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| 27 Feb 2012, Issue 3330 · USD: 1.45827 EUR: 1.95583 · Sofia: min -7°, max -1° Varna: min -2°, max 3° · |
| BUSINESS POLITICS WORLD SOCIETY SPORTS FORUM |
Tunisia School of Politics Opens with Bulgarian Support
 Bulgarian
PM Boyko Borisov, who arrived on an official trip to Tunisia Sunday,
was present at the official launching of the Tunisian School of
Politics.
read |
Bulgarian Cabinet Takes Shot at Lowering Legal Drugs Prices
 The
Bulgarian cabinet is starting negotiations with the pharmaceutical
business to lower medication prices in Bulgaria, says Health Minister,
Stefan Konstantinov.
read |
Second Winter Flood in Bulgaria Causes Minor Damages
 Around
30 houses have been flooded in the Sadovo municipality in central
southern Bulgaria due to a water reservoir overflowing with melting snow
Sunday.
read |
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BULGARIA CONFIRMS UP TO 25% IN ENERGY HOLDING UP FOR SALE
Bulgaria's government plans to privatize this year a minority stake in the state-owned energy holding, which groups the country's top energy assets, the finance minister has confirmed. Talking in parliament at the end of the week, Simeon Djankov said the government aims to sell a stake of between 10 to 25% in state energy company BEH (Bulgarian Energy Holding) via a foreign stock exchange by the end of the year. The deal is expected to raise "several hundred million euros". The Bulgarian Energy Holding is a 100% state owned joint stock company, including the Maritsa Iztok (East) Mines, the Maritsa Iztok (East) 2 Thermal Power Plant, the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, the National Electric Company NEK, the Electricity System Operator ESO, Bulgargaz, Bulgartransgaz, and Bulgartel. The holding was created in 2008 with the merger of five state-owned companies into a EUR 4 B energy giant. Bulgaria's government is expected to list its 33% minority stake in E.ON and CEZ power distributors in April and May respectively in a bid to enliven the local stock exchange and boost revenues. The third power distributor in the country - Austria's EVN AG - acquired more than 97% in the capital of its two units in Bulgaria right after the trade with their shares started on the local stock exchange at the end of last year. A total of 112,795 shares in the two companies - Electrosnabdiavane and Electrorazpredelenie - were sold, raising BGN 92.97 M, well above the government's target of BGN 78.4 M. Such a development is highly likely to lead to the delisting of the two companies, which make up the power utility Bulgarian unit, more successful and with higher profits than any of the other electricity distribution companies in the country. Experts have repeatedly called on the government to launch high-quality initial public offerings to bring back to life the capital market, dented by low liquidity and lack of quality stock, as well as to boost revenues. The looming delisting of EVN Bulgaria unit however has triggered speculations that the bourse was just used as a tool by the government to sell its minority stake to the majority owner at a much lower price. 
BULGARIAN PM: CRIMINAL PROPERTY AGENCY HEAD PRESSURED ME Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, has accepted the resignation of Todor Kolarov, Chairman of Bulgaria's Commission for Establishing of Property Acquired from Criminal Activity. Borisov made the announcement Saturday, in the country's winter resort of Bansko, where he is attending, along with President, Rosen Plevneliev, the e starts of the World Cup Alpine skiing for women. Kolarov resigned Friday, pointing out as grounds "a lack of a reform-minded majority in the Commission and a lack of political support on the part of Parliament and the President." The state Commission for Establishing of Property Acquired from Criminal Activity is devoted to investigating reports of so-called "criminal wealth," as well as wealth from "unexplained sources." Borisov said he had told the former Chairman that it would be impossible to replace ASAP people he did not want to work with because there are quotas for the said Commission – presidential, parliamentary, etc. "The Bill is in the Parliament; it will be passed in just a month and we will then elect all, including the Chairman. Nothing made it urgent for Kolarov to pressure me and twist my arms, by depositing this resignation in hopes I will exercise an extreme effort to reshuffle people in the Commission for just a month. So, I immediately signed it – the one who wants to work for his or her dismissal must go," the PM declared. Plevneliev, on his part, voiced surprise his institution had been tangled, saying he met Kolarov only once to state his full support for him, and the two had agreed on further meetings between the first and the second reading of the Bill. On the topic of lowering Value Added Tax, VAT, on medications, Borisov commented that he firmly opposed it because this will unleash a series of VAT reductions for other items. "Now Bulgaria is one of the countries with the lowest taxes in the EU, and we must keep them – anything else would be populism," Borisov concluded. BULGARIAN CABINET TAKES SHOT AT LOWERING LEGAL DRUGS PRICES The Bulgarian cabinet is