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| 28 Feb 2012, Issue 3331 · USD: 1.46088 EUR: 1.95583 · Sofia: min -13°, max -2° Varna: min -4°, max 2° · |
| BUSINESS POLITICS WORLD SOCIETY SPORTS FORUM |
Bulgaria to Help Tunisia Create New Constitution
 Bulgaria
will offer technical assistance to Tunisia in its efforts to write a
new constitution, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced
during his visit to the North African country.
read |
EU Set to Fine Bulgaria over Poor Trade Register Software
 Brussels
is likely to impose a EUR 800 000 fine on Bulgaria for a delay in
introducing new software at its trade registry agency to the benefit of
European companies.
read |
Low Schengen Hopes for Bulgaria, Romania ahead of EU Summit
 Bulgaria
and Romania's bids to join the Schengen Agreement are expected to be
discussed at the upcoming European Council meeting on March 1 and March
2.
read |
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EC GIVES BULGARIA FINAL WARNING ON ENERGY MARKET FAILINGS
The European Commission Monday gave final warnings to eight EU countries, including Bulgaria, for failing to inform it of their measures to implement the EU's third power and gas market opening directives. "As to date Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia have not informed the Commission of any transposition measures for the two directives and Estonia has not done so as regards the gas directive," the EC said. The EC has sent reasoned opinions, the second and final written warning in the EU's formal infringement process, to the national governments involved. The governments have two months to respond. If they fail to comply, the EC said it may refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice. All 27 EU countries were required to transpose most of the provisions in the EU's third power and gas market opening directives, adopted in 2009, by March 3, 2011 and to inform the EC of them. The EC said that some EU nations had only notified partial transposition of the directives, and that it is analyzing the measures they had notified. It said it "will decide in the coming months on appropriate further steps." In February 2011 EU leaders committed to complete the EU's internal energy market by 2014. Many EU countries were also late transposing the EU's second power and gas directives into national law, and the EC had to launch formal infringement procedures against nearly all of them. 
BARROSO: NEGATIVE MESSAGES ABOUT GREEK RESCUE DEVASTATING European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has warned of the devastating effect that doubts about Greece's financial assistance program may have. "It would not be rational to put all that money (for the second bailout) if (eurozone nations) believe it is not going to work," Barroso told an audience at the Lisbon Council think tank in Brussels. "Unfortunately, the message that comes at the same time, is 'ok, (we put this money) but probably it will not work.' This has a devastating effect," the head of the EU executive complained. "I will receive Papademos on Wednesday with several members of the commission to see how we can implement the program," Barroso announced. The meeting will take place just a day before all European Union heads of state gather in Brussels with plans to conclude Greece's second bailout program and discuss growth-enhancing measures without stimulus. "I believe [Greece] can become a much more efficient, competitive economy," Barroso said, adding that "reforms take time." The meeting, which will run from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. local time, will focus on Greece's growth potential, commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen told reporters in Brussels today. EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn will also attend the meeting, Ahrenkilde-Hansen said. Last week, euro-zone finance ministers agreed a second bailout package for Greece worth EUR 130 B in exchange for further austerity and reform measures from Athens, to prevent the country from defaulting on its debts. FLOATING ICE RAVAGES MAJOR BULGARIAN DANUBE PORT The reemerging ice float on the Danube River has damaged severely one of Bulgaria's major river port, Silistra. On February 11, 2012, the Bulgarian Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River announced that the Danube is 100% frozen from kilometer 386 to kilometer 375, which is near Bulgaria's Silistra, which was first time the river froze in the Bulgarian section in 20 years. As the ice began to melt, however, on Monday, February 27, the level of the Danube rose by two meter at Silistra, and the resulting ice float shattered the Port Silistra facilities badly damaging the pontoons and rails, the poles, trees, and banisters along the bank, a correspondent of the BGNES agency reported. The ice float even swept an anchored cruise vessel and a patrol boat of the Bulgarian Border Police and dragged away down the river. Luckily, none of the crew members or the port personnel have been injured. A total of nine vessels that had been blockaded for days by the ice near the Romanian bank across from Silistra have also been badly affected by the ice float. The freezing of the Danube River has been attributed both to the low temperatures and to its record low level since the summer of 2011; the river has thus frozen for the first time in 20 years. BULGARIA SEES 14% DROP OF FOREIGN VISITORS JAN 2012 The number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria decreased by 14.1% in January 2012 as compared to December, reaching 337 100, according to the country's National Statistical Institute. An increase was registered in the visits with holiday and recreation purposes, as well as those with business purposes - by 12.2% and 3.8% respectively, while the visits with other purposes decreased by 16.0%, the Institute says. In January 2012, the arrivals of visitors from EU Member States in Bulgaria decreased by 27.5% in comparison with the previous month. However a growth was registered in the visits from the United Kingdom - by 67.4%, Italy - 22.1%, Greece - 13.4% and Germany - 9.4%. A significant decrease was observed in the Romanian visits - by 76.4%. The visits of foreigners from other European countries increased by 3.9%, with the highest growth observed in Macedonians - by 25.1%, and Russians - by 