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Bulgaria's prime minister will launch the construction works of the last section of Trakiya highway, linking the city of Yambol and the town of Karnobat, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday. The Bulgarian Road Infrastructure picked "Holding Roads" as winner in the tender for building of the 49km section of Trakiya Highway, also known as Lot 4. The offer of the Bulgarian company is BGN 174,705,600 M, VAT excluded. ...

Bulgarian champions Litex Lovech has appointed Lyuboslav Penev its head coach a month after Angel Chervenkov was sacked for the team's failure in the Champions League, according to a statement on the club's site. In the middle of January Lyuboslav Penev resigned from his post of CSKA Sofia coach along with the whole coaching staff of the top Bulgarian club. Lyoboslav Penev's tenure in charge of CSKA was tainted with controversy including a travel ban over his default BGN 2 M loan from EIBank. ...

An explosion has torn through an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill. The blast, which threw 13 people into the water, was reported by a commercial helicopter company about 0930 local time (1330 GMT). The platform, reportedly still on fire, was not producing oil or gas, the Department of Homeland Security said. ...

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has admitted England players are feeling the pressure ahead of their European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria on Friday in the wake of a dismal World Cup performance. "The players and the manager realize we are under pressure at the moment, which is normal after under-performing at the World Cup," Gerrard, who will again captain England in the absence of injured first-choice skipper Rio Ferdinand, said at England's team hotel on Thursday. "A win always helps in this situation....

Direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians kicked off again Thursday with pledges of support from leaders on both sides - as well as the United States - for a peace process leading to a comprehensive settlement within one year. One day after meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas struck a guardedly optimistic tone while sitting down with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department. Clinton, who sat at the middle of a u-shaped table flanked by Netanyahu, Abbas and other senior negotiators, told reporters that the meeting was part of a move "towards a future of peace and dignity that only (Israelis and Palestinians) can create....

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), consultative body of the European Union, has warned against turning Europe's Roma population into "a political football". During a debate on September 2, which came in reaction to French government action to deport people of Roma origin residing illegally in France, the EESC called for concrete, constructive and responsible action by EU member states. "It is regrettable that this issue, which has serious implications for human beings and for citizenship issues, has become a political football and has been exploited for short-term political advantage....

The European Commission has criticized France over its expulsions of Roma and has demanded more information about the crackdown. An interim report by the commission - the EU's executive arm - says the French policy does not put enough emphasis on the individual circumstances of Roma facing expulsion. The interim report, signed by three EU commissioners, says the commission wants France to explain "whether and to what extent the safeguards required......

Filip Dimitrov, former Bulgarian PM, rightist leader and senior diplomat, is among the top names circulated for the position of EU ambassador to Georgia, as foreign affairs high representative Catherine Ashton is expected to announce names of top envoys next week. Georgia is among the countries considered as top-priority for the EU, for which ambassadors will be revealed earlier than the rest of the new EU External Action Service, expected by December 1. It has been made known that Bulgaria has submitted at least two promising candidacies – that of Dimitrov and of diplomat Stefan Tafrov, who has also served as Bulgaria's UN envoy, as well as ambassador to the UK, France and Italy and as deputy foreign minister. ...

Bulgaria has a deep history and much of the past remains for you to see. The spirit of Baba Vanga, Bulgaria's beloved mystical prophet, for example, lives on in the tiny mountainous village Rupite. I vistied Rupite and its neighbor towns recently, and the experience was a delightful step back in time. ...

The European Commission has expressed optimism about the potential of Bulgaria's economy to rebound as officials figures confirmed that the eurozone economy grew by 1% between April and June. "Bulgaria does not threaten the stability of the European economy and the European Commission is upbeat about its recovery," Amadeu Altafaj, spokesman of the European Union Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, told the Bulgarian National Radio on Thursday. The statement followed the release of official figures, which showed eurozone economy grew by 1% between April and June. ...

Bulgaria has asked the European Commission to reinstate more funds under its operation PHARE program, according to the Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev. The Minister declined offering exact amounts, About EUR 130 M under the program were frozen during the term of the previous, socialist-led cabinet....

Bulgaria is a worldwide leader in residential and commercial real estate and will remain to be so, writes Russian real estate analytic portal RWay.ru Thursday. The website lists the following five pluses of buying in Bulgaria: legislation favorable to non-resident investors, low prices and prospects for increase in worth. ...

The US Ambassador to Bulgaria, James Warlick, is turning into a TV star Thursday with a part in Bulgaria's hit series "Staklen Dom" (The Glass House). The footage will be taken inside the building of the American Embassy in Sofia. This would not be Warlick's sole appearance during the new season, according to producers....

Bulgarian Bolton winger Martin Petrov has warned that Bulgaria is capable of springing a nasty surprise on the England squad at Wembley on Friday because Fabio Capello "doesn't have a team" despite its very good players. "Everyone knows that England have names and very good players. If you take every player from the team, they are very good players," Petrov said, as cited by The Telegraph. ...

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov met Thursday Nedim Gendzhev, recently restored as Chief Mufti in Bulgaria, and his predecessor Mustafa Alish Hadzhi. The two clerics have been engaged in a long-drawn dispute about the spiritual leadership of Bulgaria's Muslim community. In October 2009, the National Muslim Conference elected Mustafa Alish Hadzhi for Chief Mufti....

The sand from the Bulgarian Black coast bay "Vromos" is radioactive and harmful for beach goers, according to experts from the Environment and Health Ministries. The news was announced Thursday by the Governor of the Region of Burgas, Konstantin Grebenarov, who was the recipient of the experts' letter. The letter asks local authorities to make people aware of the results and place signs warning visitors to not use the beach. ...

Britain's JKX Oil & Gas, the operator of the B1-Golitza license in Bulgaria, began on Thursday a two-well drill program in the country to test targets with an estimated resource of up to 60 billion cubic feet (Bcf). The Staro Oryahovo South R-1 well will be drilled to test a submarine fan target of Eocene age in the Kamchia Basin, south west of Varna, Bulgaria. Drilling is planned to complete by the end of September when the rig will move to the Shkorpilovtci South West R2 location, 5km to the south. ...

Bulgaria's finance minister has assured that the country will have no need to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund over a bailout loan for its ailing economy in the next two years. "There will be no need for a loan not only this year, but the next two years as well," Minister Simeon Djankov said on Thursday. "In terms of its economic policy the Bulgarian government is doing just as fine as the bigger part of the EU member states," he said, adding that he expects to see a return to growth this year. ...

The Bulgarian National Art Gallery in Sofia is hosting an exhibition of what is said to be a significant part of Edgar Degas' sculptural oeuvre. The exhibition will officially open Thursday at 18.30 EET and will last through October 29. ...

The Czech-owned power utility, CEZ, one of the three in Bulgaria, is offering financial support for the first ever sports fest for disadvantaged children whose parents work in the energy sector. The initiative belongs to the National Sports Association "Podkrepa" (Support). In a letter sent to the media Thursday, the CEZ management states the company wishes to assist both its employees and Bulgaria's disadvantaged children. ...

The cabinet of the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party had not used health insurance funds to cover other expenditures and does not plan to do it, according to Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov. Djankov spoke Thursday in plenary hall, answering a question of an opposition Member of the Parliament. The Minister explained the reserve of the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) is part of the State fiscal reserve and using it would mean reducing the State reserve and increasing the deficit over the threshold that was already approved, a move that would be unacceptable. ...

