Géopolitiques de la Bulgarie

08 septembre 2007

Temperatures in Bulgaria

8 September 2007 | 19:03 | FOCUS News Agency

The weather in Bulgaria is cloudy with thick fog on the high mountaintops. Here are the temperatures in some cities and towns: Ahtopol: 20°C Lom, Novo Selo: 19°C Chirpan, Ruse, Sandanski, Svishtov: 18°C Burgas, Elhovo, Kaliakra, Kardzhali, Lovech, Oryahovo, Pleven, Sliven, Varna, Vidin: 17°C Plovdiv, Shabla, Silistra, Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa: 16°C Sofia, Kyustendil: 15°C Razgrad: 14°C Dragoman: 10°C

20 avril 2007

Léger tremblement de terre en Bulgarie : pas de victimes

Un  tremblement de terre de magnitude 5 sur l'échelle ouverte de Richter a secoué jeudi le sud de la Bulgarie, sans faire de victimes ni de dégâts, a annoncé le centre national sismologique.

Le séisme s'est produit à 13H16 (11H00 GMT), et son épicentre a été localisé en dehors du territoire bulgare, à environ 230 km au sud de la capitale Sofia.

Il a été ressenti dans la ville de Kardzhali mais aucune victime ni dégât n'ont été rapportés, a indiqué le service national de protection civile.

Une secousse de magnitude 2,7 sur l'échelle de Richter avait été enregistrée par le centre sismologique tard mercredi. Son épicentre avait également été localisé en dehors des frontières du pays et n'a pas été ressenti en Bulgarie.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-30576124@7-50,0.html

01 avril 2007

March drew to an end…

1 April 2007 | 17:18 | FOCUS News Agency

What happened in Bulgaria in the last ten days of March 2007? Spring set in, political parties announced their MEP candidates. What makes an impression is that women take the leading positions in the parties’ MEP lists.

Bulgaria is to elect Members of the European Parliament for the first time …

On March 24th Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) announced their MEP nominees. Kristian Vigenin leads the BSP’s list, while Bilyana Raeva – the NMSII’s list.
On the same day Deputy Chair of Movement for Rights and Freedoms Emel Etem said most probably a woman would take the first position in the party’s list. Days earlier it was announced Dushana Zdravkova was the leader in the ticket of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria.
Ladies elbow their way to the front. Two months before the elections the competition is at its peak. Pretty soon we are going to find out whether tolerance, diplomacy and “fair play” will gain the upper hand over the practice prevailing at past elections in the country.

It is time for professionalization…

At the end of the month the last draftees entered the military establishments. Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov and Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces General Zlatan Stoykov claim the substitution of draftees with regulars is carried out according to the schedule and army’s full professionalization will be completed in time, i.e. by the first days of the next year.
Meanwhile more and more women file their wish to be regulars, thus raising the percent of ladies in some military establishments to 17.
Changing our clocks by an hour early in the morning on March 25th reflected on the political scene. Some days ago the informal leader of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov noted that women were more fluent in foreign languages and performed their duties stricter than men. The MEP lists can serve as evidence. Changing the clocks will only later show whether our politicians have moved into the future by an hour. It is time that will prove whether the professionalization of the pursued policy can take place on Bulgarian territory.

The first three months of Bulgaria’s EU membership has already passed …

Petar Stoyanov has a problem with the European People’s Party (or the other way round), while Dimitar Stoyanov successfully entered a major scandal (September 2006) in the European Parliament with his colleague Lívia Járóka. Bulgarian men needed only several months to “successfully” try to change the European structures, which feature conservativism and weak susceptibility to such vehement situations.
These attempts “to change the time” cannot, to put it mildly, contribute to the improvement of Bulgaria’s image before our European partners. We will soon witness whether women politicians will have more success in presenting Bulgaria’s name to the European citizens. Bulgarian diplomacy should outweigh the elementary interior political passions, and our new representatives in the EP should soon be ahead of the current political clashes and intrigues by an hour.
It is high time that we proudly put our names in capitals next to other honoured European citizens. Hopefully this will be a fact with the help of ladies as well, who, as a rule, are better diplomats than men.

