The Embassy of France in Bulgaria awarded the writer Georgi Gospodinov with the Order of Art and literature, bachelor's degree, dariknews.bg reported.
The order was presented to the Bulgarian writer by the French ambassador Joel Meyer.
At the official award ceremony, Georgi Gospodinov stated that it was a real honor for him to receive the Order of Art and Literature from the Minister of Culture of France.
"For me, France is made of literature", said Georgi Gospodinov and told that he visited the country for the first time in 2000 – 2001, but even before that he was already in it through the books he read.
"Using the past and nostalgia as propaganda is very dangerous and can be seen everywhere – in Bulgaria, in France, in Hungary, in Europe, in America. The choices we make should be choices for the future, not a return to the darkest years," the writer said during the award ceremony.
The decree awarding Gospodinov is dated July 4, 2024 and was issued by the Minister of Culture of France.
"It is not only because of his enormous literary genius that the French Minister of Culture decided to award him the Order of Arts and Letters, but also because his works are distinguished by his deep humanism, and because they present values that are human and pan-European" , pointed out Ambassador Joel Meyer.