starting negotiations with the pharmaceutical business to lower medication prices in Bulgaria, says Health Minister, Stefan Konstantinov. On Monday, Konstantinov will meet representatives of companies that sell medications on the Bulgarian market in attempt to reach agreement on lowering prices as much as 50%. Speaking Saturday, in an interview for Darik radio, he informed he had already talked to Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, about his idea for negotiations with the legal drugs business, and had obtained his full support. Konstantinov, however, made it clear that the option to lower prices of medications by reducing Value Added Tax, VAT, is no longer on the table. In the midst of the scandal with the prices that even lead to the dismissal of Deputy Health Minister, Gergana Pavlova, he launched the VAT idea. The latter did meet strong opposition from Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, and from the Chair of the Parliamentary Budget Committee, Menda Stoyanova, from the ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB. The Health Minister told the Darik host that money from VAT is distributed for different policies, including healthcare, stressing he did not see any reasons to enter in conflict with Djankov. Konstantinov labeled the reduction of VAT a step forward, and the negotiations – a leap forward, and said he preferred the second. He also confirmed that the price reduction could lead to some companies leaving the country's pharmaceutical market. The Minister explained that maximum prices of medications in Bulgaria are determined one the basis of referential prices in 13 EU Member States, where the respective drug is the cheapest, but admitted it is possible for some drugs to be sold for less abroad because health funds are more successful in negotiating serious discounts from manufacturers. EBRD: CREDIT SQUEEZE RISK IN EASTERN EUROPE STILL ACUTE Eastern Europe remains at risk of a credit squeeze as western lenders cut funds to meet capital rules even after the European Central Bank's discount loans, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said. While the ECB's EUR 489 B of three-year loans have helped avoid "a major disaster," growth is slowing and credit remains scarce, Piroska Nagy, an EBRD economist, told Bloomberg. "We aren't getting into a euphoric mood about the ECB's measures," Nagy, director of country strategy and policy at the EBRD in London, said in a phone interview. "We are very happy that finally the ECB did what a central bank is supposed to do. But because of the growth developments, the capital-flow developments and the trade-finance developments, we are very cautious to claim that we are out of the danger zone." Funding conditions are still deteriorating in central Europe, the Baltic economies and the Balkan nations, while Poland appears to be more insulated because of stronger economic growth and increasing local deposits, according to a draft report by the EBRD, seen by Bloomberg. Bank-related capital outflows from emerging Europe were "substantial" in the second part of last year, the EBRD said. The comments come amid renewed fears of a bank drain in the subsidiaries in Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria. Foreign banks are pulling funds from their subsidiaries in Bulgaria as lending growth in the country stalls, shows preliminary data of BIS, the central bank of central banks, as cited by local media. The total exposure of foreign banks to Bulgaria totaled USD 2.3 B during the third qurater of last year and about half of it - USD 1 B - was withdrawn by Greek banks, Sega daily reported earlier this month, citing preliminary data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Greek financial institutions have pulled out from Bulgaria over USD 1.8 B for half а year, reducing their funds in Bulgarian subsidiaries down to USD 14.2 B at the end of September, the daily claims, citing data from the second and third quarters of last year. With large parts of Bulgaria's banking sector in Greek hands, the daily voices concerns that local subsidiaries can be drained of money, putting the country's economies at risk. Meanwhile Bulgaria's bank system reported a 5.7% decrease in profits in December to BGN 586 M from the same period a year ago. Total assets rose 4.2% in 2011 to BGN 76.8 B, according to central bank data. Bad loans edged up to 14.93% in December in comparison with the same period a year ago. Half a month ago EBRD chief economist Erik Berglof started to drum support for a new Vienna Initiative in a bid to stop an outflow of capital from emerging Europe. "What I took away from this meeting was a remarkable consensus," Erik Berglof, chief economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, said at a Euromoney conference in Vienna on Tuesday. "Now it's to sit down and work out the details together with the private sector." Berglof warned that west European countries' scramble to protect themselves from the debt crisis while banks shrink their balance sheets risked a double blow to the region. He said he hopes to contain the urge of many banks to sell or reduce assets to hit the new capital adequacy targets. "We shouldn't have same expectations in terms of exposure commitment that we