Milen GEORGIEV

25 mars 2007

Bulgaria's 1st Private Post Office Opens by End of April

The first private post office in Bulgaria will open doors for customers within less than a month.

The Commission of Telecommunications is expected to approve the process and the general conditions on the contract of the first post office in the country T-Post by the end of April.

The company that won the licence for the service is Tip Top Courier. Until the Commission is not ready with the approval, the company is not allowed to carry on the services.

The office of the company is already finished and is functioning from the beginning of February, CEO of the company Lachezar Kaparashev said.

The first private post office company in Bulgaria is given a licence for the next 20 years.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=78303

Weapons Transportation from Bulgaria to EU - Only with Police Permit

Transportation of weapons and ammunition from Bulgaria to the EU member states and the other way around will be allowed only after receiving a special permit from Bulgarian police, the parliament decided Thursday.

The government adopted several changes to the regulation on applying the law for controlling explosives, weapons and ammunitions.

The tax for getting a European passport of a weapon is now BGN 50. The document that allows transportation of explosives and ammunitions costs BGN 20.

If a person wants to import, export or transfer weapons he will have to pay BGN 800 to get the needed permit.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=78284

Heavy rains threaten Balkans with floods

BUCHAREST, March 23 (Reuters) - Heavy rains and melting snow may cause flooding in southeast Europe over the next few days, but no major damage is expected, authorities said on Friday.

Bulgaria said a dam in the south of the country could overflow, possibly affecting low-lying land in Greece and Turkey.

"We want to warn Greece and Turkey that the level of Arda river has risen significantly ... We expect the dam near the border with the two countries to start overflowing this evening," the environment ministry said.

In Romania, where flooding forced 16,000 people from their homes last July, television footage showed the Prahova river flooding courtyards in villages near the northern mountain resort of Sinaia. Authorities told hundreds of families in the eastern county of Buzau to be ready to evacuate if rains persist.

"We expect some floods, but the damage will definitely not be as large as last year," said Ion Sandu, head of Romania's Meteorological Institute.

In south Bulgaria, several villages were left without electricity and some public buildings were flooded.

Officials have ruled out the possibility of floods on the stretch of the Danube river running through Bulgaria and Romania, with water flow well below the average level for March.

More than 60 people died in Romania in 2005 during the worst flooding in decades.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23710858.htm

22 mars 2007

Bulgaria's Communist Ruler Yacht Tendered out for BGN 700 000

The yacht of Todor Zhivkov, Bulgaria's communist dictator for several decades until 1989, was sold for BGN 700 000 at an open-bidding tender.

Dunav tours won the tender for Balkan yacht after outbidding Kapman Consulting, the ministry of state administration announced.

The initial bidding price at the auction was set at EUR 680,000, VAT excluded, with an increment of BGN 10 000 M.

The yacht's sell-off comes after a series of failed attempts to tender it out. The auctions were cancelled because of lack of bidders.

Petar Mladenov, who was appointed Bulgaria's president after the end of the communist regime, reportedly attempted to sell the yacht in 1989 for USD 1 M, but the auction failed.

Professor Chernozemski, who served as health minister in 1990-1991, later suggested that the yacht is sold for USD 2 M, to be invested in the health care sector. His proposal was turned down.

The "Balkan" yacht was produced by Cantieri di Piza S.P.A. in 1982 for USD 2 M under the supervision of Loyds Register of Shipping. Zhivkov is believed to have taken rides in the yacht only twice.

The yacht is 27.60 m long and 6.80 m wide. The maximum wade is 8.18 and the register tonnage is 113 register tons. The hull is made of wood.

At the moment the yacht is in a dry dock at the military base at "Atiya", close to the seaside town of Burgas.

