The Balkans – the Crossroads East of the West and West of the East

“Nationalism is back in the Balkans, without ever having left it.” These disturbing words belong to prominent Bulgarian historian Prof. Andrey Pantev and can safely be said to be one of the principal conclusions from the conference held in Sofia with the participation of leading Bulgarian diplomats. The forum, organized by the Friedrich Ebert foundation was dedicated to the processes taking place in Southeast Europe.

“For centuries the Balkans have been a periphery of European politics, but also a frontier zone,” says Dr. Bobby Bobev from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Institute of Balkan Studies and ambassador to a number of Balkan countries through the years.

 

 

BNR