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Biographical Information |
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 Biographical
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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
J. DIMITRY PANITZA |
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| Born: |
November 2, 1930, Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Position: |
Founder, the Free and Democratic Bulgaria Foundation, Sofia
Founder and Honorary Chairman, the Bulgarian School of Politics |
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Left Bulgaria in 1948 and spent his adult/professional life in exile between Europe (Paris) and the United States (New York/Washington) as a journalist with Reader’s Digest (USA) – starting as a junior research/reporter in 1952 and ending his career as a Managing Editor.
He returned to Bulgaria in 1990 and in 1991 with his wife Yvonne founded the Free and Democratic Bulgaria Foundation (FDBF) – private and totally independent – whose aims are to facilitate the process of democratization of Bulgarian society, based on pluralism, free press, free markets, tolerance, educated youth and open dialogue.
Panitza is a long-time member of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), of the Anglo-American Press Association in Paris, the French “Forum du Futur”, the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe (IDEE), etc.
He is a member of the Trilateral Commission and a fellow of King’s College, London.
He is a founding board member of the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), founder of Outward Bound – Bulgaria, founding Chairman of Junior Achievement – Bulgaria, honorary member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and of its International advisory board, member of the board of the Institute for Market Economics (IME), Sofia, and of the New Bulgarian University, member of the Advisory Committee of the annual International Civic Courage Prize in New York, member of the board of the Balkan Children and Youth Foundation, co-founder of the Institute for Studies of the Recent Past in Sofia.
In December 2000 he was awarded Bulgaria’s highest civil decoration, the order of “Stara Planina” First Class, for his contributions to the establishment of a civil society in Bulgaria.
In 2001 the American University in Bulgaria awarded him the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa, ŕnd in July 2006 he was awarded the “Pro Merito” medal of the Council of Europe for his contributions to the democratization of Eastern Europe.
In April 2005 he was made Knight of the Legion of Honor by French Presidential Decree for his professional achievements and civic work.
He is married to Yvonne Fourcade –- his comrade-in-arms since they met more than 55 years ago! They have no children.
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