The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) presented on Wednesday, at Bulgaria's stand at the Bookfest international book fair in Bucharest, the Romanian-language special edition of BTA's LIK magazine themed 'BG SPA - Health Through Water', an initiative aimed at promoting tourism in the country south of the Danube.

'Today BTA is speaking Romanian. This is the first issue of a National News Agency magazine published in Romanian, and is dedicated to SPA destinations in Bulgaria. We are showing that news can be turned into a book. Because this special edition of the magazine 'BG SPA - Health Through Water' contains 128 news items from different places in Bulgaria,' said BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.

He noted that the magazine was first presented in May at the summit of the European SPAs Association, and that, in addition to the print edition, an electronic version is available on BTA's website.

'SPA is one of Bulgaria's key messages to the world, because alongside seaside, mountain and cultural tourism, Bulgaria offers many attractive places for rest. Bulgaria has more than 550 studied deposits of thermal and mineral waters, over 1,600 mineral springs, with a flow rate of 4,900 litres per second. (...) In difficult times, with many wars around the world and rising prices for accommodation, food and transport, the message in Romanian would sound like this: ''Securitate, pace, apropiere / Safety, peace, approach',' Kiril Valchev underlined.

The BTA head recalled that the magazine has been published in seven languages (Bulgarian, Romanian, English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese), with a Turkish edition to follow.

Claudia Nicolae, Director General of Romania's National News Agency AGERPRES, said the partnership between the two agencies reflects one of their fundamental responsibilities: promoting their countries, especially among close neighbors.

'If we, as neighbors, do not support each other, and especially if we, as media, do not promote each other through objective outlets and this physical foundation of information, then we shouldn't wonder why certain websites are quoted and later contested. We are in a rather turbulent informational period, and I believe that, ultimately, the pillars of trust lie in news agencies, in objective information media. And we mention here BTA, which turns 128 this year and carries Bulgaria's history behind it, and AGERPRES - Romania's National News Agency, which turned 137 in March and carries Romania's history behind it. This is where the pillars of verifiable information are,' Claudia Nicolae said.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Romania, Radko Vlaykov, highlighted the centuries-old tradition of ties between Romania and Bulgaria, expressing hope that these relations will continue to develop for the benefit of both peoples.

During the event, moderated by Bulgarian journalist Martina Gancheva, two representatives of the Bulgarian News Agency - Head of the Economic News Department Tsvetomira Marinova, and Deputy Head of the Local Correspondents Department Reni Nikiforova - presented data on economic relations between Romania and Bulgaria, noting the growing number of Romanian tourists choosing Bulgaria as a relaxation destination.

In the Romanian-language edition of BTA's LIK magazine 'BG SPA - Health Through Water', the Bulgarian News Agency, which marked its 128th anniversary in February, features news from 128 certified SPA, wellness and medical-SPA centres in Bulgaria. The initiative, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, is linked to Europe's most important medical-tourism event, the Healthxchange Summit, held over May 11 - 13 in Varna, Sts. Constantine and Helena, Golden Sands and Albena. BTA was the event's main media partner. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)