had (in 2009). There is an adjustment that needs to happen. We just have to make sure it happens in a more managed, gradual way. That is my hope." The EBRD and other agencies have also been working with emerging economies on the outskirts of Europe, such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia, which are most at risk of a slow-down in the wake of Greece's financial crisis. Greek banks hold nearly a 30% of the Bulgarian banking market, a 20% share of the bank loans and one-third of all deposits. Some of the biggest lenders in Bulgaria are managed by Italy's UniCredit, Greece's National Bank of Greece, Hungary's OTP and Austria's Raiffeisen. Other Greek banks present in Bulgaria include EFG Eurobank, Piraeus, Emporiki and Alpha Bank. Experts have warned that Bulgaria, the European Union member boasting one of the the bloc's smallest budget deficit, risks seeing its banks sucked under by the fiscal sins of neighboring Greece. Bulgaria's central bank and finance minister however have repeatedly tried to assuage fears over funds outflow from Greek bank subsidiaries in the country to headquarters in Greece, saying this is part of the free movement of capital. BULGARIAN PM LAUDS EXPANSION OF SKI AREAS Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov vowed to continue to support skiing and winter toursm in Bulgaria Sunday, when he was present at the Alpine Skiing World Cup race in Bansko. "You can see by the way that people greet us here that they are happy with the way we have fulfilled our commitments to winter sports," bragged Borisov. Sunday he visited the World Cup race with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and Minister of Sports Svilen Neykov. "Bulgaria has given over BGN 5 M for skiing this year - including International Ski Federation races, and children ski schools," said Borisov. In addition, the Bulgarian PM stressed that Bulgaria needs to expand its winter resorts. "We have to support the livelihood of people here, to boost tourism to Bulgaria, to ensure quality service for all who come to Bansko and elsewhere, so I hope we can convince environmentalists that an expansion is feasible," said he. The Bulgarian Parliament has to vote on second reading controversial amendments to the Forestry Act, which will make it much more easier for companies to develop and construct in protected areas. The bill was rushed through cabinet and parliament after the Vitosha Ski company, which operates facilities in Vitosha near capital Sofia, refused to open the new ski season, on grounds that the state allegedly blocked its investment plans. Environmentalists have slammed the legislative amendments as pandering to Vitosha Ski and the interests of Tseko Minev, who also has a stake in Bansko company Yulen. In the past week, a check by Bulgaria's Agency for State Financial Inspection uncovered a number of irregularities in Minev's deals with the state, including awarding contracts without due public procurement procedures. BULGARIAN PRESIDENT OPENS BANSKO WORLD CUP SKIING RACE Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, opened Friday evening the starts of the World Cup Alpine skiing for women in the country's top winter resort of Bansko. The competition is held on Saturday and Sunday (25 and 26 February) of the Banderishka Polyana (Meadow) ski track. The opening ceremony was attended by Sports Minister Svilen Neykov, the Chairman of the ski Federation, Tseko Minev, the Mayor of Bansko, Georgi Ikonomov, and British Ambassador in Sofia Jonathan Allen. Bansko is hosting for a second week the best skiers in the world, beginning with the men's competition. Among the contestants to win this weekend, there are stars like Lindsey Vonn, Maria Riesch, Anja Paerson, Tina Maze, Elizabeth Goergl, and Julia Mancuso. "Tourism is a total priority of the cabinet and of the President. We will continue to develop it in all its forms. 400 million people from all over the world are with us to discover and place Bulgaria again on the global ski map; to see that Bulgaria is a proven tourist destination, a leader in the region and one of the best in Europe," Plevneliev said. Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, is attending the competition over the weekend. He said he is using two days off to be in Bansko, because he wanted to avoid media pressure. BULGARIA AMONG 2012 BEST VALUE BREAKS - UK RANKING Bulgaria has been ranked as the fourth best value break of 2012 in UK Post Office holiday barometer. A cup of coffee costs as little as 96p in Bulgaria, while a three-course evening meal for two adults (including a bottle of house wine) in local restaurant averaged at GBP 24.04. The annual Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer monitors the price of eight popular tourist items in 40 holiday destinations worldwide – including dinner for two, light refreshments and sun cream. Sri Lanka and Spain came out on top as the cheapest overseas holidays. Spain has overtaken Portugal to become Europe's cheapest holiday destination, narrowly beating the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and over a third cheaper than Turkey. Thailand is the cheapest Far Eastern destination – although just GBP 5 divides Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. 
