The forum was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Egypt and was organized by the Institute of Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies and the Center for the Study of Religions at Sofia University. The international partners included Damanhur University, affiliated with the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Montenegro. The conference was officially opened on 13 July 2026 in the Prof. Marin Drinov Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nadya Filipova, Director of the Institute of Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, welcomed the participants and guests. She presented the conference as part of the joint research project “Beyond the Borders of Time and Space: Bulgaria and Egypt in the Dynamics of Transformations in the Middle East,” implemented by the Institute of Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Damanhur University. Members of the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies and students of the Arabic Studies Program at Sofia University were participating in the project.

Prof. Dr. Simeon Evstatiev, Head of the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Religions at Sofia University, emphasized that the conference was another joint initiative of these university units and the Institute of Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He expressed his satisfaction that, on this occasion, the impetus for their cooperation was even broader and was connected with Egypt – not merely a country, but an idea. He also stressed how pleased he was that the important international forum brought together not only faculty members and researchers, but also students from the Arabic Studies Program.

Prof. Dr. Emanuel Moutafov, Vice-President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, welcomed the participants and shared his observations on the commercial and spiritual exchange between Bulgaria and Egypt, noting that for centuries Bulgarian pilgrims returning from pilgrimages to the Holy Land also passed through St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai.

H.E. Mr. Nader Saad, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Bulgaria, expressed his sincere appreciation for this prestigious international academic forum. He also highlighted his admiration for the virtual exhibition of historical artefacts and expressed his joy at the friendship, mutual respect, and fruitful cooperation between Bulgaria and Egypt, particularly in the fields of educational and intercultural exchange, in which Sofia University and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences play a leading role.

Prof. Dr. Gergana Petkova, Dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, highlighted the exchange between the two countries throughout history – from Ancient Egypt, through the Ottoman period, to the present day. She emphasized the central role of the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies at Sofia University in studying this exchange, noting that its scholars have long been recognized not only in Bulgaria but also internationally.

Mr. Petko Doynov, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, congratulated the participants and emphasized that Egypt was the first Arab country with which Bulgaria established diplomatic relations that have endured despite historical changes and challenging geopolitical circumstances.

Prof. Dr. Abdallah Abdel-Aty Al-Nagar, of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt, and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, shared his positive impressions of his work with his Bulgarian colleagues and expressed the hope that this cooperation would mark the beginning of a long-lasting partnership.

More than 40 Bulgarian and international researchers took part in the conference, including established and early-career scholars, doctoral students, and students from the Arabic Studies Program at Sofia University. The conference addressed the historical and contemporary dimensions of relations between Southeastern Europe and the Middle East, as well as between Bulgaria and Egypt. A number of previously unexplored aspects of the cultural, religious, political, and economic exchange between the Balkans and the countries of the Middle East and North Africa were brought to light. The discussions also addressed key aspects of contemporary international relations, as well as security challenges and geopolitical rivalries.

HERE , the program of the international conference can be downloaded.