By ITV.com On a run of 10 consecutive home wins, England find themselves on the verge of equalling their record of 11 straight home victories set in 1957....

The Bulgarian Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev, is hoping that the absorbed funding under the ISPA program will reach 75% by the end of the program. "So far, we have absorbed 56% of the contracted funds under the ISPA program. Our expectation is that by the end of the program, we will have absorbed 75% of the funds under the program," Donchev said Thursday. ...

The Macedonian mother with Bulgarian passport, Spaska Mitrova, had been able to keep her job as English language teacher in Bulgaria for just a couple of weeks. The news was reported Thursday by the Bulgarian daily "24 Chassa" (24 Hours). Mitrova became publicly known for her 3-month imprisonment by the Macedonian authorities and her year-long trials over custody rights....

Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security (DANS) is probing the Transport Minister, Aleksander Tsvetkov, according to a publication of the Bulgarian daily Standart. The article titled "The Dragoman Railway Station Turned Treacherous for a Minister," informs Tsvetkov had announced a murky public tender for the construction of a multi-functional terminal at the railway station in the town of Dragoman. "There are suspicions the State is pouring BGN 6 M in a haphazard project, designed without an expert analysis and economic grounds," "Standart" writes, citing their own sources. ...

Bulgaria's Food Safety Agency is scheduled to begin operating on January 1, 2011, the Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov has announced. Naydenov explained Thursday that the agency will have 28 regional centers around the country. The minister has stated that the new agency will include the currently existing National Veterinary Service, National Plant Protection Service, National Grain and Grain Products Service, and this part of the public health body RIOKOZ that is responsible for the food safety. ...

Employees of Bulgaria's Unit for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) busted a group of illegal treasure hunters, the Interior Ministry press office informs Thursday. The group was acting in the area of the antique settlement in the vicinity of the village of Koshava near the northwestern Danube city of Vidin and dealt with illegal archeology digs and illegal trading of antiques. The special operation was carried out Wednesday and three men, 39, 42 and 44, were arrested. ...

The second sitting of the Bulgarian Parliament for its new fall session was marked by an exchange of vivid remarks between PM Borisov and representatives of opposition Socialist Party over lack of involvement. Just after presenting a report on the government's participation in EU decision-making for the first half of 2010, PM Boyko Borisov left plenary. This provoked BSP Deputy-Speaker of Parliament Georgi Pirinski to call for an intercession until the PM comes back to the hall for the debate and accused him of flagrant disrespect for Parliament. ...

The US President Barack Obama has urged the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to not let the opportunity for achieving a peace agreement "slip away". "This moment of opportunity may not soon come again," Obama said Wednesday at the White House, on the eve of the first direct negotiations between the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. On Tuesday, four Israeli settlers, including a pregnant woman, were shot dead by a gunman near the West Bank city of Hebron, by the Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and opposes peace talks with Israel, the BBC reported. ...

Bulgarian media report Thursday on tensions in the English national football team which have led to a acrimonious anti-Capello piece in the Daily Mirror. Friday England and Bulgaria are clashing at Wembley for their first Euro 2012 qualifier. The English team has been pestered by injuries that have left out players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Peter Crouch, as well as two of England's goalies – Scott Carson and Ben Foster – leaving the team with only one active goalkeeper for Friday's game. ...

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, stated Thursday he is yet to receive the audits of the power utilities from the energy watchdog DKEVR. Velchev told reporters he has been expecting those audits for two days now, and would read them carefully, but presently he could not figure out the role of his office in the matter. On Tuesday, the Head of the State Commission for Energy and Water regulation (DKEVR), Angel Semerdzhiev, announced the audits of the three power utilities have already been sent to the Prosecutor's Office. ...

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Boris Velchev has assured that the "Killers" case is not over and that development should be expected in the next weeks. The Killers gang is believed to be behind several assassinations around the country, including the murder of controversial football club president Yuriy Galev in June and businessman Rumen Rachev at the beginning of July last year. According to Velchev, the people from the gang that were released,were dangerous....

Representatives of the most prominent PR Associations on international level are scheduled to meet on November 4 and 5, 2010 in Bulgaria's capital Sofia. They will arrive for the annual meeting of the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organisation) Board. The meeting will be held in Bulgaria for the first time on the invitation of the Bulgarian Association of PR Agencies (BAPRA). ...

As was supposed, Ahmed Dogan, leader of the political party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), did not appear in court at the start of the trial against him Thursday. The trial was filed due to a report of the parliamentary Anti-corruption Committee, which alleges that Dogan has been involved in large-scale political corruption schemes, has breached the conflict of interests provisions and has served private interests. The leader of DPS, which is seen as representing ethnic Turks in Bulgaria and was a member of the former three-way coalition cabinet, apparently pocketed BGN 1....

Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov presented Thursday a report in the Parliament on the country's participation in the decision-making process in the EU in the first half of 2010. The report also included Bulgaria's priorities during the Belgian EU presidency in the second half of the year. "Bulgaria participated actively in the discussions for the Europe 2020 strategy," said Borisov, regarding the EU long-term strategy for economic growth and development. ...

Long have I said that Bulgarian healthcare is sick, curably though with a delay, stated Bulgarian Minister of Public Health Anna-Maria Borisova. She was speaking in an interview for bTV regarding the state of the healthcare system, which is said to be one of the cabinet’s and parliament’s top priorities for the new political season launched September 1. Borisova expressed concern that “for the last 10 years nothing has been done” to reform the system, and vowed to take “radical measures....

Bulgaria's PM has stated that the financial crisis has made all the MPs work day by day in order for Bulgaria to be positively assessed. "This is not a new political season because we did not stop working in July and August, but some political leaders came back from their vacations. I recommend them to read and get acquainted with the report of the European Commission, the unique letter from the World Bank to the EC and the assessments by the credit agencies "Standard & Poor's" and "Moody's" for the way the finances are handled," PM Boyko Borisov said. ...

Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court launches Thursday the much anticipated trial against the ethnic Turkish leader, Ahmed Dogan. Although he has been regularly called, the ethnic Turkish leader might not appear in person in court, but send a lawyer instead. The trial against him was filed due to a report of the Parliamentary Anti-corruption Committee. ...

The governors of the American states North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland have announced state of emergency because of the approaching hurricane Earl. On Thursday, the hurricane is expected to reach the Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands, which are part of North Caroline. Forecasts from the US National Hurricane Center have said they expected Earl to turn north and then run parallel to the East Coast, the BBC reported. ...

The Bulgarian top female tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova has dropped out in the second round of the last for this year Grand Slam championship US open. On Wednesday, the 22-year-old Bulgarian suffered a 4-6, 0-6 defeat by the 24-year-old Mandy Minella from Luxembourg. Pironkova was not in a good shape....

The Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov will present a report in the Parliament about the country's participation in the decision-making process in the EU in the first half of 2010. On Thursday, Borisov will also present Bulgaria's priorities during the Belgian EU presidency in the second half of 2010. The PM presents a report in the Parliament at the beginning of every 6-month period of the EU presidency. ...

Chaos and red tape in Bulgaria's regulations are believed to be a major obstacle to attracting large-scale foreign investments in renewable energy, according to analyst Zlatin Sarastov. Sarastov, analyst from Amphora Capital, a Sofia-based consultancy, has argued, as cited by the Cross news agency, that the recently announced investment of Japanese company Toshiba in a Bulgarian solar plant should alert the Bulgarian government about the expectations of serious investors for predictability in state regulations in the sector. In his words, the long period of return on investments and the price fluctuations of the equipment are combined with the lack of certainty and clarity with respect to the development of Bulgarian infrastructure and energy market regulations to chase away investors in renewable energy. ...