18.0%. In January 2012 the visitors with holiday and recreation purpose composed the greatest relative share of the total number of foreigners who visited Bulgaria - 49.0%, followed by the arrivals with other purposes (including guests and passengers that only passed through the country) - 32.0% and business trips - 19.0%. In January 2012, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 252 800 or by 2.4% less compared to December 2011. An increase in the total number of the trips Bulgarian residents was registered to the United Kingdom - by 15.0%, Spain - by 13.1%, Austria - by 10.5%, Italy - by 9.4%, Germany - by 8.1%, Romania - by 8.1% and others. BULGARIA SAYS IT IS TO HOST UN FORUM ON SYRIA Bulgaria probably will host one of the meetings on the humanitarian aspects of the crisis in Syria in April, being co-organized by the United Nations, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov has announced. Mladenov made the announcement Monday in Brussels where he was taking part in a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry reminded that earlier on Monday the EU Foreign Affairs Council tightened the restrictive measures against the Syrian regime and adopted 10 conclusions that further increase the pressure on the regime in Damascus, which Sofia described as "a regime clearly responsible for indiscriminate repression of civilians." The new sanctions against the Assad regime provide for a halt to the trade in gold, precious metals with the Central Bank of Syria, a ban on cargo aircraft landing at European airports, a freeze on the assets of the Syrian Central Bank in the EU, while seven Syrian ministries associated with violations of human rights are subjected to various types of bans. "Today's decisions include recognition by the EU of the Syrian National Council as the legal representatives of Syrians, who are fighting for the freedom of their country. This means that the EU is increasing its commitment to, and support for, the Syrian opposition," Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Mladenov said. He added that the next "Friends of Syria" conference – after the one held in Tunisia last week - would be held in Turkey. Other issues on the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday included the situation in Egypt, on the situation in Yemen, relations with the South Caucasus, the Middle East peace process, the EU co-chairmanship of the Mediterranean Union and the results of the London conference on Somalia. BULGARIA TO HELP TUNISIA CREATE NEW CONSTITUTION Bulgaria will offer technical assistance to Tunisia in its efforts to write a new constitution, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced during his visit to the North African country. On Monday, Borisov claimed that he has become the first EU Prime Minister to visit Tunisia since the Arab Spring broke out, adding that he hoped Bulgaria and Tunisia to develop successful bilateral projects. The Bulgarian PM visited Tunisia for the official opening 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. Borisov met with his Tunisian counterpart Hamadi Jebali and later revealed that he has invited him and the Tunisian President to Bulgaria. The Bulgarian PM revealed that his country's exports to Tunisia have increased "In our conversation the Prime Minister acquainted us with the development and the problems in Bulgaria's transition towards democracy. We hope that we will develop good relations courtesy of this visit," Jebali said after the meeting. "The Prime Minister asked me to request more help and attention for Tunisia at the European Council meeting. Democratic processes have to be supported. We reiterated our clear disapproval of what is happening in Syria and demanded that violence is stopped as soon as possible," Borisov declared, as cited by dnevnik.bg. The Bulgarian PM also met with representatives of Tunisia's Bulgarian community. BULGARIA'S GOVT ASSUAGES EU CRITICISM ON ENERGY MARKET Bulgaria's Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Tourism has declared that it is in the process of transposing into its legislation the EU's third power and gas market opening directives. The statement came Monday night in response to renewed criticism by Brussels earlier the same day in which the European Commission gave final warnings to eight EU countries, including Bulgaria, for failing to inform it of their measures to implement the EU's third power and gas market opening directives. Bulgaria's Economy Ministry explained that the amendments incorporating into the Bulgarian Energy Act EU Directive 2009/72/EC and Directive 2009/73/EC on the common rules for the electricity and natural gas market were adopted by the Cabinet in Sofia on January 17, 2012, and were tabled to the Parliament on January 23. "It is expected that these amendments will be adopted within a month. Simultaneously, the Bulgarian Energy Holding is in a process of selecting and making a contract for the restructuring of NEK (Bulgaria's National Electricity Company)" the Economy Ministry said, adding that this will help separate the Bulgarian Electricity System Operator from NEK. "As to date Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia have not informed the Commission of any transposition measures for the two directives and Estonia has not done so as regards the gas directive," the EC said earlier on Monday. The EC has sent reasoned opinions, the second and final written warning in the EU's formal infringement process, to the national governments involved. The governments have two months to respond. If they fail to comply, the EC said it may refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice. All 27 EU countries were required to transpose most of the provisions in the EU's third power and gas market opening directives, adopted in 2009, by March 3, 2011 and to inform the EC of them. The EC said that some EU nations had only notified partial transposition of the directives, and that it is analyzing the measures they had notified. It said it "will decide in the coming months on appropriate further steps." In February 2011 EU leaders committed to complete the EU's internal energy market by 2014. Many EU countries were also late transposing the EU's second power and gas directives into national law, and the EC had to launch formal infringement procedures against nearly all of them. 
