Training of specialists. At this level the two countries grant scholarships for university studies and lecturers jobs.

Culture and art. Cooperation concerns the national libraries, book publishing, the direct contacts between the writers’ unions, of publishers and book distributors. Priority is given to the bilateral exchange of international book exhibitions and fairs, festivals and other artistic events.

Among the activities carried out in 2004, I can mention the art exhibition The Colors of Morocco, organized by our embassy with the assistance of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the National Day of Morocco. The exhibited artists were mostly Bulgarian artists, who lived in Morocco and painted our country.

Communications. In this sphere the emphasis is on the dissemination on reciprocal basis of information about the political, social and cultural life of the two countries. In this sense, an agreement for cooperation was signed in November 2004 in Rabat between the Moroccan Press Agency and the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

In the cinema, the accent is on the direct contacts between the institutions and national cinematographic associations of the two countries. At present the Moroccan Embassy is working on the organization of Days of Moroccan Films in Bulgaria in 2005.

What idea would you give the Bulgarians of Morocco? The figures and events, which in your opinion mark the history of your country.
Morocco lies in the northwestern part of the African continent and enjoys a privileged position of 2900 km coastal line on the Atlantic Ocean and 512 km on the Mediterranean. It has an area of 710,800 sq. km, a major part of which is covered with mountains. It is bounded by Algeria to the east, and Mauritania to the south. It is separated from Europe by only 14 km.

Morocco exists as a sovereign state since 12 centuries and is one of the oldest monarchies in the world. Through the centuries many dynasties came and went. Each one contributed to the enrichment of Moroccan civilization and culture.

Al Karaouin University in Fez, built in the 9th c., is considered to be the first one in the world. There were taught not only religious disciplines, literature and Islamic law, but also humanities, mathematics, astronomy, etc.

The old imperial cities of Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, preserve to the present day evidence of a glorious past and refined taste, expressed in the architecture, monuments, culinary art, clothes, crafts, music.

Today Morocco is developing by projects for building up modern society, underlain by human rights, modernization of the administration and justice, consolidation of society and stable economic development, adherence to the values of democracy, tolerance and freedom.

The population of Morocco is 30 million.

The capital is Rabat. Arabic is the official language and the foreign languages practiced are French, Spanish and English. Morocco is a democratic and social monarchy.
The major sectors of economic development are: agriculture, which accounts for 17% of the GDP; fishery, which constitutes 50% of the country’s export of agricultural products; mining (2.3% of the GDP, mainly extraction of phosphate, coal, lead, silver, zinc, copper and cobalt). Morocco is the world largest exporter of phosphate and the fifth largest producer of it. The agricultural, textile and leather industries are developed, mechanics and metallurgy, power engineering and electronics. Tourism is one of the most profitable sectors of Moroccan economy, accounting for 7.3% of the GDP.
The holidays in Morocco are numerous. The religious holidays are related to sacral events and are celebrated happily by the population, mainly in a family circle. They give occasion for the family to gather around a table laden with the huge variety of Moroccan sweets, accompanied by the traditional peppermint tea.

The national holidays commemorate important historical events: November 18 – Independence Day, November 6 – anniversary of the Green March, July 30 – Throne Day which is an anniversary of the enthronement of King Mohamed VI. May Day is also marked.

Along with the national and the religious, there are regional feasts, seasonal festivals, which break up the daily monotony and revive the community life.

What are the things that impressed you in Bulgaria and you will carry in your memory?
From my arrival to this day I have been constantly impressed by the people’s hospitality, generosity and civility.

God has given you lovely nature, each season in your country has its own beauty. During these three years I was able to see the beauties of your country: I was up in the mountains, I holidayed at different spas, visited historical landmarks, discovered the charm of the Black Sea.

In a professional aspect, I had the fortune to be in Bulgaria at a crucial time in its history, when the country was preparing to join NATO, when negotiations were conducted for acceding the European Union, when privatization and other major reforms were carried out.

I will keep a wonderful memory of my stay here as a period rich in events and meetings.

Ekaterina Pavlova