A new open-air photo exhibit dedicated to Bulgaria's culture was opened in downtown Sofia Monday. The photo exhibit entitled "Bulgaria in Brilliance" is dedicated to the history of Christianity in the Bulgarian lands and the Bulgarian contribution to the world cultural heritage. Many of the photos show the Bulgarian sites that are recognized by UNESCO as part of the world cultural heritage. ...

Bulgaria's ruling center-right party GERB has come a step closer to the establishing a specialized court for organized crime and high-level corruption. Late Wednesday night, the Justice Committee of the Bulgarian Parliament gave a green light to the project for amendments to the country's Penal Procedure Code tabled by the Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Group of the GERB Party, Iskra Fidosova, and backed by the signatures of 115 MPs. According to the draft legislation, the future specialized tribunal will try corruption cases against magistrates, members of the Cabinet and the Supreme Judicial Council, district governors, mayors, and heads of the state agencies and commissions. ...

Bulgaria's Cabinet has decided in favor of the partial completion of a controversial construction project of the Defense Ministry in downtown Sofia. The so called National Army Complex is known also as the "military NDK" because it is likened to NDK (i.e....

The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has urged an expansion of Bulgarian business and economic ties with Chile. At a special meeting Wednesday, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Chile Valeri Yotov and the Chair of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov have outlined the priority opportunities in developing Bulgaria's business ties with Latin American nation. According to Yotov, the Bulgarian business sector should use the upswing and expansion in Chile's trade with the European Union members. ...

A monument of the 15 Bulgarian tourists who drowned in Lake Ohrid on September 5, 2009, will be unveiled by the end of this month. The monument is an initiative of the rotary clubs in Ohrid and the Bulgarian town of Pirdop, which is the hometown of most of the Bulgarians who perished after the Ilinden tourist boat sank in the Macedonian lake.  ...

An administrative tribunal in France's Lille has canceled the orders for deportation of 7 Roma in the first instance that court action is preventing the much controversial expulsion measures. The court in the northern French city declared that the cases of the 7 Roma did not meet the legal standard of real and immediate threat, as cited by The International Business Times. Since August 2010, the French authorities have dismantled about 128 camps of Roma squatters, and have deported about 900 Roma back to their home countries Bulgaria and Romania on the grounds that they presented security threats to local communities in France and had violated local legislation. ...

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament from the Interior Committee decided Wednesday to cut by 50% the funds for trips abroad for security agents. The employees of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) travel outside the country because the Agency provides the protection of the cryptographic communications of Bulgarian Embassies. The measure was announced as an anti-crisis measure to be regulated with an amendment to the DANS Act. ...

Bulgarian archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov has discovered two tombs of Ancient Thracian rulers near the famous rock city and sanctuary of Perperikon. The tombs are dated to 1100-1000 BC judging by the pottery and ceramics found in them, which are characteristic of the later Bronze Age and the early Iron Age. One of the most interesting finds in the tombs is a bronze coin with the face of Emperor Alexander the Great, dated to the 4th century BC....

Georgi Zhelyazkov and Stoyan Stoichkov, who were found guilty for the murder of Bulgarian Sorbonne student Martin Borilski in Paris, will sue Bulgaria before the European  Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The information was reported Thursday by the French news agency France Press, citing the defense council. On Monday, Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations confirmed the sentences of the two young men - Zhelyazkov and Stoichkov - of 19 and 17 years in prison, respectively, and a fine of BGN 120,000 as compensation to Borilski's family....

Bulgaria's notorious ethnic Turk, Yuzeir Yuzeirov, (with the Bulgarian name of Rosen Yordanov) was sentenced Wednesday to one year probation by the District Court in the town of Popovo. Yuzeirov was found guilty on two counts - organizing a religious party, and conducting a meeting for the party's establishment, despite the ban of the Mayor of Popovo. His brother, with the Muslim name of Ali Yuzeirov, (Atanas Yordanov) received a fine of BGN 4 000 on the first count only. ...

Bulgaria issued in 2009 432 permits for the export, import and transfer of weapons, according to the annual report on the special inter-Ministry commission. The report was examined and discussed Wednesday during the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers. Out of the 432 permits, 294 were for weapons import and transfer. ...

The European Commission has failed to be sufficiently active with respect to the deportation of Bulgarian and Romania Roma by France, the Bulgarian Socialist MEPs said in a statement. “The behavior of Viviane Reading, European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, is weird since she has been keeping adamantly quiet on the issue for two months already. All EU institutions were eager to have a commissioner in charge of human rights, and this situation now is very disappointing,” stated Bulgarian Socialist Member of the European Parliament Iliana Iotova Wednesday. ...

Bulgaria's opposition Socialist Party (BSP) will ask the Chief Prosecutor to probe how the budget surplus of the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) is used. The statement was made for the media Wednesday by the Member of the Parliament and former Interior Minister, Mihail Mikov. It came on the heels of the parliamentary majority rejecting the left wing's proposal to establish an inquiry commission to look at how much of the NZOK surplus has been spent since the beginning of the year, who ordered the expenses and what it has been used for. ...

A recent monstrous murder of a 3-month-old puppy in the Bogrov dog shelter near Sofia has generated an outrage in Bulgaria and among animal rights advocates and environmentalists from around the world. Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) has received dozens of letters by Bulgarian and international readers expressing their indignation with barbarian act. ...

Bulgaria's consolidated budget deficit exceeded BGN 1.5 B in the first six months of 2010 due to a fall in revenues and a rise in spending for social payments, the finance minister announced on Wednesday. However, for the first 7 months of the year, the deficit decreased to BGN 1....

The shopping center in Bulgaria's capital Sofia known as The Mall achieved 100% lease of the store space, according to Colliers International, exclusive rent consultant. The British fashion chain Next, one of the key tenants, opened Wednesday the doors of its first store in Bulgaria in The Mall. The other new brands on the Bulgarian marker are the Greek clothing company Pink Woman, and the Spanish lingerie chain Oysho, part of the Inditex group, already well-known in Bulgaria with its labels Zara, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, and Massimo Dutti. ...

Bulgaria condemns the Tuesday terrorist attack near Hebron in which four Jewish settlers were killed, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Vesela Cherneva, stated. The attack happened on the eve of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians to be held in Washington DC. The US has appealed to both sides to not let terrorism derail the talks. ...

The Bulgarian football star and Manchester United striker, Dimitar Berbatov, has been nominated for the team's Player of the Month for the month of August. According to Manchester United's official website, Berbatov is among the 5 nominations. The others are Darren Fletcher, Louis Nani, Paul Scholes, and Nemanja Vidic. ...

Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, fully backed the cabinet's plans to build a Formula 1 racing track near Sofia. In a Wednesday interview for the TV channel Nova Televizia, Traikov stated great results are only brought by great goals, referring to the Formula 1 project. On August 30, the Minister and the Chair of the Abu Dhabi state company Emirates Associated Business Group (EABG), Mohammed Abdul Jalil al Blouki, signed an economic cooperation memorandum providing for the funding of the construction of a potential Formula 1 track in Bulgaria by Abu Dhabi. ...

The advertisement hoax, which made thousands of Bulgarians believe that Hollywood mega star Johnny Depp is on an incognito visit to the city of Burgas, has inspired its coastal mayor for an ambitious exploit. "I plan to invite Johnny Depp to the music festival Spirit of Burgas next year. My team will prepare an official inquiry, which will be sent to his PR agents," Dimitar Nikolov, mayor of Burgas, said in an interview for 24 Hours daily. ...