DUTCH DIPLOMAT: BALKAN PEOPLE ARE NOT EUROPEANS - REPORT Bulgarians in the Netherlands have yet again been subjected to attacks over their origins and their culture, but this time the source is former diplomat and journalist Robert van Lanschot. In a commentary for Handelsblatt, cited by Bulgarian 24 Hours, Lanschot, who has participated in missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Eritrea, is quoted as saying that East Europeans, most of all the people on the Balkans, have contributed nothing to European culture. According to the Bulgarian publication, the article in the German business daily opens with a quote of friends of the ex diplomat from Kongo, who reside in Brussels: "The Balkan people in Belgium? These are not white people!" Provided that even African outlanders realized that a great cultural divide separates Western and Eastern Europe, what about the rest, Van Lanschot writes. To illustrate his point, he says that in Sarajevo Europe starts in the middle of the bridge over the Neretva River in Mostar. He claims that tourists sigh with relief and can "finally feel back in Europe" once they enter the Croatian part of Mostar. In Lanschot's words, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Moldova and Montenegro, a large part of Serbia, parts of Bosnia, Bulgaria and Greece, likewise disagree with the idea of Europe. According to the author, they rather belong to a cultural group which is much closer to Turkey. He argues that the cities in Kosovo are more like the cities in Iraq, not the EU. "Nobody on the Balkans knows what a Chanel costume is, about the culinary art of Bokus , Pippi Longstocking, English gardens, Montaigne's Essays, Lego toys, etc", he writes. He explains that construction workers from Kosovo who work on projects in Switzerland fail to grasp Swiss-style building and keep making "distorted, unsymmetrical constructions" peculiar to the eyes of Westerners when they return home. Van Lanschot calls for stopping the expansion, noting that the countries in question have nothing to do with Europe. EU SET TO FINE BULGARIA OVER POOR TRADE REGISTER SOFTWARE Brussels is likely to impose a EUR 800 000 fine on Bulgaria for a delay in introducing new software at its trade registry agency to the benefit of European companies. "The new software would have allowed the online registration of European companies in the agency data base," Deputy Justice Minister Denitsa Valkova explained. "Currently European companies can not register online in Bulgaria's trade register if they want to do so. The public procurement tender for the software was launched in March 2010 only to get suspended three months later due to shortage of funding," she added. The news comes just days after Violeta Nikolova, Executive Director of Bulgaria's Registry Agency, was kicked out of office. The move was triggered by the poor results of an audit of the institution which was concluded at the end of last week and yet another scandal with hefty bonus payment awarded to officials of the Registry Agency. At the beginning of February it emerged that Nikolova had received BGN 72 000 in additional financial incentives, BGN 24 000 of which had been ordered by former Justice Minister Margarita Popova. The news triggered an inspection by internal auditors and by the Inspectorate to the Ministry of Justice. According to reports of the local BGNES news agency, Nikolova treated herself to a bonus of BGN 7000 in September and another one of BGN 4000 in October 2011. Nikolova refused to disclose information about the bonus payments on the grounds that it was "personal data". Bulgaria's Registry Agency services the Trade Register. The website of the institution was "unavailable" for quite some time in 2011. The system was not functional for some 10 days in late May and early June 2011. After that, the Registry Agency's website was plagued by poor maintenance for another month. This coincided with the deadline for filing annual financial reports. LOW SCHENGEN HOPES FOR BULGARIA, ROMANIA AHEAD OF EU SUMMIT Bulgaria and Romania's bids to join the Schengen Agreement are expected to be discussed at the upcoming European Council meeting on March 1 and March 2. However, no positive development is expected, as the Netherlands is to keep its stance against the two EU newcomers' Schengen entry anytime soon, Europolitics has commented. The Dutch government waits to see this summer's Cooperation and Verification reports on the two Balkan states before potentially deciding to lift its veto. A European source has told Europolitics that the item is expected to be on the summit's agenda. Bulgaria and Romania's efforts to join Schengen were on the agenda of the meeting of EU heads of state and government on December 9 2011, when the leaders asked the Council to adopt "as soon as possible" the Schengen enlargement decision, noting that Bucharest and Sofia have fulfilled "all the legal conditions". Bulgaria and Romania were expected to enter Schengen in the spring of 2011, but their entry was blocked by countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, who had worries that problems with organized crime and corruption might jeopardize safety in the Schengen Area. Currently, only the Netherlands remains firmly against the two country's phased-in Schengen accession. JUPPE: EU TO GRANT SERBIA CANDIDATE STATUS Serbia is set to be granted European Union candidate status later this week, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has announced. Juppe noted Monday that no "objections" had been raised at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels, as cited by DPA. The decision much awaited by Serbia is to be formally taken by the ministers responsible for EU affairs on Tuesday and endorsed by EU leaders at a summit at the end of the week. Juppe noted that an across-the-board consensus had already been evident at Monday's meeting. "It's done. There was agreement today," he told reporters. "There are no longer any objections." But at the same time, he warned that there remains a long road ahead before Serbia is given the green light to ultimately join the bloc. Serbia has removed most of the roadblocks on its path to candidate status by stricking two deals with Kosovo on regional cooperation and border management. Better relations between Serbia and its breakaway province is considered a precondition for progress by Belgrade towards EU membership. EU PRESSURES SYRIA'S ASSAD REGIME WITH NEW SANCTIONS The European Union has reacted to the escalating violence in Syria by imposing new sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. At a meeting of EU foreign ministers, the Union approved sanctions on Syria's central bank and seven new government ministers as expected. It also signed off on a ban on cargo flights from Syrian airline carriers and on trade in gold, diamonds and some other precious metals with Syria. "We continue to do what we can to support the Arab League plan and a peaceful transition in Syria rather than the appalling violence that we continue to see,“ UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said as quoted by the WSJ. The EU has already introduced an oil embargo on Syria and a travel ban and asset freeze on Assad and many of his top government and military officials. In a statement after a two-hour discussion about Syria, EU foreign ministers called for Syrian authorities to allow humanitarian organizations "full and unimpeded access" to the country and condemned what it called President Assad's "ruthless campaign of repression against the civilian population and its systematic and widespread violation of human rights." The foreign ministers said they would hold those responsible for the violence "accountable for their actions." French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé told reporters the international community should "reflect" on what action can be taken against Syrian leaders in the International Courts of Justice. The EU foreign ministers also warned they would push further sanctions "as long as the repression continues." But the EU also made it clear that military action was off the table. They said they wouldn't breach an arms embargo on Syria by directly supplying the opposition with arms and that a peacekeeping force could be sent to Syria only once the violence ends. The ministers recognized the Syrian National Council as a "legitimate representative" of the Syrian people. But they urged opposition forces to work more closely together—setting up a "coordination mechanism" and agreeing to "a set of shared principles for working towards an orderly and peaceful transition." Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, Mr. Juppé said the Syrian National Council could provide leadership to Mr. Assad's opponents but said the opposition must include people from across Syria's ethnic and religious divides—including Christians, Kurds and Mr. Assad's Allawite community. Last Friday, a "Friends of Syria" contact group of more than 60 nations meeting in Tunis backed an Arab plan calling on President Assad to cede power, and pledged to prepare to deliver emergency humanitarian aid to Syria. On Sunday, Syrians voted in a referendum on a new constitution as fighting raged in parts of the country and the city of Homs remained under artillery attack. U.K. Foreign Secretary Hague said that vote had "fooled nobody." "To open polling stations while you continue to open fire on civilians in the country has no credibility in the eyes of the world," he said. BULGARIAN PASSY FAMILY PROPOSES UNIFORM PHONE NUMBER OF HOTEL RECEPTION DESKS Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria, and Gergana Passy, President of Pan-Europa Bulgaria, have suggested that all hotel reception desks should be reached by dialing a uniform number. The Passy's have already succeeded in persuading the European Commission to adopt a universal cell phone charger, the 24 Hours daily reminds. The one-charger-fits-all policy has been in force since the beginning of 2011. At a press conference on Sunday, the two explained that the idea for the uniform phone number of hotel reception desks originally belonged to Hristo Mutafchiev, a prominent Bulgarian actor, who suffered a stroke in end-October 2010, who had told them that he had spent a night trying to contact the reception desk. "If I had managed to dial the number of the reception desk, I would have suffered less damage. Many doctors told me that if I had managed to get help in the first 15 minutes after the stroke, I would have avoided the problem I am battling now. I believe that it is very important to help other people who may end up in my situation," Mutafchiev stated during