TUNISIA SCHOOL OF POLITICS OPENS WITH BULGARIAN SUPPORT Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, who arrived on an official trip to Tunisia Sunday, was present at the official launching of the Tunisian School of Politics. The School is modelled on the Bulgarian School of Politics that has been training young Bulgarian political leaders since 2001. The Bulgarian government also gave a part of a building it owns in Tunisian capital Tunis for premises of the new school. "We would like to share our experience in the transition to democracy. We will provide for your school a number of lecturers that were instrumental in Bulgaria's integration in the EU and NATO," said Borisov. The Bulgarian PM also praised Tunisia and its people for the pivotal role they played in the democratization of the Arab world and the buildup to the events known as the Arab Spring. "It is a great honor to be in Tunisia, which inspired many countries in the Arab world to initiate reforms. The big lesson is that tolerance and understanding are neccessary for achieving democracy," said he. Borisov also recalled the long-lasting ties between Tunisia and Bulgaria in the field of education. In the 1970s, 80s and 90s, many Bulgarian university professors, engineers and medics were hired in Tunisia to help develop the country. Bulgarian Minister of Education Sergey Ignatov is among the high-ranking cabinet delegation to Tunisia headed by PM Borisov. Also featured are Minister of Economy and Energy Traicho Traikov, and Foreign Affairs Minister Nikolay Mladenov, who has taken an especially active stance towards Tunisia and other Arab countries in the wake of pro-democracy unrest starting early 2011. Mladenov was pivotal in organizing the so-called Sofia Platform, a forum in the Bulgarian capital holding regular meetings with oposition leaders from accross the Arab World to promote democratic change. Minister Mladenov was in Tunisia Friday for the "Friends of Syria" conference that discussed ongoing bloodshed in the country. In July 2011 Mladenov was again in Tunisia, to get to know on the ground developments after the January regime change in the country. He sent the first democratically elected Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev as a special envoy for the October 2011 free elections in Tunisia. Monday the Bulgarian delegation is set to meet Tunisian PM Hamadi Jebali, President Moncef Marzouki and Constituent Assembly Speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar. The Bulgarian delegation will also meet the Bulgarian expat community in Tunisia, and will also participate in a Bulgarian-Tunisian business forum. PM BORISOV ASKS ALL BULGARIANS FOR FORGIVENESS Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov has stated he has asked all Bulgarian citizens for forgiveness, as is the tradition in Bulgaria ahead of Lent. On the Sunday before Lent, known in Bulgaria as Sirni Zagovezni, and in Russia as Maslenitsa, Christian Orthodox believers are allowed to eat cheese and diary products, before going on Easter Fast. According to Bulgarian tradition, this is also the day on which people ask their relatives, friends and close ones for forgiveness for any wrong they might have done over the year. This is especially so with reference to younger people, who are expected to ask the elder members of their family for forgiveness. "Today I have asked all Bulgarians for forgiveness, including my political opponents," said Bulgarian PM Borisov, as quoted by the Focus Information Agency. Sunday Borisov arrived on a high-profile state visit to Tunisia, together with a delegation of key cabinet ministers. BULGARIA ANTI-ACTA RALLIES GET ANEMIC No more than 150 Bulgarians joined the second protest against the controversial international Anti-counterfeiting Trade Agreement, ACTA, held on Saturday in the capital Sofia. The rally was held under the initiative of "No to ACTA," and was part of global demonstrations held on February 25. Similar, small-scale anti-ACTA protests were held in the towns of Blagoevgrad, Vidin, Dobrich and Sandanski. Activists say they are pleased with the reaction of Bulgaria's cabinet to withdraw from ACTA, but insist for a definitive and final rejection of the ratification of the agreement. The organization is further protesting an article in the Gambling Bill, which is scheduled to be debated in the Parliament at second reading. The amendment introduces a mandatory, constant and general control and systematic analysis without a Court order on the entire internet traffic of every Bulgarian in order to find out if there is illegal online gambling. Many in Bulgaria have voiced discontent, insisting this is a violation of their rights. On January 26, 2012, the Bulgarian government signed in Tokyo the international ACTA agreement, vowing to make downloading content similar to forgery of brands. The agreement was sealed by Bulgarian ambassador to Japan Lyubomir Todorov, based on a decision by the Bulgarian cabinet taken hastily on January 11. Transcripts from the meeting of the Council of Ministers from January 11 reveal that it had been Economy Minister, Traicho Traikov, who had made the proposal. Ever since the signing, ACTA stirred much discontent in Bulgaria, both because it had not been discussed by the cabinet and because the public had been kept entirely in the dark about the decision to sign it, until prominent Bulgarian bloggers and lawyers stirred large-scale noise about it. They lashed out at the signing of ACTA over their belief the agreement will bind countries to install legal regulations that excessively and unduly broadly