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament opened Wednesday the fall session with statements from all represented political parties. The main topics revolved around the economic crisis, the collection of revenues, and the health care reform. The ruling center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party declared as their main goal making Bulgaria an island of tax stability, but failed to talk in dept about the country's problems....

The executive body of Bulgaria's ruling party GERB has accepted the resignation of Genoveva Aleksieva as deputy chair of two parliamentary committees after she was tangled in scandal over alleged conflicts of interest. "Alexieva resignation from the leading posts is in the interest of the parliament and GERB," says a statement of the party executive commission. Last month Genoveva Aleksieva was implicated in two scandals....

The French daily "Le Monde" published Monday two extensive articles by their correspondent Alexandre Levy, dedicated to Bulgaria and the Roma. In the first one, titled "France Gives Bulgaria Excuses to Harden its Policy towards the Roma," the author writes that from Sofia's viewpoint there were no problems with the French policy, at least not in the beginning, when the Bulgarian cabinet pledged full cooperation and assistance in establishing the number and the identity of Roma who would be deported from France and the local "Gypsy" associations remained silent. "Where is the problem? Maybe because these people, who are far from being criminals, have the profile of the typical "black market" worker – from the maid to the mason, who tried their chance before coming back home....

The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has decided to keep the basic interest rate unchanged over August, when it hit its lowest levels since the index was recorded for the first time in 1991. From September 1 2010, the basic interest rate has been set at 0,17%, which is the same compared to the previous month. The interest rate has been decreasing since the beginning of last year from levels at 5,17%....

English Premiership club Blackburn Rovers has failed to sign the young hope of the Bulgarian national football team, Ivelin Popov, after the country's football association refused to register him. The 22-year-old Popov, who plays for the current Bulgarian champion Litex Lovech, does not meet the criteria of the association as he has played in just 65% of the matches of the national team for the last two years, a statement on the club website said. The player has not been issued a work permit, without which he does not have the right to play in the Premier League. ...

Canada's major federal funding agency has refused to provide money for a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis patients, which is available in Bulgaria. "There was unanimous agreement from the scientific experts that it is premature to support pan-Canadian clinical trials on the proposed 'liberation procedure," said Dr. Alain Beaudet, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), as cited by local media. ...

Bulgarian State Railways EAD is in talks with a number of banks, seeking a BGN 460 M international syndicated loan to help finance debt payments through 2014 and turn around the indebted company, the company chairman told Bloomberg agency. The group of banks include the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Deutsche Bank AG and UniCredit Bulbank AD. The funding would be linked to a five-year plan to make the operator profitable after posting losses for 20 years because of previous mismanagement and the recession, he said. ...

Bulgaria's National Statistics Institute will give the go-ahead on September 1 to a trial census to estimate the country's population for the first time online. From 8:00 am on Sept. 1 until 8:00 am on Sept....

Marking the end of the US combat mission in Iraq, President Obama said Tuesday night that America would continue supporting Iraq's government while also looking to refocus its energies on the US economy and the war in Afghanistan. "The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people," Obama said in an address from the Oval Office. "......

France responded Tuesday before the European Commission to the staggering criticism over its policy of deportation of Roma by saying it fully complies with European legislation. The French Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development, Eric Besson, told reporters after his meeting with Viviane Reding, EC Vice-President and Commisioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, and with Cecilia Malmstr?m, Home Affairs Commissioner, the actions of the country's authorities became the topic of many unfair caricatures and unacceptable insinuations. Besson, who was accompanied by the French Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs, Pierre Lellouche, announced the talks have been sincere, deep and constructive. ...

Amendments to the Election Act will include pilot online voting for the next year's presidential and local elections, the Bulgarian TV channel bTV reported Tuesday. The pilot project is to involve only several election polls in the country to be decided later by the Central Election Commission (CEK). Those selecting to vote online will receive their own, unique PIN....

Almost half of all Bulgarian employers and employees consciously violate the country's labor law, a poll about Bulgarians' attitude towards the gray economy reveals. The poll conducted by the Bulgaria Industrial Capital Association shows that about 45% of employers and 50% of workers are fine with being involved in the gray economy as long as it brings some income. Most employers' violations involve hiring people without labor contracts, declaring lower wages than the real ones and not paying employees benefits....

The Court of Appeals in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas ruled to bring back behind bars the three people arrested earlier during a special police operation codenamed “The Sheiks." The three – Valentin Atanasov, a police officer from the Burgas Traffic Police, his brother Zhivko Atanasov and Yanko Penev were released a week ago by the Burgas District Court on their own recognizance....

Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations ruled Tuesday to confirm the rights of the Sofia University over the botanical garden near the Black Sea capital Varna.. The University filed the case for “Ecopark Varna” against the “St. St....

US company 3M Co has announced it is purchasing the Israeli human tracking devices producer Attenti Holding SA, which has industrial facilities in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv. 3M Co will be paying USD 230 M for the Isreali producer. Attenti Holding SA produces systems such as ankle bracelets for monitoring and tracking the movements of people who are awaiting trial or are on probation and those of patients in senior care centers. ...

The legendary “Orient Express,” described in Agatha Christie's novel “Murder on the Orient Express,” arrived in Bulgaria's Black Sea capital Varna at 4:15 pm Tuesday. Scores of Varna residents, visitors, and media representatives gathered at the railway station to meet the famous train, which arrived on schedule to the minute. This year the composition has about 100 passengers....

Major-General Stefan Vasilev has formally taken over the command of the land forces of the Bulgarian Army at a special ceremony. Vasilev is replacing Lieutenant-General Ivan Dobrev, who will be retiring, announced the Defense Ministry. Major-General Stefan Vasilev is a graduate of the Vasil Levski Military University in Veliko Tarnovo; through his career, he has climbed the military ranks from a platoon commander to a general. ...

From Sky Sports Bulgaria captain Stiliyan Petrov has warned his side to be cautious of an England team still hurting from the World Cup. The Three Lions host Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier as they look to rebuild following a dismal campaign in South Africa this summer. ...

Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament Tsetska Tsacheva stated that the legislative body will introduce key reforms in its new session starting Wednesday. Among the top priorities of the National Assembly are healthcare reforms, introduction of new electoral legislation and the reform in the judiciary, said Tsacheva for the Bulgarian National Radio and the National TV. Healthcare reforms will aim at stopping an ongoing leaking of funds from the system, which according to Tsacheva has been going on for more than 20 years. ...

The Mayor of Bulgaria's capital Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, warned Tuesday of upcoming serious traffic problems over the subway construction, sewage works and repairs of main thoroughfares. Fandakova apologized and appealed to Sofia residents and visitors to be patient upon inspecting the subway works at the “Cherni Vrah” boulevard where parts of the road, near the construction site, collapsed Sunday. According to the Mayor, the upcoming fall will be the most difficult one for Sofia's traffic so far, adding the need of large-scale construction works was imposed by the fact that in the last 20 years the city's population grew at staggering rates, but its infrastructure remained untouched....

Bulgaria’s Dabune trade has collapsed as Bulgarian River Shipping Jsc has seen a 49% drop of its revenues in the first half of 2010. Company data shows that the revenues of the major Bulgarian Danube freight carrier declined to BGN 17.2 M in January-June 2010 year-on-year. ...

