National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva regards digital media, social networks and virtual information resources as an opportunity for better mutual understanding among the people of Europe

August 27, 2010

The new spreads of intercultural dialogue – the digital media and social networks, the virtual information resources and open encyclopedia systems provide an opportunity for better mutual understanding among the people of Europe. This was pointed out by the National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva on August 27, 2010 while opening in Varna the Meeting of Women Speakers of EU Parliaments.

The forum is held within the framework of the informal club of women speakers of EU parliaments initiated by the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament Barbara Pramer. As proposed by Tsetska Tsacheva from now on women speakers of parliaments of EU candidate countries will also be invited to take part in the initiative. This year the meeting was attended by the speakers of the National Council of the Republic of Austria Ms Barbara Pramer, of the State Assembly of Estonia Ms Ene Ergma and of the Parliament of the Republic of Iceland Ms Asta Johannesdottir. A discussion on the subject of “The New Spreads of European Intercultural Dialogue” was held during the meeting.

The President of the Bulgarian National Assembly stressed that today the processes of communication are instantaneous, the information horn of plenty is boundless while the access to cultural riches is of no precedent, in terms of scale and popularity, in the entire European history. Under these circumstances the citizens of Europe are the actors setting on their own and in the course of their daily life the new spreads of intercultural dialogue. In her words we have to be all aware of the important role the state has to play with its political instruments in mastering these new spreads.

Let us figure out how easily the problem with contradictory interpretations of our common history could be solved today when the young people avail of free access to numerous educational resources such as open encyclopedia, on-line education systems and specialized social nets, Tsacheva went on to say. According to her in this environment they inevitably encounter a variety of viewpoints and by putting those together they could shape opinions of their own regardless of the assertions contained in the history books. This situation clearly represents an opportunity for better mutual understanding among the people of Europe as well as a chance for overcoming prejudices and sending the phantoms of the past to the museum. But it is also a huge challenge to the role that European states could play through their educational policies in preparing young people for their encounter with different viewpoints in the Internet, in teaching them make informed choices when shaping positions and learn to value diversity of opinions as a true wealth.

The intercultural dialogue today comes forth spontaneously without mediators or limitations set by past hostilities and deficiencies. It is our duty to safeguard this spontaneity and to support the noble and sublime in this dialogue because it is part of the individual prosperity and self-esteem of every single European, said the President of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva.