Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew opened a two-day international conference on `Changing the Culture of Teaching on the Balkans` on September 9. The forum is within the framework of the Educational Project, which is the second part of the VLATADON initiative of the Orthodox Church Office in Brussels. Culture Minister Bozhidar Abrashev expressed support for the initiative in a brief address to the participants. The forty participants are senior clergy from Bulgaria and the region, scholars, diplomats, representatives of NATO, the European Commission, the European Parliament, OSCE and UNESCO. Representatives of the four major religions in Southeastern Europe-Orthodox Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Catholicism-discuss ways for creation of a regional positive image through changes in education and strengthening of the tolerance, understanding and cooperation among the Balkan peoples.