Bahrain News Agency expresses condolences to Bulgarian counterpart

Manama, Nov. 17 (BNA): Bahrain News Agency (BNA) has expressed its condolences to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) on the demise of its Director General Maxim Minchev after a short illness. BNA extended its condolences to Minchev's family. BNA Director General Abdullah Buhejji paid homage to Minchev as an outstanding media figure who was genuinely keen on enhancing cooperation through the exchange of news and the sharing of expertise among news agencies. "As we mourn the passing of Maxim, we recall with much appreciation and gratitude his great role in preparing and organizing the Sixth International Conference of News Agencies and his apt management of several sessions of the conference hosted by the Bulgarian capital Sofia in 2019," Buhejji said. "The conference marked a significant start in discussing many issues related to the latest developments within news agency and the various challenges they faced. With Minchev's death, we have lost a towering media figure who devoted time and energy to develop media communication both nationally and internationally." Buhejji said that Minchev succeeded in building robust relations between BTA and several news agencies. "His active participation in international forums and conferences, including the 44th Meeting of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies in Hanoi in April last year, and his chairmanship of the sixth International News Agencies Congress in Bulgaria, were great examples of his expertise and leadership." According to BTA, Minchev has died after a short illness. On November 6, his colleagues were informed that Minchev had tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined. Politicians and public figures, including President Rumen Radev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, issued statements expressing their sympathy. Minchev was born on June 5, 1953 in Sofia. In 1976, he graduated in journalism at the Lviv University in Ukraine and in 1986 in pedagogy at the G.S. Rakovsky Military Academy. Between 1993 and 1996, he was a fellow at NATO's Headquarters in Brussels. During his over 40-year career, he was correspondent and editor of various newspapers and radio programs. Minchev was among the founders of the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria in 1991 and served on its Board of Directors and as press director until 2003. Since 2003 and until his death, he was Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency. During his tenure at the agency, he launched a network of 13 press clubs, with two of them located in Bosilegrad (Serbia) and Taraclia (Moldova). Minchev also initiated 15 world meetings of Bulgarian media around the world. He also held a number of other notable posts, including, from 2016, president of the Association of Balkan News Agencies – Southeast Europe, secretary-general of the News Agencies World Congress, and president of the Black Sea Association of National News Agencies, the Sofia Globe reported. In 2015, he was awarded the Golden Age Award of the Culture Ministry on National Awakeners' Day. A passionate globetrotter, he wrote down his impressions from countries around the world in numerous books. Minchev is survived by his wife and his son.