A book by Prof. Venelin Tsachevsky has been publishedrecently: “Bulgaria and Switzerland. Together in History” (Studia Transmedia, Sofia 2015). For more information and to order the book you can contact the office of Studia Transmedia, tel.: 0888 50 60 71 or 0898 34 23 06.
BULGARIA AND SWITZERLAND. TOGETHER IN HISTORY
This book is dedicated to the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Switzerland. It offers a study of the history of the Swiss state and the historical development of the cooperation between the two nations in the field of economy, politics, education, science, art and culture. The final chapter of the book focuses on the life and activities of Professor Konstantin Katzarov – one of the brightest personalities in the history of Bulgarian-Swiss relations, a remarkable scholar and patriot, founder of the “Konstantin and Zinovia Katzarovi” foundation.
The start of the diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Swiss Confederation dates back to October 1915 when Andrey Toshev presented his Letters of Credence as an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria in Bern. The relations between Bulgaria and Switzerland, however, are much older. After the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878 dozens of enterprising Swiss people came to Bulgaria, contributing to the establishment of a number of industrial and other kinds of activities – electric power facilities, brewing industry, production of cement, paper and cardboard, textiles, chemical products, etc. They were also involved in housing construction, architectural design, landscape gardening and electrification in Bulgaria. Swiss pedagogues were among the founders of physical education and the sports movement in Bulgaria. On the other hand, many prominent Bulgarians received their education and professional recognition in Switzerland.
The history of Bulgarian-Swiss relations is a history of solidarity and understanding. The historical past is the foundation of the existing mutual feelings of friendship and beneficial cooperation between the two countries.