penalize Internet users. Anti-ACTA protests took place in 16 Bulgarian and 150 European cities in mid-February. In the aftermath, Bulgaria's government announced that it is halting the ratification. The announcement was made by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, who declared he was assuming the entire political responsibility for the decision and expects to be attacked by international organizations on it. One day prior to that Traikov, declared Bulgaria will freeze its participation in ACTA and assumed full responsibility for signing it, despite the fact that negotiations on it have started as early as 2006, long before he became member of the cabinet. Traikov even announced that he was ready to resign over the ACTA controversy if Borisov decided such sanction is needed. Borisov is adamant that the negotiations on the agreement have started during the term of the previous cabinet, and there is no way for the now opposition, left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, to pretend they never heard about it. According to Borisov, his predecessor and BSP leader, Sergey Stanishev, had been part of the negotiations on ACTA in the European Parliament, while the country's first and former EU Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva led them – the latter is something Kuneva firmly denies. The PM has vowed that the Members of the European Parliament from his ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, would not endorse the ratification of ACTA. "Bulgarian legislation on internet piracy and protection of copyrights is strict enough and we do not need ACTA," Borisov says. THOUSANDS OF BULGARIANS PROTEST FUEL PRICES The latest round of protests against what ralliers believe to be excessively high fuel prices took place in Bulgaria Sunday. Some 600 protesters gathered in capital Sofia, where they temporarily blocked traffic at the Orlov Most bridge intersection downtown. Another 500 gathered in southwestern city of Blagoevgrad in what was the second-largest anti-fuel prices protest this Sunday. People also gathered in the major cities of Burgas, Plovdiv and Varna. Protesters have complained about what they see as the abuse of a dominating marked position for car fuels in the country by Russian-owned company Lukoil Bulgaria. BULGARIA SOFTENS 'BARBARIC' DOG SPINNING RITUAL Besieged by animal rights activists, a small southeastern Bulgarian village has agreed to water down a controversial "dog spinning" ritual it has been proudly performing for ages. In dog spinning, which is practiced in Brodilovo at the beginning of March, a dog is suspended above water on a rope. The dog is turned repeatedly in a given direction to wind the rope, then released so that it spins rapidly in the opposite direction as the rope unwinds, until the dog falls into the water. The locals claim that the dog is not supposed to be physically hurt. This ancient ritual of pagan origin is performed in order to prevent rabies and is a part of the traditional Kukeri rituals. But on Saturday, under the critical eyes of animal rights activists from Sofia and Burgas, the people of Brodilovo opted for a softer version of the ritual and just threw the dog into the water without spinning it on a rope. Days before the special date, the Bulgarian "Animal Rescue Sofia" NGO announced it would organize a visit to Brodilovo, in which the controversial "dog spinning" ritual is practiced even though it has been banned by the Mayor of the Tsarevo municipality. "Animal Rescue Sofia" has launched a Facebook campaign to drum up support for stopping the ritual. Dog spinning – or trichane, as locals call it - is now practiced only in Brodilovo. In 2005, the foreign media found out about the tradition and the world was outraged by its cruelty. Bulgarian animal welfare organizations also stood firmly against it. The ritual was considered dead until 2011 when the villagers renewed it, as they were frightened by the FMD outbreak in the region. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov officially condemned it as "barbaric." Many of the folklore traditions of Southeastern Bulgaria dating back to pagan times are world-renowned for their uniqueness - such as the fire-dancing or nestinarstvo, which is practiced only in this region. A video of the dog spinning - or trichane - ritual performed on March 6, 2011, in Brodilovo is available HERE RUSSIAN PATRIARCH ARRIVES IN BULGARIA FOR EASTER The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill is to visit Bulgaria in April around the Easter holiday. The new was announced Saturday by the Bulgarian Holy Synod. While in the country, Kirill will meet with President, Rosen Plevneliev, Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva. He will also visit the Plovdiv bishopric for a meeting with metropolitan Nikolay and for a trip to the nearby Bachkovo monastery, where Kirill will pay tribute to the Bachkovo miracle-worker icon of Virgin Mary, which is very popular in Russia. The last trip of a Russian Patriarch in Bulgaria happened in the now-distant 1994 when Aleksii II traveled to Sofia. Kirill is a Russian Orthodox bishop who has been Patriarch of Moscow and all the Rus' and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church since 1 February 2009. MISSING BULGARIAN GIRL FOUND IN SOFIA A 15-year-old Bulgarian girl from Ruse who went missing in capital Sofia was uncovered safe and unharmed by the police. Saturday the girl came to Sofia with her school team to take part in a judo competition in Sofia's Student City. Her coach discovered she went missing around noon. After loosing a couple of games, the girl asked to go out for food, upon which she did not return. Police were promptly alerted. They discovered the girl in a helpless and emotionally incoherent condition, but with no signs of having suffered violence It is still not clear what led to her action, and what happened after she disappeared from the competition. 