The finals for the yearly Miss Summer International contest will be held in Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Sveti Vlas Friday. Representatives of four continents are reported to participate in the beauty pageant. They will be allowed to chose their own dresses for part of the event, as opposed to wearing the choice of a designer. ...

The nominal amount of Bulgaria's national debt at the end of 2009 is EUR 4.8 B, announced the Ministry of Finance. Tuesday the ministry officially published its annual review of government debt for the previous year. ...

The development of the border areas between Bulgaria and Macedonia is set to receive EUR 14.3 M, of them EUR 12 M, from the European Commission as support for their development. The Memorandum for Understanding for the Program for Trans-border Collaboration between Bulgaria and Macedonia was signed Tuesday by Bulgaria's Minister of Regional Development, Rosen Plevneliev, and Musa DzAFERI, Macedonian Minister of Local Self-Government. ...

Monday’s signing of a deal with a state company from Abu Dhabi is just the first step towards a Formula 1 circuit in Bulgaria, the head of the Bulgarian Motorcycling Federation (BMF) told Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency). The BMF Chair Bodgan Nikolov was present at Monday’s meeting of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov with the Chair of the Abu Dhabi state company Emirates Associated Business Group (EABG), Mohammed Abdul Jalil al Blouki. ...

The audits of the three Bulgarian power utilities have already been sent to the Prosecutor's Office, the Head of the State Commission for Energy and Water regulation (DKEVR), Angel Semerdzhiev, announced Tuesday. The audits, which found a number of violations on the part of Austrian-owned EVN, German-owned E.ON and Czech-owned CEZ, were prepared in the eve of the approval of new electric power prices in July 2010 for the next year....

Tuesday the Bulgarian government signed the contract for the construction of the last section of Trakiya highway set to connect capital Sofia to Black Sea city of Burgas. So-called Lot 4, between the towns of Yambol and Karnobat in southeastern Bulgaria, has a deadline of 28 months for construction, which will kick off September 3. Lots 2 and 3, joining Stara Zagora and Yambol, are under construction, while Lot 5 between Karnobat and Burgas is ready. ...

Bulgaria's Telecom Vivacom begins offering digital TV via satellite to be delivered directly to customers, Vivacom announced Tuesday. The service will be available beginning September 1, all over the country, with three basic packages with different program lineups. VIVACOM TV Start will cost BGN 9....

Leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party Sergey Stanishev vowed immediate start of consultations on a no-confidence vote for the GERB cabinet, thus upping prospects for an interesting new political season this fall. This statement comes after co-leaders Ivan Kostov and Martin Dimitrov of rightist Blue Coalition, which has consistently supported the government, made scathing criticism of GERB's economic policy Monday and Tuesday. The socialist leader said his party will have consultations with all parties that do not support the cabinet, without specifying names. ...

Moody's Investors Service has affirmed Bulgaria’s Baa3 credit rating with a positive perspective, announced the Finance Ministry. In its assessment of Bulgaria’s current condition, Moody's has defined the country’s state finances as average for the EU. In January 2010, the credit rating agency changed Bulgaria’s perspective from stable to positive reflecting the sustainability of the country’s finances with respect to the effects of the global financial crisis. ...

“This evening Lyudmila learned the history of the monastery near Zemen. From the Princess of Monaco. The former Hollywood star....

Bulgaria’s Vice President Angel Marin will be visiting the People’s Republic of China Sept 1-9, the Presidency press office announced. As part of his program, Marin will be meeting with China’s Vice-President Xi Jinping, who paid a visit to Bulgaria almost a year ago, in October 2009. Marin will meet Xi Jinping in the city of Xiamen, where he will take part in the Second World Investment Forum of the UN Conference on Trade and Development; he will be accompanied by Bulgaria’s Deputy Economy Minister Evgeni Angelov. ...

The total number of trips Bulgarian citizens have made within the country and abroad dropped by 11% for the second quarter of 2010, according to preliminary data from Bulgaria's National Statistics Institute. However, Bulgarians made about 23% more trips abroad in the second quarter this year, in comparison to the period April-June 2009, while the trips within the country dropped by 17%. According to the data, vacations and trips have been the most common reason for the Bulgarians to travel abroad. ...

Martin Dimitrov, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces, took up the all-out criticism against the economic policy of the GERB cabinet launched Monday by Blue Coalition partner Ivan Kostov. This marks the start of the new political season, promising more pressure against the government by the 'Blue' rightists, who have consistently supported it in the past in Parliament, in spite of criticism. Monday Kostov, leader of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria and former PM, used picturesque language regarding the state of the Bulgarian economy, saying “it is not only going to sleep, but rather like a bear it is retreating to its den, hiding in the shadow of gray economy....

The Romanian affiliate of the French electricity generation and distribution company Gas de France Suez (GDF Suez) has submitted an application for a license in Bulgaria. The news was reported during the Tuesday meeting of Bulgaria's National Electric Company (NEK). GDF Suez report they want to enter the Bulgarian market now because there are signs of recovery, but do not plan to sell electricity inside the country rather purchase electric power from local producers and offer it in Romania, Greece and Turkey. ...

The Bulgarian Chimimport Holding group has registered a 3% growth in net profits for the first half of 2010 notwithstanding greatly decreased revenue for the period. Chimimport has registered a 20% drop in income due to shrinking in its non-financial activities, especially in transportation, which has shrunk 14%. In the transportation sector, Chimimport holds Bulgaria Air, Hemus Air and Air Ban. ...

Citizens and guests of the Bulgarian capital will be able to enjoy for three nights Leo Delibes' opera "Lakme" in the park of the G.S.Rakovski National Military Academy in September. ...

Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov has promised that the money for the hospitals for 2010 will not be less than the funding for 2009. Borisov met Tuesday with representatives of the Public Health Council in order to discuss the crisis in the hospital sector in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Finance Minister Simeon Djankov was also present at the meeting....

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education is expecting about 20,000 student to take loans in the first year of the implementation of the Student Loans Act. The program was officially announced Tuesday and starting Wednesday, all the students could apply for the two types of loans - for covering tuition fees and for allowance. The Student Loans Act was adopted in 2008 when Education Minister was Daniel Valchev....

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov stated he will not dismiss Minister of Defence Anyu Angelov over statements that allegedly have strained extremely relations between Bulgaria and Syria, reported BGNES. PM Borisov was reacting to a publication in the Bulgarian press Tuesday that he is strongly disaffected with his Minister of Defence and voiced enthusiasm of his performance. The Bulgarian PM did not comment on the substance and significance of Angelov's remarks regarding Syria. ...

As sellers of property, hotels included, are going through hard times in Bulgaria, most deals are a result of cash payments, experts say and forecast that cash will remain king. "Due to the restricted financing, deals can be concluded only by investors with money at hand. The forecasts for 2010 can best be described as "cash is the king," Anna Rizova-Clegg, Country Managing Partner in the Sofia office of DLA Piper, the international legal practice, said in an interview for Novinite....

Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are set to start Wednesday in Washington. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu already departed for Washington, it was reported Tuesday. Wednesday he will have a dinner at the White House together with Abbas, the President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak and the King of Jordan Abdullah II....

Interview of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) with Anna Rizova-Clegg, Country Managing Partner in the Sofia office of DLA Piper, the international legal practice What are the main conclusions of the survey of 417 European hotel executives, conducted by international law firm DLA Piper? ...