She will be able to sail again if the hull and all apparatuses and systems undergo thorough repairs. The interior fitting will also need to be replaced.

In October last year the yacht was evaluated by a licensed expert to EUR 289,575 VAT excluded.

They say at least BGN 1 M will be needed for repair woks aboard the yacht.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=77878

09 mars 2007

Human Rights Report points to some intimidations on freedom of speech and press in Bulgaria

Que signifie ces actes en rafales contre la Bulgarie depuis les USA ? 8 March 2007 | 14:30 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia/Washington. The US State Department’s report on Human Rights for 2006 published on Tuesday reads that thought the constitution and law in Bulgaria provide for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respected these rights in practice, there were yet reports that journalists were threatened and intimidated by individuals with political interests. The report says that NGOs have reported that significant numbers of journalists practiced self-censorship due to political influence, pressure from management, and organized crime. Some journalists allegedly accepted payments in return for positive coverage of politicians, prominent businessmen, and organized crime syndicates. The report, however, states that individuals criticized the government freely without reprisal, and the government did not attempt to impede criticism. A variety of newspapers were published freely by political parties and other organizations representing the full spectrum of public opinion. The report also mentions the case related to leading journalist Ivo Indjev was fired on October 10 from BTV Television for reporting unverified information on President Parvanov's real estate holdings. Observers alleged that his dismissal was the result of pressure from the president's office. Approximately 15 members of parliament wrote a letter of protest to foreign human rights observers, labeling the incident a violation of freedom of the press. The report also mentions the incident with investigative journalist Vasil Ivanov, whose apartment was blasted on April 6 by unknown persons. There were no casualties, but the apartment had extensive damage. Ivanov, who had described wide-ranging abuses in Sofia's main prison prior to the attack, reported receiving death threats several months before the explosion. The Ministry of Interior opened an investigation into the attack, which was ongoing at year's end. Another incident that was stressed in the report is related to May 18, when unknown perpetrators broke into the offices of leading newspaper Novinar, stealing journalists' research on ties between the country's rich and its political parties. The police had no leads in the case, and the investigation was ongoing at year's end. The text further adds that the investigation against unknown perpetrators into the 2005 fire in the Vratsa office of national daily newspaper Trud remained open. There were also no developments in the investigations into threats made in 2004 against the newspaper Naroden Glas, the news agency De Facto, or the national daily newspaper 24 Hours. The report comments that the change of leadership at the Ministry of Interior in August 2005 ended the practice of Ministry of Interior officials using the media to blame the judiciary for lack of progress in battling crime. In 2004 a group of judges protested the practice in a letter to the Prime Minister. In his response, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of judicial independence and called for a direct dialogue between the branches. Defamation is punishable under the law. In most cases the courts defined libel and interpreted the law in a manner that favored journalistic expression. Fines for libel ranged from approximately $1,875 (3,000 leva) to approximately $6,250 (10,000 leva); fines for slander ranged from approximately $3,125 (5,000 leva) to $9,375 (15,000 leva). Although observers noted a slight increase in the number of defamation suits brought against journalists in recent years, only a small number of cases resulted in journalists being fined. The majority of defamation cases were brought against reports about corruption or mismanagement, and the most frequent plaintiffs were government officials or other persons in public positions. Television and radio provided a variety of news and public interest programming. Although the state-owned media presented opposition views, observers believed that the inadequacy of existing legislation left these media vulnerable to government pressure. Despite this vulnerability, Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), the state-owned news agency, was generally regarded as unbiased, and the state-owned Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) was often one of the most outspoken critics of the government and its policies. In 2005 the CEM noted 106 infringements of the radio and television act: 84 by television operators and 22 by radio operators. The CEM fined 73 of these operators for violations that were considered serious, including disclosure of personal information without the person's consent, airing programs that damage children's physical and mental development, and violating the right of a rebuttal. To this point the report mentions that in September 2005 the Ruse Regional Court reversed its 2004 decision to sentence Romanian television journalist George Buhnici for having used a microphone and a camera hidden in his glasses to film the illegal cigarette trade at the Bulgarian-Romanian border. In March the prosecution service withdrew its appeal of the court decision, thereby enforcing Buhnici's acquittal. Regarding Internet freedom the report comments that there were no government restrictions on the Internet or reports that the government monitored e-mail or Internet chatrooms. Individuals and groups could engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including electronic mail. International studies estimated that 28.5 percent of the population regularly used the Internet, although less-developed rural areas did not have the infrastructure to support Internet connections.

