Expats

Bulgaria's Chief Interior Secretary Hints of Likely Resignation [Jan 26, 2012] Bulgaria's Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Kalin Georgiev, hinted before journalists Thursday that he was ready to resign over recent harsh criticism of the work of the country's police. "I think that I am a responsible individual. I have made my decision and have reported it to Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov.... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's New Deputy Justice Minister Refutes Libel Trial Accusations [Dec 29, 2011] After several days of silence, Denitsa Petkova, who was appointed Deputy Justice Minister last week, issued a written statement in her defense, claiming that she had strictly followed the current law. Pavlova's appointment stirred a scandal with her involvement in a verdict declaring two journalists guilty of libel over which Bulgaria had been sanctioned by the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria PM: Up to Journalists to Put Media Market in Order [Dec 04, 2011] In a bid to deny allegations of being the darling of the biggest media group on the local market, Bulgaria's prime minister has come up with a few interesting, but inapplicable pieces of advice to journalists. "All journalists must in the first place be guided by their moral and journalistic ethics and values. If you for example order your staff to do things they do not approve of, they all ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Broke Arms Embargo during Yugoslavia Wars - Report [Dec 02, 2011] Bulgaria was one of the countries breaking the UN arms embargo during the wars in the former Yugoslavia, according to the investigation of Slovenian journalists presented in Ljubljana. "Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria participated actively in the violation of the arms embargo on Yugoslavia making millions of dollars," the three-year investigation has concluded, as cited by BGNES. According to the ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Railway Strike Negotiations Flop [Nov 23, 2011] Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and Transport Minister, Ivaylo Moskovski, failed to reach Wednesday an agreement with the labor unions on the mass strike at the troubled State-owned Railway Company BDZ Holding. Moskovski told journalists after the more-than-an-hour-long meeting that there wasn't any change in the positions of both sides, meaning the strike will start Thursday as ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor to Remain Silent until Election Day [Sep 13, 2011] Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, confirmed Tuesday that his office has received a claim regarding the blackmail case, involving the country's top presidential contender, Rosen Plevneliev. Last Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, head of the GERB election headquarters, speaking for journalists, revealed that Plevneliev had declined reporting an ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Unblock Aircraft Fuel Reserve over Lukoil Crisis [Jul 29, 2011] Bulgaria's government is about to tap into the state reserve of aircraft fuel to prevent shortages after revoking the licence of Russian oil giant Lukoil local refinery, the only in the country. "The move has to be taken because the country's airports will run out of stocks in a few days," Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov told journalists on Friday afternoon. A governmental decision ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Sets Up Crisis HQs over Lukoil Revoked Licence [Jul 29, 2011] Crisis headquarters will monitor the situation on Bulgaria's fuel market after the local refinery of Russian oil giant Lukoil was forced to halt operations for at least a month and a half, the prime minister announced. Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov will head the headquarters, Boyko Borisov told journalists. It will also include Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski, head ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Host Elements of NATO Missile Defense if Turkey Refuses [Jun 24, 2011] Bulgaria is likely to host elements of the US/NATO missile defense system in Europe instead of Turkey if Turkey refuses to host them, according to Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Avgustina Tsvetkova. Turkey's position about hosting elements of the US and NATO missile shield, most likely its radar system, should be clear by the fall of 2011, Tsvetkova told journalists in Pamporovo Friday ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Send 5 Military Officers to Libya [Jun 09, 2011] Bulgaria will send five military officers to the NATO's navy and aviation headquarters for the operation in Libya, the country's Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov, announced Thursday. Speaking before journalists while on a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Angelov pointed out that the move will be done in cooperation with the Alliance's command. The five officers ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Struma Highway to Feature Bear Bridges, Rabbit Fences [Jun 08, 2011] The future Struma Highway connecting Sofia to the border with Greece will be the first one in Bulgaria to feature special facilities for wild animals such as bears and hares. Regional Development Minister Rosen Plevneliev told journalists Wednesday that Bulgaria will take after developed Western European countries such as the Netherlands in building highway facilities that protect wild animals ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Forecasts 10% Growth of Foreign Tourists [Jun 04, 2011] The increase of the number of foreign holidaymakers during the summer season is expected to be about 10%, the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, Traicho Traikov, told journalists Saturday. Traikov says this number is on the rise each year, adding the highest growth so far is expected in 2011. Russian tourists would contribute the most to the increase with 30% more compared to previous ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria criticized for denying Macedonian reporters access [Apr 21, 2011] VIENNA -- South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the decision of Bulgarian authorities to deny Skopje-based journalists the permission to enter Bulgaria. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Says Ready to Join Schengen Right Now [Feb 04, 2011] Bulgaria's prime minister, who is struggling to ensure swift entry into the EU border-free Schengen area, has said the country is "totally fit" for accession. "Bulgaria is totally fit to join Schengen, we are doing our best and I am confident that our efforts will be highly assessed at the end," Boyko Borisov told journalists during the regular sitting of the European Council in Brussels ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria May Hold Referendum on Direct Taxes in 2013 [Jan 21, 2011] Bulgaria, which has the lowest personal and corporate income tax in the EU at 10%, may change the levels of direct taxes after a referendum in 2013, a bill of the finance ministry suggests. "Should the bill be adopted, the citizens will be given the power to define the government's tax policy as of 2013," Finance Minister Simeon Djankov told journalists in parliament, adding this would be a big ... [via YahooNews] More >>

RSF: Bulgaria Media Bullied into Silence [Dec 09, 2010] Bulgaria is one of Europe's most repressive countries towards journalists and the press freedom situation in it is continually deteriorating as media are bullied into silence by people and groups, according to media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF). [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Set for 1.8 Percentage Points Hike in Social Security Burden [Oct 15, 2010] " Social contributions payments will be upped by 1.8 percentage points as of next year, while the number of years people have to work before drawing a full pension will start to increase by four months as of 2013," Evegnij Ivanov, executive director of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria , told journalists after the meeting. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Launches Campaign to Polish Tarnished Image [Sep 16, 2010] Bulgaria announced it is planning a BGN 1.4 M campaign to clear up its smeared by corruption scandals image. The initiative will include visits by foreign journalists to the country. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria President: Games with Fiscal Reserve Risky [May 18, 2010] All data of the European and global financial institutions shows that Bulgaria has not exited from the deplorable situation it was in prior to the crisis, just the opposite, Socialist President Georgi Parvanov told journalists in Madrid. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria PM: New Health Insurance Fund Head Lady Again [Apr 21, 2010] After months of promoting a legion of women into Bulgaria's politics, the prime minister is due to elevate yet another lady. The new head of the state health insurance fund will be a woman, Boyko Borisov told journalists in parliament. [via YahooNews] More >>