H.E Dr. Moftah Derin, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Libya to Bulgaria, Delivered a Public Lecture at the UNWE on Bulgaria and the Middle East. Economic and Political Relations between Bulgaria and Libya

H. E. Dr. Moftah Derini, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Libya in Bulgaria and former Chargé d’Affairs delivered a public lecture at the UNWE on Bulgaria and the Middle East. Economic and Political Relations between Bulgaria and Libya.

During the public lecture the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov awarded to H.E. Dr. Moftah Derini the title of Honorary Professor.

Official guests of the event were the Ambassadors of Kuwait, Qatar, Morocco, Malta, Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq as well as Prof. Georgy Bliznashky, interim Prime Minister of Bulgaria in the period August-November 2014, Alexander Nikolov, Minister of Energy in the period 2021-2022, Anastas Terzobaliyev, Executive Director of MKRTNI EOOD and Michail Argatsky, Commercial Director of MKRTNI EOOD. On behalf of UNWE the event was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova, Vice-Rector for Research, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanko Hristozov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of UNWE, Mrs. Gergana Kirilova, Director of the Rector's Office, representatives of the academic staff of the university, students and employees.

Haysam Al Mahjoub, Consul at the Embassy of Libya in Sofia, H. E. Fahad Ibrahim Al-Mushairi, Ambassador of Qatar, the interpreter, H. E. Moftah Dareni, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, H. E. Lina Omar, Ambassador of Iraq to Bulgaria, Anastas Terzobaliev, Executive Director of MKRTNI Ltd., Michail Argatsky, Commercial Director of MKRTNI Ltd.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov opened the event and outlined: "At the background of traditionally friendly relations with a number of Arab countries, Bulgaria watches with concern the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. The risk of military conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates and could turn into a regional conflict. The diplomacy is called upon to prevent the tension from rising further. The world must find a way and a will for peace". The Rector pointed out that it was a great privilege for the attendeed in the hall to hear the opinion of a person like H.E. Dr. Moftah Dareni having a distinguished diplomatic career - Libyan Consul in Spain 2016, Chairman of the 5th Libyan commission to the UN 2018 – New York tasks inside - Head of the Foreign Affairs Follow-up Office in the Prime Ministry 2012, Head of the International and Regional Contributions Office, Head of the International and Regional Contributions Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2018, Follower of the file of the United Nations Assembly on New York contributions, Follower of the file of the Arab Maghreb Union, Follower of the file of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Н. E. Dr. Moftah Dareni expressed his thankfulness for the great honor. In his public speech he presented the rich history of Libya from ancient times until today. He highlighted the relations between Libya and Bulgaria which started during the reign of King Idris /1951-1969/, the Bulgarian Embassy in Libya was opened in 1966 and the relations continued during the reign of Muammar al-Gaddafi /1969-2011/. In this period and in recent years Bulgaria and Libya have developed very good bilateral relations in the fields of defence industry, energy, trade, education, medicine, and culture. Libya has supplied oil and oil products and many Bulgarians have participated in the construction of large structural projects in Libya such as dams and hospitals. In recent years, Bulgaria has increased its exports of wheat, barley, agricultural and food products.

"I personally mediate for the establishment of partnership relations between the major universities in Libya and Bulgaria. I urge young people to continue to develop the good and the democracy, to fight against injustice and slavery", addressed the students H. E. Dr. Moftah Dareni.