Radio Bulgaria is becoming popular day by day, according to a letter by Jayanta Chakrabarty from New Delhi, India who has been listening to Radio Bulgaria’s English language broadcasts. Writes our listener: “Listening to Radio Bulgaria over the years has helped me to learn more about Bulgaria and the world. It's so informative and interesting that I do not have to tune in to other stations for my information and entertainment requirements, especially relating to Eastern Europe. Since English is not my mother tongue, I am also able to improve upon my knowledge of the English language by listening to well-constructed Radio Bulgaria programmes and by browsing your website”.
Close to 700 letters and emails and more than 160 phone calls have arrived to Radio Bulgaria in April, from you, our listeners and users of our website. Some of the most active among our large audience were those following Radio Bulgaria’s programs in Arabic. “I visit your Arabic web page on a daily basis and I very much like the way articles are published – by rubrics, with lots of pictures and with attached audios”, writes Kadir Selim from Algeria. “I particularly like your rubric on Culture and Education.” Other popular rubrics include The Way We Live, History Club, Magazine Economy and Tourism. “Your program ‘The Way We Live’ is very interesting and provides foreign audiences with enough details about lifestyles in Bulgaria, and the efforts of young people to become successful in their own country, despite the crisis”, writes Hassan Rabih from Marrakech, Morocco. Ben Amir Laid from Algeria in turn says that his favorite subject is tourism. “I always read what you publish on the website about resorts in Bulgaria! I should like to visit your wonderful country! I can see its beauty captured in the photos carried on your website.” In his e-mail to the Arabic Section Mohammad Ibrahim writes: “We are popular worldwide with the ancient pyramids and pharaohs, and therefore I read about Bulgarian history with keen interest and become aware of how ancient your land is!” Business is what interests Hamid Bariizi of Tunisia. “I can see that Bulgaria as a European country, develops more successfully in trade and farming, despite some financial problems. In your Economy rubric you provide coverage of Bulgaria’s ties with many Arab countries that are more or less traditional,” he explains.
“Radio Bulgaria is to be commended – not only for their continued broadcast via the shortwave, but also for maintaining a listeners/letters program as well, especially at this time when many SW stations have forgotten the simple notion that “conversation” is two ways, between the broadcaster and the listener. Thank you for you continuously encouraging listener feedback”, writes Konnie Rychalsky from the USA.
According to Christopher Lewis from UK Radio Bulgaria is not just interesting but also a very useful programme. “It is a pleasure to listen to your transmissions, the balance of news, politics, and cultural items is just right, as well as your musical features and not forgetting the DX program”, he writes in his letter. Pramod Maheshwari, India, writes:
“Under the heading Life in Bulgaria, I listened to two articles - one on attraction tours with Bulgarian state railways and the other on new illustrated book about 19th and 20th century Bulgarian diplomacy. Both articles are very informative and provide important information about fascinating country.”
“I should like to let you know that recently your signal comes across loud and clear and I listen to you with pleasure”, writes Osamu Aikawa from Japan who follows the French-language broadcasts. “I like what you present to us, the objectivity concerning Libya, the drama in Japan. You also highlight Bulgaria-France cultural contacts, such as exhibitions and concerts. All this is just great!, Jean Pierron from France writes.
“I have for quite a long time been listening to the German-language broadcasts of Radio Bulgaria to learn more about your beautiful country. The news and commentaries, the broadcasts about economy and culture are interesting and with rich content. In this way Radio Bulgaria helps me know better – though from a distance – a Black Sea country as well as your neighbors – Turkey, Serbia, Romania”, writes Thomas Buchinger from Germany. His compatriot Helmut Matt is convinced too that the programmes of Radio Bulgaria are the only opportunity for Germans to get a comprehensive idea about Bulgaria. “If Radio Bulgaria programmes are suspended at a certain point, close to nothing will be heard in Germany about Bulgaria, apart from some summer Black Sea posters perhaps. The fact that Bulgaria can offer much more than just its seaside resorts, is what we can learn from your daily programmes. I am glad you are there”, writes Helmut Matt. “I followed with great interest your story about the depopulation of Bulgarian villages. It seems absurd to me that culture and life in villages have no future”, writes Lutz Winkler from Germany. “I myself have moved to live in a village, and thanks to Internet I can work and communicate.” Our listener has asked us a few question on this topic, notably, where Bulgarians live in towns – in apartment blocks or in family houses; how Bulgarians prefer to live, in an own home, or in a rented one etc.
Radio Bulgaria’s broadcasts in Spanish are listened to in various corners of the globe. In April our colleagues from the Spanish Section have welcomed new listeners from Brazil, Spain, Cuba, Malaysia and New Zealand. Claudio de Oliveira Carvalho from Brazil should like to invite Radio Bulgaria to organize listeners’ competitions. “This will help broaden the presentation of you country and will attract even larger audiences. The prizes could be works of traditional Bulgarian crafts”, he suggests. His compatriot Jose-Moacir Portero de Melo writes: “I attended the celebrations for the inauguration of the new Brazilian president, who is the daughter of a Bulgarian. On this occasion there was much more talk about Bulgaria. We, who listen to your station on a regular basis, however, are already quite well-versed about your country”. Long-standing listener Angel Oquendo writes: “I started listening to Radio Bulgaria in the 1970s. Back then I lived in my country, Bolivia. Now I live in Stockholm. I like the news, commentaries and analyses, as well as the rubrics about Bulgarian folklore and history, as this is a way for me to learn about your culture, traditions and history. The music in your programmes is very appealing with its diversity.” “I liked very much your story about Gabrovo. I recalled a small town in my native region of Andalusia famed for the fine sense of humor of its people. I hope to be able to enjoy listening to the voice of Radio Bulgaria until I live, as well as your friendship”, writes Juan Franco Krespo from Spain.
Most of our listeners from Greece and Albania have sent us greetings for Easter that was in April this year. Our regular listener Maria Dzamaria writes: “I always listen with great joy and interest to the programmes rich in topics and views. I am glad to know that Radio Bulgaria emissions are listened to in many countries of the world, and I commend you for the topics you select. We, in Greece, listen to you because your programmes are excellent.” The Albanian writer, academic and translator Kopi Kyuchuko sent best regards to the team of the Albanian section wishing them success. Keti Tafai who holds Bulgarian citizenship and studies in Germany, also thanked for the Albanian language broadcasts that she likes a lot and believes can help her learn more in her professional field – medicine. The Bulgarians abroad have sent cards and greetings for Palm Sunday and Easter to our colleagues from the Bulgarian Language Section. By tradition they continue to inform us about life of Bulgarian communities abroad. More than 80 letters and emails were received at the Turkish Language Section of Radio Bulgaria. The Turkish language broadcasts have very large audiences both in Bulgaria and in Turkey. Ehliman Ahmed from the village of Golyam Porovets, the Isperih Municipality, has been a regular listener for close to 50 years. “All of us, your listeners, deeply respect your work”, he writes. Ehliman also says that he likes the Answering Your Letters Programme as well as live broadcasts allowing listeners to tune in and ask their questions. Ali Tural who is a descendant of Bulgarian expats and lives Karakkale, Turkey, is very keen on Bulgaria and dreams of visiting Sofia. “Thank you very much for your programmes. They are very interesting and instructive”. Boris Gudimchik from Minsk in Belarus wrote to us.
Translated by Daniela Konstantinova