the press conference. He went on to add that if the uniform phone number could be introduced, the rooms could be equipped with a panic button ensuring instant connection to the reception staff. Poli Karastoyanova, head of the National Tourism Board, specified that the initiative could be implemented through a newly proposed set of amendments to the Tourism Act. Karaslavova vowed to speak up for the idea, adding that putting the idea into practice would not be problematic. Gergana Passy noted that the proposal was backed by Veselin Zlatev, Chair of the Commission for Consumer Protection. The Passy's expressed confidence that a solution would be found on a national level which could then work its way up to a European standard. EU TO MARK BULGARIA'S NATIONAL DAY THIS WEEK Bulgarian national cuisine and a vivid cultural program will be presented this week at EU institutions in Brussels ahead of the country's National Day, March 3. On Wednesday, an event entitled "Bulgaria: Land of Spirit and Letters" will take place at the European Parliament Yehudi Menuhin Space, including the performance of young musicians from Bulgaria and young musicians with Bulgarian roots from Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia and Macedonia. The guests of the event will can enjoy traditional Bulgarian dishes during the cocktail. Honored guests will be Margarita Popova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva and Rainer Viyland, Vice-President of the European Parliament. On March 1, Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov and the country's EU Commissioner Kristina Georgieva will open an exhibition named "Masters of Bulgarian Painting" at the Berlaymont building of the European Commission. The guests of the Berlyamont even will be offered traditional Bulgarian dishes and wines. EX BULGARIA VICE PRESIDENT GRANTED 49 PARDONS DESPITE NEGATIVE OPINION OF ADVISORS Former Vice President Angel Marin signed decrees for granting partial or full pardons to 49 convicts despite the motivated refusals on the part of the Pardons Committee. Citing data obtained from the President's Office after a query under the Access to Public Information Act, Bulgarian news portal Mediapool reported Monday that over half of the pardons granted despite the negative reports of the Committee concerned murder convicts and six had been granted to inmates guilty of exceptionally brutal murder. At the end of last week, the former Vice President said at a press conference that none of the 533 offenders pardoned during his two terms in office (2002 – 2012) "has a nickname or is involved in a scandal". The recommendations of the experts at the Pardons Committee are not binding for the Vice President who has no obligation to motivate the pardon decrees. Pardon papers are sent for execution to the Justice Minister, who has no authority to alter the will of the President. Angel Marin granted a pardon for the probation period and the remainder of the jail term of Euroroma Chair Tsvetelin Kanchev despite the unanimous disapproval of the eight-member Pardon Committee. The former Vice President also granted a pardon for a convict about whom the Committee said that "he should not be granted a pardon because he has prior convictions for failure to pay alimony, for fraud, theft and embezzlement; he has already spent 7 years and 4 months in a number of prisons; after he serves the jail term he has been handed down, for which he is currently seeking a pardon, he will have another 11 years to spend in prison. The majority of the crimes he has committed, almost all of them crimes against property, indicate a threat of repeat offences; the convict has entrenched lasting criminal habits and there are no special circumstances necessitating pardon." Marin granted a pardon for 6 years of imprisonment for attempted bribery to the head of the Municipal Property Directorate at the Varna Municipality, disregarding recommendations of the Committee that the case involves a grave crime which is extremely socially reprehensible and "erodes the foundations and the authority of the state administration". The members of the Pardons Committee warn that the "pardon would discredit the intolerance towards top-level corruption widely championed by President Parvanov". The pardons granted by Angel Marin stirred a scandal after it turned out that then-President Georgi Parvanov had failed to issue a decree delegating the authorities related to pardon and citizenship applications to the Vice President for the second term in office. RALITSA NEGENTSOVA ELECTED CHAIR OF BULGARIA'S SUPREME BAR COUNCIL Lawyer Ralitsa Negentsova is the new Chair of the Supreme Bar Council, according to the results of the final vote count which ended late on Sunday. Negentsova's prior position was Chair of the Supreme Disciplinary Court of the Bulgarian Bar. She will replace Daniela Dokovska, who is not eligible to run for another term in office. Sunday's vote took place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with 170 ballots cast out of a total of 171 delegates in attendance. Negentsova, who gained public prominence as a longtime member of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), was elected with 109 votes in favor (out of a total of 169 valid ballots) in the first round. The other candidates were Natalia Tsenova, with 38 votes in