In the heart of many cultural events in Bulgaria, dedicated to the great composer and musician, is the Minister Councilor of the Austrian Embassy, Mr. Lothar Jaschke. We met with him to ask him how the Bulgarians and Austrians will jointly mark this anniversary in Bulgaria. We also talked about the priorities of his work in Bulgaria, which has had quite a large scope for over three years now. He answered our question in perfect Bulgaria.

Mr. Jaschke, we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. Which of the events staged in Bulgaria does the Austrian Embassy support?
The whole world is going to celebrate Mozart. And so is Bulgaria. On this occasion, the Embassy has scheduled a series of initiatives from January to October: one exhibition, about 33 concerts, 5 or 6 master classes, music competitions.

The exhibition Mozart in Vienna within the three-day Days of Mozart, which opened at the National Library on January 27, will visit Rousse, Veliko Turnovo, Pravets, Stara Zagora, Haskovo. On the same evening the library hosted the lecture of the distinguished music expert Lada Brashanova, bearer of the Mozart Medal, presented to her by the Austrian President. On the same date at the Czech Cultural Center a meeting was held of the cultural attaches of the EU member states, organized by the Austrian Embassy, where there was a discussion about Bulgaria's cultural policy, especially in the sphere of music.

On January 28, in Bulgaria Chamber Hall a concert was given by the Austrian cello-player Florian Kit and the pianist Rita Medimoretz. On January 29, in Bulgaria Hall Yosif Radionov and Angel Stankov played church sonatas, A Little Night Music and Symphony Concertante.

There will be concerts throughout the year in many towns across the country. Among them some will be given by the prodigies Assen Tanchev, Zoritsa Ilarionova, Boris Nedyalkov, Virginia Petrova, Elena Padjedjieva, Iva Raikova and Gabriela Tsvetkova. From March 15 to 18, chamber concerts of Nota Bene duet will be staged in Sofia, Pernik and Rousse. On March 4 and 5, we will present The Spoof Garden Girl.

March 11 is accepted as the initial date of Vienna classics. On that day Mozart arrived in Vienna. Then will be presented the book Amadeus. Genius, an anthology about his life and work. The biography is written by Lada Brashanova, part of Mozart's letters are translated by Zdravka Andreeva, and a different perception of the composer is presented by Ralitsa Cholakova.

From April 25 to May 9, the Austrian Music Weeks will take place in Sofia, Plovdiv, Pravets, Pernik, Pazardjik and Vidin.

Alongside these festive events, the Austrian Embassy lays some emphasis in the field of music education, supports young talents…

That is why we mark the anniversary with master classes, competitions. They will be held not only in the big cities, but also in smaller towns. In June a Mozart Competition will take place in Berkovitsa. In Vratsa the work on the Mozart Effect project will continue throughout the year.

Within the Austrian Music Weeks, we organize master classes every year. Over the years there were such for guitar, grand-piano, piano and violin. This year it will be for singing – Mozart. In October, Elizabeth Linhart will conduct master classes in Sofia and Stara Zagora. In the domain of education we are involved in long-term activities, these are investments in the future.

I have recently attended a music evening called Mozart Marathon. The children sang arias from his operas and performed brilliantly. I am highly impressed by your young talents. I am convinced that the concert we organize with them will bring the house down and that they will demonstrate their gift.

You have been living in Bulgaria for three years now. You work in various spheres, not only in the field of culture. What are your priorities?
Many people here associated my name with culture – that is because we have a cultural institute in Sofia and we cover that sphere as well. Thanks to my work in the cultural sphere, I find it easier to reach people's hearts. In Austria it is part of the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You may call it cultural diplomacy.

Yet a priority in my work is the European Union. Lately in a conversation, a friend of mine said Bulgaria means a lot more to the EU than the EU does to Bulgaria. In fact, Bulgaria's accession is important for a number of reasons – not only for the economy, but also for the society (in terms of mentality, orientation). The Austrians are also in the beginning of this process.

The EU is something new, it is still a very young project. A project for peace on a continent accustomed to waging wars for centuries. And now it begins to fall victim to its successes. That is because people take European stability and economic growth for granted. They should not. Every generation has its periods of upsurge and searches for its own answers. Not surprisingly, Solana said at the conference Sounds of Europe in Salzburg that Europe should now continue to develop and turn into a world power. But it should not be a superpower imposing its own will and dominating over the others, rather – a factor for peace and stability. We have no other choice but unite and work in the interest of people.

I also work in Bulgaria in their interest. Therefore I believe that the judicial system must be reformed. The criminals must be sent to prison, not to restaurants. And this will be achieved with Bulgaria's entry into the EU. The government works in the right direction.

What is your vision of the Bulgarian-Austrian relations in the future?
We are doing a lot, but we can do even more. Not only at the Embassy. The Embassy can help determine the cooperation framework. I must stress that Austria is the biggest investor in Bulgaria. I will only mention the presence of companies like MobilTel, HVB Biochim, OMV, Billa, Palfinger, Raiffeissen and many others. I think that this is something positive, that it contributes to the future development of Bulgaria.

The bilateral trade is also developing at a rapid pace. In the last 3 or 4 years the exports to Bulgaria boosted a hundredfold. Yet the turnover can reach even higher levels.

I would like to mention something I have been working on and I am quite pleased with – the twinning between Austrian and Bulgarian towns. For example Pernik, a dynamic town which I cherish profound respect for, is starting cooperation with the capital of Low Austria Sankt Poltnen. Silistra, Pravets and Vidin also seek such cooperation. We are in the initial stages of twinning between Lom and Linz. I support these ideas, there is a lot of potential in them. And I am happy to work on those twinnings. I must point out that the Bulgarian Embassy in Vienna works very actively in this direction. These twinnings are very good for people from both countries.

I am also satisfied with the development of our political relations in these three years. For this period the Chancellor has visited Bulgarian twice, our Foreign Minister – three times. There have been lots of visits by members of the Austrian Parliament and reciprocal visits. And when you join the EU, our meetings will become even more frequent.

What will you take along when you leave Bulgaria?
Many different things. I feel great in Sofia. For me my cultural wrk at the Embassy is an exceptional present. In this way I meet interesting people, many of whom I have befriended. They are the most valuable treasure I discovered here. I suppose I will be often coming back to Bulgaria for them. I will also take along plenty of my favourite objects. And of course, the Bulgarian language.