The legendary Orient Express train, which only once a year runs its original route from Paris to Istanbul, will pass Tuesday by the Bulgarian cities Ruse and Varna. The train will make a 40-minute stop at the central train station in Ruse at 12 pm and will after that proceed to Varna, where it is expected to arrive at 4:15 pm and leave at 8 pm for Turkey. Orient Express is a luxury train, owned by Venice-Semplon Orient Express, a private venture using original carriages from 1920s and 1930s. ...

Senior members of the French government PM François Fillon and foreign minister Bernard Kouchner have voiced disagreement over President Sarkozy's approach to Roma in France, reports Euractiv Tuesday. Foreign minister Kouchner has been more explicit, saying he even considered resigning after President Sarkozy's voiced intentions and actions on deporting Roma to Bulgaria and Romania. Kouchner was also disaffected with the rhetoric surrounding the issue, saying "I am not happy about this controversy, about this kind of verbal mayonnaise" in an interview for RTL. ...

Neighboring disputes might have been the motive for the shooting in Slovakia's capital Bratislava on Monday, when a gunman opened fire, killing 7 and injuring 15 people. The Slovak news agency TASR has reported that the gunman, who was 48 years old, died from a gunshot to his head. According to local news agencies, the man was living on the same floor with five of the killed, who were members of a Roma family - four women and a man....

A Bulgarian citizen has been arrested in Turkey during an attempt to export 10kg of heroine to Greece, the Bulgarian private TV channel bTV has reported, citing the Turkish Anatolian Agency. The Bulgarian was traveling with his own car. From the port in the coastal Turkish town of Cesme, he planned to transfer to the Greek island Chios. ...

Bulgaria's Minister on Regional Development and Macedonia's Minister of Local Self-Government will sign a memorandum on understanding in the execution of a cross-border cooperation program between the two countries. Bulgaria's Rosen Plevneliev and Macedonia's Musa Xhaferi will sign the memorandum on Tuesday. The program for cross-border cooperation has been approved by the European Commission and will be funded by the Instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA) and by public funds from the state budgets of both countries. ...

Doctors, nurses, unions and patient organizations will meet with Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov to discuss the crisis in the hospital sector. Representatives of the Public Health Council, in which professional organizations of doctors, nurses, unions and patient organizations participate, will demand guaranteeing the same amount of funding for hospitals as last year. "In order to survive, the system needs BGN 200 M....

The car of the Head of the Bulgarian State Veterinary Public Health Control Directorate, Yordan Voynov, has been wrecked Monday night. "My car has been parked at a boulevard in Sofia. Between 8:30-9:00 pm I came back and I found that the car has been wrecked," Voynov said Tuesday in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio and Television. ...

Bulgaria's best female tennis player, Tsvetana Pironkova, has qualified for the second round of the last for this year Grand Slam championship US Open. The 22-year-old Bulgarian, who was seeded as number 32, managed to defeat Renata Voracova from the Czech Republic by 6-3, 6-4. In the second round, Pironkova will face the 24-year-old Mandy Minella from Luxembourg, who defeated the Slovenian Polona Hercog by 6-4, 7-5 in the first round. ...

The Bulgarian company “Holding Roads” will sign Tuesday a contract with the Road Infrastructure agency for the construction of the last section of Trakiya Highway, which will link the towns of Yambol and Karnobat. The Road Infrastructure agency has announced that the construction is scheduled to begin September 3. On July 23, “Holding Roads” was announced winner in the tender for building the 49km so-called Lot 4 section of the Trakiya Highway....

A recent blunder of Bulgarian Defense Minister Anyu Angelov related to the US missile defense in Europe has led to Syria threatening to break its diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. This highly problematic statement made by Angelov, together with two other blunders, are very likely to lead Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to replace him, reported the Trud Daily citing sources from the government and the ruling party GERB. Speaking on private cable TV channel Pro....

Business

Bulgaria's prime minister will launch the construction works of the last section of Trakiya highway, linking the city of Yambol and the town of Karnobat, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday. The Bulgarian Road Infrastructure picked "Holding Roads" as winner in the tender for building of the 49km section of Trakiya Highway, also known as Lot 4. The offer of the Bulgarian company is BGN 174,705,600 M, VAT excluded. ...

The European Commission has expressed optimism about the potential of Bulgaria's economy to rebound as officials figures confirmed that the eurozone economy grew by 1% between April and June. "Bulgaria does not threaten the stability of the European economy and the European Commission is upbeat about its recovery," Amadeu Altafaj, spokesman of the European Union Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, told the Bulgarian National Radio on Thursday. The statement followed the release of official figures, which showed eurozone economy grew by 1% between April and June. ...

Bulgaria is a worldwide leader in residential and commercial real estate and will remain to be so, writes Russian real estate analytic portal RWay.ru Thursday. The website lists the following five pluses of buying in Bulgaria: legislation favorable to non-resident investors, low prices and prospects for increase in worth. ...

Britain's JKX Oil & Gas, the operator of the B1-Golitza license in Bulgaria, began on Thursday a two-well drill program in the country to test targets with an estimated resource of up to 60 billion cubic feet (Bcf). The Staro Oryahovo South R-1 well will be drilled to test a submarine fan target of Eocene age in the Kamchia Basin, south west of Varna, Bulgaria. Drilling is planned to complete by the end of September when the rig will move to the Shkorpilovtci South West R2 location, 5km to the south. ...

Bulgaria's finance minister has assured that the country will have no need to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund over a bailout loan for its ailing economy in the next two years. "There will be no need for a loan not only this year, but the next two years as well," Minister Simeon Djankov said on Thursday. "In terms of its economic policy the Bulgarian government is doing just as fine as the bigger part of the EU member states," he said, adding that he expects to see a return to growth this year. ...

The cabinet of the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party had not used health insurance funds to cover other expenditures and does not plan to do it, according to Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov. Djankov spoke Thursday in plenary hall, answering a question of an opposition Member of the Parliament. The Minister explained the reserve of the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) is part of the State fiscal reserve and using it would mean reducing the State reserve and increasing the deficit over the threshold that was already approved, a move that would be unacceptable. ...

Representatives of the most prominent PR Associations on international level are scheduled to meet on November 4 and 5, 2010 in Bulgaria's capital Sofia. They will arrive for the annual meeting of the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organisation) Board. The meeting will be held in Bulgaria for the first time on the invitation of the Bulgarian Association of PR Agencies (BAPRA). ...

The Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov will present a report in the Parliament about the country's participation in the decision-making process in the EU in the first half of 2010. On Thursday, Borisov will also present Bulgaria's priorities during the Belgian EU presidency in the second half of 2010. The PM presents a report in the Parliament at the beginning of every 6-month period of the EU presidency. ...

Chaos and red tape in Bulgaria's regulations are believed to be a major obstacle to attracting large-scale foreign investments in renewable energy, according to analyst Zlatin Sarastov. Sarastov, analyst from Amphora Capital, a Sofia-based consultancy, has argued, as cited by the Cross news agency, that the recently announced investment of Japanese company Toshiba in a Bulgarian solar plant should alert the Bulgarian government about the expectations of serious investors for predictability in state regulations in the sector. In his words, the long period of return on investments and the price fluctuations of the equipment are combined with the lack of certainty and clarity with respect to the development of Bulgarian infrastructure and energy market regulations to chase away investors in renewable energy. ...

Bulgaria's Cabinet has decided in favor of the partial completion of a controversial construction project of the Defense Ministry in downtown Sofia. The so called National Army Complex is known also as the "military NDK" because it is likened to NDK (i.e....