favor, Veska Voleva - 17 votes and Marin Markovski - 4 votes. The session also resulted in the appointment of seven members (out of a total of 15) of the Supreme Bar Council and one member of the Supreme Control Council. A run-off vote will be held on March 03 to elect a Chair of the Supreme Disciplinary Council and to fill the vacancies at the Supreme Bar Council, the Supreme Disciplinary Council and the Supreme Control Council. Sunday's voting was marked by the conspicuous absence of the delegates from the Sofia Bar Association. The 123 delegates, who represent 4905 Sofia-based lawyers (against a total of around 12 000 lawyers in Bulgaria), were barred from casting ballots due to serious breaches of the Bar Act surrounding the nomination of delegates. The cancellation stirred a scandal Saturday morning, with Orlin Simeonov from the Varna Bar Association seeking a postponement of the vote for a new Chair, only to be cut short by the explanation that legal provisions had it that the session had to take place on the last Saturday and Sunday of February The same argument was put forth by the outgoing Chair of the Supreme Bar Council, who got booed by the Sofia lawyers. The delegates left the room infuriated and refused to hear Dokovska's report about 2011. CHINESE MARTENITZAS INVADE BULGARIAN MARKET "Martenitsas" made in China have flooded the Bulgarian market ahead of the country's traditional Baba Marta holiday, an indigenous folklore tradition that marks the beginning of spring. A mass invasion of Martenitsas (red-and-white interwoven strings) made in China has been observed over the last few days, according to the BGNES news agency. "A purely Bulgarian tradition: the act of decorating your loved ones with a hand-made martenitsa in order to wish them luck is outdated now," BGNES concludes, even though the Chinese martentsas are apparently hand-made, too. On March 1, almost everyone in Bulgaria can be seen with a Martenitsa - a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn, which will be warn until around the end of the month (or the first time an individual sees a stork, swallow or budding tree - the first signs that spring has arrived.) A similar custom (involving "Martisor") can be discovered in Romania and Moldova. Baba Marta (Grandma March) is believed to be a feisty lady who always seems to be grudging at her two brothers, while the sun only comes out when she smiles. In addition to its folklore aspects, the Martenitsa holiday also has important economic ramifications for many Bulgarian families – especially for elderly people – who spent the entire year making martenistas in order to sell them on March 1, and thus earn a little extra for their modest family budgets. In 2011, concerns emerged in Bulgaria that Chinese Martenitsas may change the spirit of the traditionally Bulgarian holiday, as they were often found to be completely out of line with local traditions. An example in hand was the emergence of Chinese-made martenitsas with white and orange threads, while the actual Bulgarian martenitsas are supposed to be white and red. NUMBER OF BULGARIANS ON PATERNITY LEAVE GROWS CONSIDERABLY More and more Bulgarian dads choose to take paternity leaves and look after their small children, the country's National Statistical Institute has revealed. The number of Bulgarian men that have taken paternity leaves to care for children younger than one year of age has increased by 25% over the last three years, reaching 301 in 2011. As for children aged between one and two, the number of dads in paternity leave has increased by 34% over the same period, reaching 1113. Under Bulgaria's current legislation, mothers are obliged to look after their newborn children in the first six months. After that period, fathers are allowed to step in and take a paternity leave. BULGARIAâ��S SILISTRA ALERTED OVER HIGH DANUBE LEVEL The level of water at Bulgaria's Danube town of Silistra has reached 634 cm, with a rise of 197 cm as compared to yesterday, it has been announced. Bulgaria's Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River has informed that inspections of the river are now carried out every hour instead of once every three hours as usual. At the city of Ruse, the water level has decreased by 81 cm, reaching 319 cm. Parts of the Danube river near Silistra were frozen on Sunday, causing difficulties for several vessels. FAECAL WATER POURING IN BULGARIA'S BLACK SEA AFTER TECHNICAL FAILURE Water containing faecal matter has started pouring in Bulgaria's Black Sea from the southern resort village of Ravda after a failure occurred in a local wastewater pipeline. The pipeline burst as a result of the raging sea storm that hit the region three weeks ago. The storm broke a 20-meter-long piece of the pipeline. Faecal matter is now poured on the beach and directly into the sea, Ravda mayor Andon Bakalov has revealed, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. Bakalov has expressed his certainty that the failure will be repaired soon. Ravda is a relatively popular Bulgarian Black Sea resort located just 6 km from Sunny Beach. STABBED BULGARIAN MMA FIGHTER STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION Bulgarian MMA fighter Blagoi Ivanov, who was stabbed early Sunday morning in a pub brawl in Sofia, is still in critical condition, doctors have informed. Ivanov is under artificial aspiration in Sofia's Pirogov hospital. Medical complications may arise as a result of the stab wound, a hospital official has said, as cited by dnevnik.bg. Blagoi Ivanov aka Bagata won the gold medal in the 2008 World Sambo Championships and the bronze in the 2006 world contest. He is known in Bulgaria for organizing and participating in so-called "free fights," in which the audience bet on the outcome. 