2 NEW VICTIMS OF FALLING ICICLES REPORTED IN BULGARIA'S CAPITAL A mother, N.P., 31, and her baby boy have become the next victims of deadly icicles in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. They were hit by an ice piece Saturday morning, which had fallen on them in the very heart of the city – on "Karnigradska" street in downtown Sofia. The two were taken to the emergency hospital "Pirogov," where doctors established that the baby was unharmed while the mother refused medical help. They have been already released. The condition of G.I., 38, from the Black Sea city of Varna, who was listed in "Pirogov" at the beginning of the week, with injuries causes by a fallen icicle, remains critical. Doctors said Saturday they have noticed a slight stabilization, but are still fighting for his life. The man suffered a broken skull, contusion and bleeding in the brain. After he was listed in the hospital, an emergency team of neurosurgeons, led by Nikolay Gabrovski, performed surgery on him. SECOND WINTER FLOOD IN BULGARIA CAUSES MINOR DAMAGES Around 30 houses have been flooded in the Sadovo municipality in central southern Bulgaria due to a water reservoir overflowing with melting snow Sunday. The houses are located in the town of Sadovo, and the villages of Cheshnigirovo, Seltsi and Bogdanitsa, Plovdiv Region. The Ezerovo dam located nearby overflew Sunday due to warm weather and a large snow cover that had formed in the previous weeks. In addition to the flooded houses, domestic animals have been drowned, two bridges and roads have been destroyed, and some 250 acres of agricultural land have also been left under water. Sadovo mayor Dimitar Zdravkov said that authorities are doing everything to monitor reservoirs nearby. On February 6, 10 persons perished in the area of southeastern village of Biser, Haskovo Region, after the wall of the Ivanovo dam broke due to excessive precipitation. This has led to a major overhaul campaign of Bulgaria's extensive water reservoir system. EASTERN BULGARIAN DANUBE SECTION STILL FROZEN The Danube River is still completely frozen Sunday near Bulgarian ports of Tutrakan and Silistra, in the eastern part of the Bulgarian Danube section. In the other parts of the river, there is no floating ice and little ice on the banks, reported the Bulgarian Danube agency. The level of water at Silistra is 437 cm, with a rise of 17 cm; the level at Ruse is 400 cm, with a drop of 10 cm. 17 BULGARIAN REGIONS UNDER CODE YELLOW OVER GUSTY WINDS Code yellow has been declared for 17 Bulgarian regions Saturday over the forecast for gusty winds. The forecast has been issued by the Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BAS. Code yellow means potentially dangerous weather, where the forecast is not for unusual meteorological events, but requires people to exercise caution. It is effective for the regions of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven and Lovech in northwestern Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo in central Bulgaria, Ruse, Targovishte, Razgrad, Silistra, Shumen, Dobrich and Varna in northeastern Bulgaria, and Sliven, Stara Zagora, Plovdiv and Pazardzhik in the south. It will be partly cloudy, but without precipitations, and relatively warm – the minimum temperatures will be over 0 degrees C – between 1 and 6, while the maximum – between 9 and 14, and even up to 16 in southwestern Bulgaria. In the capital Sofia, the mercury will reach the 10 degrees C mark. There is also real threat of wide-spread floods in Bulgaria over the expected snowmelt, experts alarm. Northwestern Bulgaria will be affected the most because the melt will be faster over strong western winds. Levels of rivers Timok, Ogosta, Struma, Mesta, Maritsa and Arda are all expected to rise significantly. The warmer weather next week will also contribute to the reduction of the ice float on the Danube river. Damage from the flood in the southern village of Biser on February 6 is estimated at over BGN 3 M – 55 houses have been destroyed in Biser and the nearby village of Leshnikovo after the cracked wall of the Ivanovo dam broke and submerged adjacent areas. The amount, however, does not include the damage to the infrastructure, such as the railroad, the roads and the bridges. The floods in southeastern Bulgaria took ten victims. The cabinet declared February 8 a national day of mourning for the victims. Meanwhile, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR, warned that parts of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Bulgaria and Serbia, are under the serious threat of destruction and casualties over forthcoming floods caused by mass snowmelt. BULGARIAN TREASURES RACE FOR UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST Bulgaria's unique and traditional Kukeri and martenitsa are entering the race to be included in the list of protected cultural heritage of the UN Cultural Organization UNESCO. Other "contestants" include the Belogradchik rocks, the Magura cave, the churches in Arbanassi, the St.St. Petar and Pavel church in the old capital Veliko Tarnovo, Perperikon and Tatul, the Golyama Kosmatka (Large Kosmatka), Starosel. Martenitsa is a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn, which Bulgarians put on on March 1 - Baba Marta, the