Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov confirmed the fame of being an avid reader appearing at the official opening of Helikon's newest bookstore in Sofia. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia News Agency)
Known to be an avid reader, President Georgi Parvanov was pleased to officially inaugurate the newest bookstore of the Helikon chain in Sofia.
A historian by profession, Parvanov said books and Helikon bookstores in particular lie close to his heart, not least because he was invited to a similar ceremony long before becoming head of state.
He urged for a national policy to promote book publishing and distribution all over the country, even suggesting the inauguration of a "Donate A Book" campaign.
The Helikon bookstore was the first to revive the ambience of an art and letters cafe in Sofia, keeping alive a tradition of public reading of literary works, which often evolves into discussions on various topics - from letters to politics.
The bookstore is located in the heart of Sofia, near Vitosha boulevard.