On April 2 (Thursday), 2020, during an official meeting between the representatives of the National Council of the Religious Communities in Bulgaria (NCRCB) and the Director General of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) Emil Koshlukov, was signed a Cooperation Agreement between the Council and the national media. It is related to providing of airtime on behalf of BNT, to be used for the needs of the religious communities in Bulgaria in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the declared in connection with this state of emergency in the country.

“With the beginning of the state of emergency in Bulgaria NCRCB sent a proposal to BNT for providing airtime, due to the situation and the need the religious leaders in our country to stay connected with the believers from the different religious communities and their inability in such conditions to send messages to the believers.” – the Chairman of the Council and Deputy Grand Mufti of Bulgaria Birali Birali commented on the reasons for the proposal made by NCRCB to BNT.

In the framework of the held earlier today meeting, were discussed the possibilities for providing airtime to the religious communities and satisfying their spiritual needs during the state of emergency.

“BNT provided three possibilities in total to the NCRCB, that are described also in the signed agreement between the two parties. The first possibility is the show “Faith and society” (Vyara i obshtestvo) to be separated into three parts and each religious group, on a rotational basis, to have the opportunity to participate with its current topics and addresses to the believers. Another possibility is providing airtime in the framework of the show “Focus” on BNT 2, where regional events of the religious communities to be presented from the four BNT regional TV centers. The third possibility which was provided to us on behalf of BNT is to use air time during the news broadcasts” – the NCRCB Chairman Birali Birali also commented after the held meeting.

According to him, the agreement will actually enter into force this Saturday, April 4, when in the show “Faith and society” on BNT 1 from 14:00 o’clock with a presenter Goran Blagoev, the representatives of the different religious communities, members in the NCRCB, will participate.

Author: L. Chausheva