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 allegedly 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. BALMY DAYS IN BLISSFUL BULGARIA Click here to read the story: www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=137029 GUNMAN KILLS 1, WOUNDS 4 IN OHIO HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING A gunman has wounded four students, and killed one, at a suburban Cleveland high school Monday morning before apparently being chased out of the building by a teacher, police said at a news conference. The Chardon High School shooting suspect - believed to be a student, according to a school official - was in custody after turning himself in to bystanders, police said, as cited by CNN. Two students injured in the shooting, one boy and one girl, were taken to Hillcrest Hospital, spokeswoman Heather Phillips said. One was in serious condition, the other in stable condition, she said. Three students were taken by helicopter to MetroHealth Medical Center, hospital representative Shannon Mortland said in a statement. Mortland did not provide details on their conditions. It was unclear where the fatally wounded student had been taken. A student at Chardon High, Evan Erasmus, told CNN affiliate WEWS that the victims may have been students at a school in nearby Auburn, Ohio, waiting for a bus to take them there. He said the suspect may have posted a threatening message on the social networking service Twitter before the shooting. "I think he said that he was going to bring a gun to school, and I think that everyone just blew it off like he was joking," Erasmus said. Police recovered a handgun and gave it to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for examination, the agency said. A law enforcement source said the Geauga County sheriff's office and federal agents were executing search warrants in the case, but the official did not provide locations. Investigators took over the school Monday morning and were collecting evidence after students had been evacuated to nearby Maple Elementary School, said Lt. John Hiscox of the sheriff's office. He declined to say how authorities learned of the shooting. School administrators called off school for the day and assured parents that students were safe. Still, parents eager to retrieve their children hurried to school buildings, forming long lines as school officials and police checked identification before releasing students. SWAT team members stood guard outside the school, allowing only a few parents inside at a time, enhancing what was a surreal scene for many. CNN reminds that there is a long history of deadly violence on school campuses in the USA, ranging from incidents in which students stab each other or shoot staff members to mass murders like the ones at Virginia Tech and Columbine High School. In April 1999, two teenagers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and a teacher before they killed themselves in the library at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Gunman Seung-Hui Cho unleashed one of the deadliest campus attacks in American history at Virginia Tech in April 2007, killing 32 students and staff members. Two handguns were found near his body after the 23-year-old senior finally ended his rampage by killing himself. Not all school killings are carried out by students. A 32-year-old man, Charles Roberts IV, took 11 girls hostage at a small Amish school in Pennsylvania in October 2006 and killed five of them. The other six were wounded before Roberts killed himself. RUSSIA, UKRAINE FOIL ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST PUTIN A group of suspects have been arrested by Russian and Ukrainian special services on suspicions of attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia's state television said Monday. The Channel One said that the suspects were plotting to kill Putin in Moscow immediately after the March 4 presidential election, in which he is all but certain to reclaim the presidency. The station said the suspects had been arrested in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odessa, but didn't give any further details. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the report to the ITAR-Tass news agency, but refused to disclose further details. Russian and Ukrainian special services wouldn't comment on the report. WIKILEAKS RELEASES MILLIONS EMAILS OF PRIVATE INTELLIGENCE CO The anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks has begun releasing what it says are 5 million e-mails from the private intelligence company Stratfor. In a statement released early Monday in Europe, the website promises a raft of juicy disclosures about Stratfor, a Texas-based firm that promotes itself to corporate and government clients as a source of intelligence on international affairs. The company has been targeted by hackers who have released private data about subscribers in recent months, prompting the company to offer its clients a year of paid identity-protection coverage. In a statement shortly after midnight ET, Straford said the release of its stolen emails was an attempt to silence and intimidate it. It said it would not be cowed under the leadership of George Friedman, Stratfor's founder and chief executive officer. It said Friedman had not resigned as CEO, contrary to a bogus email circulating on the Internet. Some of the emails being published "may be forged or altered to include inaccuracies; some may be authentic," the company statement said. "We will not validate either. Nor will we explain the thinking that went into them. Having had our property stolen, we will not be victimized twice by submitting to questioning about them," the statement said. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Reuters: "Here we have a private intelligence firm, relying on informants from the U.S. government, foreign intelligence agencies with questionable reputations and journalists." "What is of grave concern is that the targets of this scrutiny are, among others, activist organizations fighting for a just cause." Assange is fighting extradition from the UK to Sweden over sexual assault allegations, which he denies. Wikileaks website published a mass of material from leaked diplomatic cables, embarrassing several governments. 'THE ARTIST', SILENT, BLACK-AND-WHITE FILM, RULES OSCAR AWARDS The silent, black-and-white movie "The Artist" took top honors at the Academy Awards on Sunday night, garnering five Oscars for best picture, best directing, best costume design, best original music score and best actor. Jean Dujardin, who spoke just two words in "The Artist," was jubilant as he accepted his best actor Oscar. "I love your country," the French actor said. Michel Hazanavicius beat out Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen to win his best directing Academy Award. "I am the happiest director in the world right now," Hazanavicius said as he accepted. Meryl Streep's channeling of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady" earned the best actress Oscar for her. It was her third Academy Award after 17 nominations. "When they called my name, I had this feeling I could hear half of America going 'Oh no, why her again? Well, whatever,'" Streep joked in her acceptance. "The Iron Lady" was also rewarded with a best make up Oscar for the work done to convince the audience that Streep was Thatcher. Christopher Plummer became the oldest actor to win an Academy Award when he was presented the best supporting actor Oscar for his role as an aging gay man in "Beginners." "You're only two years older than me, darling," the 82-year-old Plummer said as he looked at his Oscar trophy. "Where have you been all my life?" He also won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award in earlier competitions. Backstage, Plummer called his Oscar "sort of a renewal." "It has recharged me," Plummer said. "I hope I can do it for another 10 years at least. I'm going to drop dead on the stage or on a set. we don't retire." Octavia Spencer cried as she accepted the best supporting actress Oscar for her portrayal of a Mississippi maid in the civil-rights-era movie "The Help." "I'm sorry, I'm freaking out," Spencer said as the allotted time for her acceptance speech ended. Martin Scorsese's 3-D film "Hugo," which was up for awards in 11 categories, won five Oscars, including for best cinematography, best art direction, best sounding edit, best sound mixing and best visual effects. Woody Allen won the best original screenplay Oscar for his film about a time-traveling American writer, "Midnight in Paris." "The Descendants," a family drama starring George Clooney, won for best adapted screenplay. The Oscar for best foreign language film was awarded to Iran's "A Separation." "At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us and I imagine them to be very happy," director Asghar Farhadi said as he accepted. The animated feature film Oscar went to "Rango," the story of a lizard stranded in the Mojave Desert. The best documentary feature Oscar was awarded to "Undefeated," the story of a high school football team that reversed its losing tradition. The Oscar for best film editing went to Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, the editors of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." "Man or Muppets," a song written for "The Muppets," won the best original movie song Oscar. "Saving Face," the story of a British-Pakistani plastic surgeon helps restore the faces of women scarred by acid attacks, won the best documentary short Oscar. The short live action film Oscar was given to "The Shore," which is about the reunion of two boyhood friends in Northern Ireland. "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," which creates a world where books are alive, won the best animated short Oscar. The Oscar ceremony was hosted for the ninth time by Billy Crystal. DOG CRUELTY - ON BULGARIA'S DOG SPINNING RITUAL Click here to read the story: www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=137056 MEP SLAVI BINEV: I AM THE ONLY DISSIDENT IN BULGARIA Click here to read the story: www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=137046 |
MEP Slavi Binev: I Am the Only Dissident in Bulgaria
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