day marking the beginning of spring, according to the folklore, and wear it until around the end of the month. The Kukeri ritual is performed between Christmas and Lent by costumed men with scary animal masks, who walk around and dance to scare away the evil spirits, as well as to provide a good harvest, health, fertility, and happiness. The final list of Bulgaria's nominations for 2012 will be decided on through a national online vote organized by the Bulgarian "Standard" daily in the frame of the large-scale campaign "The Miracles of Bulgaria 2," to be launched in March. The goal of the initiative is to help the State in protecting at least two more Bulgarian treasures by including them in UNESCO's World Heritage List of properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. The initiative was presented to UNESCO's Director General, Bulgarian, Irina Bokova, by the "Standard's" Editor-in-Chief, Slavka Bozukova. Bokova was in Sofia at the beginning of the week to officially launch the new Intangible Cultural Heritage Center in southeastern Europe based in Bulgaria's capital. A public council of historians, archeologists, NGO representatives, and experts from the Ministries of Culture, Finance and Economy will present the first nominations in March. The council will work in partnership with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to assist Bulgarian institutions in the preparation of applications, while in the fall "Standard" will organize a splendid show under the motto "The Miracles of Bulgaria." Eleven Bulgarian miracles – 9 material and two intangible – are already included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. The material ones are: the Boyana church, the Ivanovo rock churches, the Kazanlak tomb, the Madara rider, the old town Nessebar, the Rila monastery, the Sveshtari tomb, the national natural park Pirin and the natural preserve "Srebarna." The intangible include the choir of the Bistritsa Babi (Bistritsa Grand Mothers) and the Nestinari dancers. Meanwhile, Standard reports that local mayors have begun entering the race only one day after the announcement of the campaign. LINDSAY VONN GRABS GOLD IN BANSKO SUPER SLALOM US skier Lindsay Vonn won the first place in the women's super giant slalom Alpine Skiing World Cup in Bansko, Bulgaria. Vonn grabed the gold with a fantastic showing of 1:15.66 at the Mark Girardelli piste up Bansko. Second, 5 hundredths behind, was Tina Weirather from Lichtenstein; third, 7 behind, was Italian Daniela Merigetti In the World Cup ranking, Lindsay Vonn leads with 1602 points, followed by Slovenian Tina Maze with 1074 pts (who finished fourth in Bansko), and German Maria Hoefl-Riesch (who finished sixth in Bansko). The race was scheduled to take place Saturday, but was put off for Sunday due to high winds. LIFE OF STABBED BULGARIAN MMA FIGHTER BLAGOI IVANOV STILL IN DANGER Bulgarian MMA fighter Blagoi Ivanov, who was stabbed early Sunday morning in a pub brawl in Sofia, is still fighting for his life, announced doctors. Ivanov has sustained a deep knife wound in his chest that reached to his heard and is currently under artificial respiration at the intensive care unit of Pirogov Hospital in Sofia. Surgeons have carried out a life-saving operation on their patient, but say his life is still under a real threat. Sunday night Ivanov and two of his friends had just occupied their places in a bar on Graf Ignatiev Str., when a group of 8 persons armed with bats and knives came in and attacked them. At 5.10 am police came in to find the attackers escaped and Ivanov with a deep stab wound under his armpit. Ivanov's two companions have suffered only light wounds and bruises and have been discharged by the hospital. Police are still investigating the bloody incident and have examined CCTV records of the pub in which it took place. Many of the witnesses of the brawl were inebriated at the time, which has made the work of police harder. Some weeks ago, a person was shot in the leg in front of the very same bar on Graf Ignatiev Str. in downtown Sofia. Blagoi Ivanov, aka Bagata, is known in Bulgaria for organizing and participating in so-called "free fights," in which the audience bet on the outcome. He has also made fame dating notorious "playmates." On his record, he has the gold medal in the 2008 World Sambo Championships and the bronze in the 2006 world contest. In March 2011, he signed a contract with Bellator Fighting Championship to take part in the mixed martial arts heavyweight division. In Bellator MMA fights, Blagoi Ivanov has never lost a match, having won 6 of his 7 games this far, and tied one. BULGARIAN POLICE UNCOVER MASSIVE BANK FRAUD ATTEMPT The Bulgarian police have detained two persons, who they say attempted to illicitly obtain funds worth close to BGN 0.5 M. A 72-year-old woman from Buhovo and 32-year-old man from Sofia were detained in an attempt to receive without the due legal grounds the amount of BGN 135,000 and EUR 143,000. The two presented forged documents at a bank to obtain the funds. The 32-year-old man has a previous criminal record for fraud, misappropriation and public misdemeanor. Charges have been levied against the two detainees, who have been arrested for 72 hours. TURBOT, EU FUNDS POP AS LEADS IN VARNA BUSINESSMAN MURDER Businessman Yordan Harasimov, was blown up in his car in Bulgaria's Varna on Friday, less than 24 hours after a meeting with representatives of the Executive Agency for Fishery and Aquacultures (IARA). The news was reported Saturday by the Bulgarian "Standard" daily, citing their own sources, who had spoken off the record. Yordan