 women`s volleyball team to compete in EuroVolley qualifier in Poland

California wildfire fueled by high winds grows to over 14,000 acres and forces evacuations

President Ilham Aliyev congratulates Maia Sandu on her reelection as President of Moldova

To Her Excellency Madame Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova

Azerbaijan House opens in Prague

Meloni speaks to Trump after election win

Participants of Global Summit of Religious Leaders visit Aghdam district

China expands visa-free policy to nine more countries

Afghanistan opium cultivation increased by 19 per cent in second year of drugs ban, UNODC says

Prolonged sitting can sabotage health, even if you're young and active

Ministry of Science and Education transfers its IT systems to “Government Cloud”

COP29 Volunteer Programme: Final training is now complete

89 still missing after devastating floods in Spain

President Ilham Aliyev attended opening of third section of Central Park in Baku VIDEO

Central Bank fully covers $77.1 million demand at FX auction

Magnitude 3.4 quake hits Caspian Sea

SpaceX targeting Nov. 18 for next Starship megarocket launch

President Ilham Aliyev congratulates Luong Cuong on his election as President of Vietnam

Tazpit Press Service: Israel buys 25 F-15 fighter jets from Boeing for $5.2 billion

To His Excellency Mr. Luong Cuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Participants of Global Summit familiarize themselves with Fuzuli International Airport

Baku Media Centre named official broadcaster for COP29

President Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of Boyukshor–Pirshaghi highway VIDEO

Bulgarian Naval research Vessel RSV 421 poised to set sail for Antarctica

Red Star Belgrade 2-5 Barcelona: Lewandowski brace helps Blaugrana to comfortable win

Indonesia Mount Lewotobi erupts, spews ash 5,000 metres high

Participants of Global Summit of Religious Leaders kick off visit to Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region

Azerbaijan relocates another group of residents to city of Jabrayil VIDEO

Azerbaijani oil price declines in global markets

Oil prices rise in global markets

Azerbaijani ambassador meets with Pakistani PM’s Coordinator on Climate Change

Commonwealth Secretary-General commends Azerbaijan for hosting COP29

WHO identifies 17 pathogens urgently needing new vaccines

® Mastercard and Rabitabank launch Carbon Calculator in Azerbaijan to help consumers reduce environmental impact

Azerbaijan’s Naval Forces hold tactical exercise

Pakistani Deputy PM chairs preparatory meeting ahead of COP29 in Baku

Temporary changes in operations at Heydar Aliyev International Airport during COP29

Inter Milan upset Arsenal 1-0 in UEFA Champions League

Besiktas secures narrow win over Malmo in UEFA Europa League

Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission holds meeting

Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament meets with President of Global Council for Tolerance and Peace