05 mars 2007

Upcoming events in Bulgaria for March 5 (Focus Agency)

5 March 2007 | 00:26 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. National discussion themed “Interaction between Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance and the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office of Cassation in Combating Money Laundering and Excise Goods Smuggling” will be held in the premises of the Special Technology Institute – Ministry of Interior. The press conference will begin 3.00 p.m. *** Sofia. In the presence of Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov Bulgarian military servants, who have taken part in the SFOR and EUFOR operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period October 2004 – April 2005 will be awarded. Awarding ceremony will begin at 11.00 a.m. *** Sofia/ Brussels. Foreign Affairs Minister Ivailo Kalfin will lead the Bulgarian delegation to the regular meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union in Brussels. Some of the issues on the agenda of the External Relations meeting concern the Western Balkans. *** Sofia/ London. Dimitar Peychev, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, will pay a one-week visit to Great Britain at the invitation of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Peychev will meet with his counterpart, Minister of State for Sustainable Farming and Food Lord Rooker and will get acquainted with the structure and work of the establishment. *** Sofia. Press conference termed “Credit Market Analysis. New Tendencies as a Result of the Efficient Membership” will be given by Credit Center at 10.00 a.m. today. Topics of discussion will be how the new conditions affected the credit rendering in Bulgaria, what are the trends and what banks don’t tell us. *** Sofia. Press conference about the BGN 385 million claim against the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) and the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) will be held at 1.00 p.m. by the Association of Consumers of Telecommunications and Internet Services. *** Sofia. Public discussion about Natura 2000 will be held at 2.00 p.m. at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. University club for ecology and sustainable development UNECO and Sofia University’s student council are the organizers of the event. *** Plovdiv. The Energy Efficiency Agency (EEA) organizes a seminar called “Information Campaigns at Municipal Level – Project Funding for Energy Efficiency” within a twinning project under Phare called Institutional Buildup of EEA. *** Plovdiv. The National Movement Simeon II – Plovdiv organizes at 3.00 p.m. a discussion meeting entitled “How to Protect our Rights as Consumers?”

21 janvier 2007

Clothier Zara to enter Bulgarian market with discount outlets

Spanish apparel maker Zara will enter the Bulgarian market with outlets offering lines from its older collections at discount prices. Zara's Z Outlets will open simultaneously in several Bulgarian cities in early March, said Trend Studio Bulgaria which will be in charge of the rollouts. Trend Studio Bulgaria said it has set up a partnership with a Spanish company the owns the distribution rights for the Balkan region. The locations for the Z Outlets in Sofia, which will be at least 2, will be announced within days. The Royal Garden Mall currently under construction in Black Sea resort Sunny Beach will also feature a Z Outlet. Zara was initially in talks to open a flagship outlet in Mall of Sofia but these failed due to delays on the part of the Spanish company. In related news, it was announced that lettings for the Royal Garden Mall, due to open in time for the summer tourist season, include British cafe chain Coffee Republic, KFC, apparel brands Adidas, Tom Tailor, Bluepoint, Pepe Jeans and Lee Cooper, Adam's Shoes and ice cream company Jimmy's. The biggest leases were taken out by Bulgarian electronics retailer Technomarket and clothier Denyl.(Dnevnik)