Politics

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), consultative body of the European Union, has warned against turning Europe's Roma population into "a political football". During a debate on September 2, which came in reaction to French government action to deport people of Roma origin residing illegally in France, the EESC called for concrete, constructive and responsible action by EU member states. "It is regrettable that this issue, which has serious implications for human beings and for citizenship issues, has become a political football and has been exploited for short-term political advantage....

The European Commission has criticized France over its expulsions of Roma and has demanded more information about the crackdown. An interim report by the commission - the EU's executive arm - says the French policy does not put enough emphasis on the individual circumstances of Roma facing expulsion. The interim report, signed by three EU commissioners, says the commission wants France to explain "whether and to what extent the safeguards required......

Filip Dimitrov, former Bulgarian PM, rightist leader and senior diplomat, is among the top names circulated for the position of EU ambassador to Georgia, as foreign affairs high representative Catherine Ashton is expected to announce names of top envoys next week. Georgia is among the countries considered as top-priority for the EU, for which ambassadors will be revealed earlier than the rest of the new EU External Action Service, expected by December 1. It has been made known that Bulgaria has submitted at least two promising candidacies – that of Dimitrov and of diplomat Stefan Tafrov, who has also served as Bulgaria's UN envoy, as well as ambassador to the UK, France and Italy and as deputy foreign minister. ...

Bulgaria has asked the European Commission to reinstate more funds under its operation PHARE program, according to the Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev. The Minister declined offering exact amounts, About EUR 130 M under the program were frozen during the term of the previous, socialist-led cabinet....

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov met Thursday Nedim Gendzhev, recently restored as Chief Mufti in Bulgaria, and his predecessor Mustafa Alish Hadzhi. The two clerics have been engaged in a long-drawn dispute about the spiritual leadership of Bulgaria's Muslim community. In October 2009, the National Muslim Conference elected Mustafa Alish Hadzhi for Chief Mufti....

The Bulgarian Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev, is hoping that the absorbed funding under the ISPA program will reach 75% by the end of the program. "So far, we have absorbed 56% of the contracted funds under the ISPA program. Our expectation is that by the end of the program, we will have absorbed 75% of the funds under the program," Donchev said Thursday. ...

Bulgaria's Food Safety Agency is scheduled to begin operating on January 1, 2011, the Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov has announced. Naydenov explained Thursday that the agency will have 28 regional centers around the country. The minister has stated that the new agency will include the currently existing National Veterinary Service, National Plant Protection Service, National Grain and Grain Products Service, and this part of the public health body RIOKOZ that is responsible for the food safety. ...

The second sitting of the Bulgarian Parliament for its new fall session was marked by an exchange of vivid remarks between PM Borisov and representatives of opposition Socialist Party over lack of involvement. Just after presenting a report on the government's participation in EU decision-making for the first half of 2010, PM Boyko Borisov left plenary. This provoked BSP Deputy-Speaker of Parliament Georgi Pirinski to call for an intercession until the PM comes back to the hall for the debate and accused him of flagrant disrespect for Parliament. ...

As was supposed, Ahmed Dogan, leader of the political party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), did not appear in court at the start of the trial against him Thursday. The trial was filed due to a report of the parliamentary Anti-corruption Committee, which alleges that Dogan has been involved in large-scale political corruption schemes, has breached the conflict of interests provisions and has served private interests. The leader of DPS, which is seen as representing ethnic Turks in Bulgaria and was a member of the former three-way coalition cabinet, apparently pocketed BGN 1....

Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov presented Thursday a report in the Parliament on the country's participation in the decision-making process in the EU in the first half of 2010. The report also included Bulgaria's priorities during the Belgian EU presidency in the second half of the year. "Bulgaria participated actively in the discussions for the Europe 2020 strategy," said Borisov, regarding the EU long-term strategy for economic growth and development. ...

Bulgaria in EU

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), consultative body of the European Union, has warned against turning Europe's Roma population into "a political football". During a debate on September 2, which came in reaction to French government action to deport people of Roma origin residing illegally in France, the EESC called for concrete, constructive and responsible action by EU member states. "It is regrettable that this issue, which has serious implications for human beings and for citizenship issues, has become a political football and has been exploited for short-term political advantage....

The European Commission has criticized France over its expulsions of Roma and has demanded more information about the crackdown. An interim report by the commission - the EU's executive arm - says the French policy does not put enough emphasis on the individual circumstances of Roma facing expulsion. The interim report, signed by three EU commissioners, says the commission wants France to explain "whether and to what extent the safeguards required......

Filip Dimitrov, former Bulgarian PM, rightist leader and senior diplomat, is among the top names circulated for the position of EU ambassador to Georgia, as foreign affairs high representative Catherine Ashton is expected to announce names of top envoys next week. Georgia is among the countries considered as top-priority for the EU, for which ambassadors will be revealed earlier than the rest of the new EU External Action Service, expected by December 1. It has been made known that Bulgaria has submitted at least two promising candidacies – that of Dimitrov and of diplomat Stefan Tafrov, who has also served as Bulgaria's UN envoy, as well as ambassador to the UK, France and Italy and as deputy foreign minister. ...

Bulgaria has asked the European Commission to reinstate more funds under its operation PHARE program, according to the Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev. The Minister declined offering exact amounts, About EUR 130 M under the program were frozen during the term of the previous, socialist-led cabinet....

The Bulgarian Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev, is hoping that the absorbed funding under the ISPA program will reach 75% by the end of the program. "So far, we have absorbed 56% of the contracted funds under the ISPA program. Our expectation is that by the end of the program, we will have absorbed 75% of the funds under the program," Donchev said Thursday. ...

Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov presented Thursday a report in the Parliament on the country's participation in the decision-making process in the EU in the first half of 2010. The report also included Bulgaria's priorities during the Belgian EU presidency in the second half of the year. "Bulgaria participated actively in the discussions for the Europe 2020 strategy," said Borisov, regarding the EU long-term strategy for economic growth and development. ...

An administrative tribunal in France's Lille has canceled the orders for deportation of 7 Roma in the first instance that court action is preventing the much controversial expulsion measures. The court in the northern French city declared that the cases of the 7 Roma did not meet the legal standard of real and immediate threat, as cited by The International Business Times. Since August 2010, the French authorities have dismantled about 128 camps of Roma squatters, and have deported about 900 Roma back to their home countries Bulgaria and Romania on the grounds that they presented security threats to local communities in France and had violated local legislation. ...

The European Commission has failed to be sufficiently active with respect to the deportation of Bulgarian and Romania Roma by France, the Bulgarian Socialist MEPs said in a statement. “The behavior of Viviane Reading, European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, is weird since she has been keeping adamantly quiet on the issue for two months already. All EU institutions were eager to have a commissioner in charge of human rights, and this situation now is very disappointing,” stated Bulgarian Socialist Member of the European Parliament Iliana Iotova Wednesday. ...

France responded Tuesday before the European Commission to the staggering criticism over its policy of deportation of Roma by saying it fully complies with European legislation. The French Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development, Eric Besson, told reporters after his meeting with Viviane Reding, EC Vice-President and Commisioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, and with Cecilia Malmstr?m, Home Affairs Commissioner, the actions of the country's authorities became the topic of many unfair caricatures and unacceptable insinuations. Besson, who was accompanied by the French Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs, Pierre Lellouche, announced the talks have been sincere, deep and constructive. ...