Harasimov, 52, was the major trader of fish products on the Northern Bulgarian Black Sea coast, and one of the largest in Bulgaria. Harasimov's company "Sever Export" trades with fish, fish products, and veined rapa whelk, a species of predatory sea snails abundant in the Black Sea. It is based in Varna's Asparuhovo quarter. Sever Export owns its own fishing vessels, and exports frozen fish and veined rapa whelk products to Japan, the USA, South Korea, Vietnam, and Turkey. The explosion that killed Harasimov occurred at a major downtown Varna crossroads near the Varna University of Economics shortly after 8 am on Friday. The meeting in question had been called so that IARA could explain to the fish business the new rules for catching turbot. Bulgaria was able to keep its quota for the rare fish, but the companies insist the quantities are insufficient and the business fights for a larger share, "Standard" writes, adding that according to the sources, this could be one of the reasons for the murder. Other leads revolve around the trade of veined rapa whelk, which, according to fishermen, is largely part of the shady economy. The export is destined mainly for Japan, the US and Turkey – the latter being one of the strongest competitors of Bulgaria in catching turbot because unlike Bulgaria and Romania, Turkey has no limiting quota. Experts in the sector stress it reduces the turbot population and hurdles the catching. According to "Standard," one of Harasimov's companies had applied for EU funding for cutting a trawler for scrap, but this project could not be considered a likely motive for murder. Meanwhile, however, another large-circulating Bulgarian daily "Trud," writes that the main lead for the explosion is precisely EU funding in the amount of BGN 4 M for the construction of the fishery port in the city of Varna, which had hurt seriously some business interests. A week ago, the businessman told some people close to him that he had "problems with persons from the capital Sofia, who were trying to block the port project." "Trud," citing anonymous police sources, writes that it is very likely that these Sofia people had racketeered, blackmailed and threatened Harasimov, and have finally decided to kill him. On Friday, Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov announced that the Varna businessman had old "violations" and paid serious money for a long time to escape the law, and that he had a long-time conflict with a former business partner. A check of "Trud" has revealed that between 1995 and 1999, Harasimov had as a partner a businessman from Turkey, who currently has two companies, registered in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Burgas, in partnership with several other Turkish citizens. In the last years, Sever Export had a very large business with Turkey, but the involvement of the former Turkish partner, if any, remains unclear. 2 BULGARIAN DEATHS IN CYPRUS 'CRIME OF PASSION'* Click here to read the story: www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=137010 SYRIANS VOTE ON CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM, OPPOSITION BOYCOTTS Thousands of Syrians are flocking Sunday to polling stations to vote a constitutional referendum on an array of wide-reaching reforms. "A very high election turnout" can be observed at many stations since the morning, reports Russian agency ITAR-TASS. The agency also adds that in many cities people have flocked in rallies of support for embattled President Bashar Al-Assad. Assad called the referendum to let Syrians decide if they want democratic reforms, called for by protests since March 2011. Syrian opposition rerpesentatives have called for a boycott of the referendum, saying it proposes facade reforms, keeping almost the entire state authority in the President. On the other hand, the new constitutional proposals include elimination of the single-party system for a political pluralism, and a limit on the 7-year terms the president may serve to 2. The new constitution proposals also ban the formation of parties based on religious, ethnic or race principles, but mentions Sharia as the supreme source of all law. Sunday Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad condemned the decision of participants in the "Friends of Syria" meeting to endorse the opposition Syrian National Council, saying this only furthers new bloodshed. Meanwhile world agencies report heavy fighting in the city of Homs, which has been the arena of some of the most violent events since unrest started. NELSON MANDELA UNDERWENT HERNIA SURGERY South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela successfully underwent hernia surgery Saturday, a family member told CNN Saturday. The 93-year-old likely will be discharged within the next two days, said the relative. Earlier, President Jacob Zuma said Mandela was being treated for a "longstanding abdominal complaint." "We wish him a speedy recovery and assure him of the love and good wishes of all South Africans and people throughout the world," Zuma said in a statement. A government official assured the public that Mandela's hospital stay was not an emergency. "People need not panic. This was planned ... Mandela has had abdominal pains for sometime," said Keith Khoza, a spokesman for the ruling African National Congress. Officials and family declined to name the hospital the former president is undergoing treatment. Mandela - affectionately known by his clan name Madiba - last appeared in public in the closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. |
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