Bulgaria’s Sofia University Wins Back Botanical Garden

Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski", Bulgaria's largest and oldest higher education institution, has won back its right to manage its the Botanical Garden in the coastal town of Balchik.

On Wednesday, the University's director, Ivan Ilchev, received an official document by the country's Prime Minister during the regular session of the Council of Ministers, thus sealing the deal on the return.

Last Friday, Bulgaria's Culture Minister, Vezhdi Rashidov, and Education Minister, Sergey Ignatov, pledged to reinstate the University's rights of on the disputed Garden. On Monday, however, the University symbolically closed doors as a sign of protest until the dispute is resolved.

The Balchik Botanical Garden was established in 1940. It has an area of 65,000 m? and accommodates 2000 plant species belonging to 85 families and 200 genera.In May 2010, a decision was to transfer the Garden's management to the Culture Ministry.