The development of the border areas between Bulgaria and Macedonia is set to receive EUR 14.3 M, of them EUR 12 M, from the European Commission as support for their development. The Memorandum for Understanding for the Program for Trans-border Collaboration between Bulgaria and Macedonia was signed Tuesday by Bulgaria's Minister of Regional Development, Rosen Plevneliev, and Musa DzAFERI, Macedonian Minister of Local Self-Government. ...

Lifestyle

The sand from the Bulgarian Black coast bay "Vromos" is radioactive and harmful for beach goers, according to experts from the Environment and Health Ministries. The news was announced Thursday by the Governor of the Region of Burgas, Konstantin Grebenarov, who was the recipient of the experts' letter. The letter asks local authorities to make people aware of the results and place signs warning visitors to not use the beach. ...

The Bulgarian National Art Gallery in Sofia is hosting an exhibition of what is said to be a significant part of Edgar Degas' sculptural oeuvre. The exhibition will officially open Thursday at 18.30 EET and will last through October 29. ...

The Czech-owned power utility, CEZ, one of the three in Bulgaria, is offering financial support for the first ever sports fest for disadvantaged children whose parents work in the energy sector. The initiative belongs to the National Sports Association "Podkrepa" (Support). In a letter sent to the media Thursday, the CEZ management states the company wishes to assist both its employees and Bulgaria's disadvantaged children. ...

The Macedonian mother with Bulgarian passport, Spaska Mitrova, had been able to keep her job as English language teacher in Bulgaria for just a couple of weeks. The news was reported Thursday by the Bulgarian daily "24 Chassa" (24 Hours). Mitrova became publicly known for her 3-month imprisonment by the Macedonian authorities and her year-long trials over custody rights....

Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security (DANS) is probing the Transport Minister, Aleksander Tsvetkov, according to a publication of the Bulgarian daily Standart. The article titled "The Dragoman Railway Station Turned Treacherous for a Minister," informs Tsvetkov had announced a murky public tender for the construction of a multi-functional terminal at the railway station in the town of Dragoman. "There are suspicions the State is pouring BGN 6 M in a haphazard project, designed without an expert analysis and economic grounds," "Standart" writes, citing their own sources. ...

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, stated Thursday he is yet to receive the audits of the power utilities from the energy watchdog DKEVR. Velchev told reporters he has been expecting those audits for two days now, and would read them carefully, but presently he could not figure out the role of his office in the matter. On Tuesday, the Head of the State Commission for Energy and Water regulation (DKEVR), Angel Semerdzhiev, announced the audits of the three power utilities have already been sent to the Prosecutor's Office. ...

Long have I said that Bulgarian healthcare is sick, curably though with a delay, stated Bulgarian Minister of Public Health Anna-Maria Borisova. She was speaking in an interview for bTV regarding the state of the healthcare system, which is said to be one of the cabinet’s and parliament’s top priorities for the new political season launched September 1. Borisova expressed concern that “for the last 10 years nothing has been done” to reform the system, and vowed to take “radical measures....

A new open-air photo exhibit dedicated to Bulgaria's culture was opened in downtown Sofia Monday. The photo exhibit entitled "Bulgaria in Brilliance" is dedicated to the history of Christianity in the Bulgarian lands and the Bulgarian contribution to the world cultural heritage. Many of the photos show the Bulgarian sites that are recognized by UNESCO as part of the world cultural heritage. ...

Bulgarian archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov has discovered two tombs of Ancient Thracian rulers near the famous rock city and sanctuary of Perperikon. The tombs are dated to 1100-1000 BC judging by the pottery and ceramics found in them, which are characteristic of the later Bronze Age and the early Iron Age. One of the most interesting finds in the tombs is a bronze coin with the face of Emperor Alexander the Great, dated to the 4th century BC....

A recent monstrous murder of a 3-month-old puppy in the Bogrov dog shelter near Sofia has generated an outrage in Bulgaria and among animal rights advocates and environmentalists from around the world. Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) has received dozens of letters by Bulgarian and international readers expressing their indignation with barbarian act. ...

Sports

Bulgarian champions Litex Lovech has appointed Lyuboslav Penev its head coach a month after Angel Chervenkov was sacked for the team's failure in the Champions League, according to a statement on the club's site. In the middle of January Lyuboslav Penev resigned from his post of CSKA Sofia coach along with the whole coaching staff of the top Bulgarian club. Lyoboslav Penev's tenure in charge of CSKA was tainted with controversy including a travel ban over his default BGN 2 M loan from EIBank. ...

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has admitted England players are feeling the pressure ahead of their European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria on Friday in the wake of a dismal World Cup performance. "The players and the manager realize we are under pressure at the moment, which is normal after under-performing at the World Cup," Gerrard, who will again captain England in the absence of injured first-choice skipper Rio Ferdinand, said at England's team hotel on Thursday. "A win always helps in this situation....

Bulgarian Bolton winger Martin Petrov has warned that Bulgaria is capable of springing a nasty surprise on the England squad at Wembley on Friday because Fabio Capello "doesn't have a team" despite its very good players. "Everyone knows that England have names and very good players. If you take every player from the team, they are very good players," Petrov said, as cited by The Telegraph. ...

Bulgarian media report Thursday on tensions in the English national football team which have led to a acrimonious anti-Capello piece in the Daily Mirror. Friday England and Bulgaria are clashing at Wembley for their first Euro 2012 qualifier. The English team has been pestered by injuries that have left out players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Peter Crouch, as well as two of England's goalies – Scott Carson and Ben Foster – leaving the team with only one active goalkeeper for Friday's game. ...

The Bulgarian top female tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova has dropped out in the second round of the last for this year Grand Slam championship US open. On Wednesday, the 22-year-old Bulgarian suffered a 4-6, 0-6 defeat by the 24-year-old Mandy Minella from Luxembourg. Pironkova was not in a good shape....

The Bulgarian football star and Manchester United striker, Dimitar Berbatov, has been nominated for the team's Player of the Month for the month of August. According to Manchester United's official website, Berbatov is among the 5 nominations. The others are Darren Fletcher, Louis Nani, Paul Scholes, and Nemanja Vidic. ...

English Premiership club Blackburn Rovers has failed to sign the young hope of the Bulgarian national football team, Ivelin Popov, after the country's football association refused to register him. The 22-year-old Popov, who plays for the current Bulgarian champion Litex Lovech, does not meet the criteria of the association as he has played in just 65% of the matches of the national team for the last two years, a statement on the club website said. The player has not been issued a work permit, without which he does not have the right to play in the Premier League. ...

Bulgaria's best female tennis player, Tsvetana Pironkova, has qualified for the second round of the last for this year Grand Slam championship US Open. The 22-year-old Bulgarian, who was seeded as number 32, managed to defeat Renata Voracova from the Czech Republic by 6-3, 6-4. In the second round, Pironkova will face the 24-year-old Mandy Minella from Luxembourg, who defeated the Slovenian Polona Hercog by 6-4, 7-5 in the first round. ...

The former German tennis star Boris Becker has said he was honored to play against the Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov at the charity match during the Zagorka Tennis Cup finals in Sofia. "I want to thank the organizers for the invitation. I do not often play against Prime Ministers....

Algerian national football team goalie Raïs M'Bolhi will no longer play for Bulgarian team Slavia, but will continue to fellow Sofia great CSKA. M'Bolhi was loaned to CSKA until December to fill in the position of goalkeeper which the red team felt unstable due to poor performances by its other goalies. It was reported that M'Bolhi was no longer willing to play for Slavia, notwithstanding the fact that he had earned for himself the position of an audience favorite, with fans naming him best player for last season. ...