Bulgarian Press Review September 9, 2009

Press Review
Sofia, September 9 (BTA)


THE HOME SCENE

Forty-four days after the GERB cabinet was sworn in, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and President Georgi Purvanov clashed openly after Purvanov posted an article on his website, dwelling on energy and the government's energy policy. "Troud" runs it under the headline "Borissov Was Obviously Unprepared for Meeting with Putin". Purvanov says that there needs to be continuity in the energy strategy and policy of Bulgaria. "An imbalanced, slow and ill-grounded Bulgarian policy could result in Bulgaria being bypassed by these projects," Purvanov says. The President goes on to say that the dynamics of Bulgaria energy policy should be kept and that he finds the government inconsistent positions and messages about the future of the Belene N-plant and nuclear power energy bewildering. The President concludes that there is a shortage of competence on the part of the new government with regards to Bulgaria's energy policy. In an interview for "Troud", Prime Minister Borissov hits back at Purvanov's accusations, describing them as "coming out of pure spite". Borissov, visibly upset, speaks of his disappointment at Purvanov's remarks and says that he will not meet him unless the President apologizes. Later, the government information service released Borissov's position, which says that "After so many years in politics and in power, President Georgi Purvanov has obviously understood at last that the time has come for leadership and pragmatism. Such is the assessment of the new government from the EU, with the unfreezing of funding under the SAPARD programme, and from the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin."

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"A Stanishev Minister Charged With 15 Land Swaps,", writes "24 Chassa". The former agriculture minister Valeri Tsvetanov is the first minister from the Stanishev cabinet to be formally charged over 15 illegal swaps of state-owned land. During the interview at the National Investigative Service Tsvetanov said that he did not feel guilty. He has been put on subscription, the laxest of all restraint measures. The former chairman of the State Forestry Agency Stefan Yuroukov was also charged because of disadvantageous transactions resulting in considerable
damages.

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In an in interview for "Telegraph", Sofia City Prosecutor Nikolai Kokinov reveals record-setting abuse in three ministries. In five weeks 30 alerts about financial irregularities at ministries and agencies were submitted at his office. The largest abuse took place in the ministries of defence, transport and agriculture. The Ministry of Defence is being probed over an order for catalogues of military flags. The Ministry of Health is also being checked over irregularities with the delivery of aids for the disabled and the information system on cancer patients.

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"Troud" quotes Defence Minister Nickolay Mladenov as saying that only administrative staff and not military personnel will be laid off. Mladenov has announced a plan to cut 65 million leva in spending, but the scheme will leave pay unchanged. He explains that before any cuts take place, everyone's performance will be carefully reviewed and their abilities and loyalty to the ministry will be proven. However, the Minister warned that the leadership of the ministry will not allow its policy "to be torpedoed".

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"Troud" runs a commentary, which praises the timely reaction of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his cabinet in the wake of the September 5 incident, when 15 Bulgarians drowned in Lake Ohrid in Macedonia. "Whether this is the dawn of more rational political times, filled with less hatred, or a one-off, Borissov should carry on the momentum to implement a better government."

ECONOMY

"24 Chassa" reports that Bulgaria abandoned investigating money laundering 18 months ago. Finance Minister Simeon Djankov told reporters that he is going to set up an agency under his ministry which will fight financial abuse. Eighteen months ago Bulgaria stopped watching money laundering and cash flows in and out of the country after the Financial Intelligence Agency became part of the State Agency for National Security and was barred access to data from commercial banks, explained Djankov. On Monday, Djankov's team announced structural changes to the Finance Ministry. The ministry's staff will be reduced by 98 people and the organization structure will be streamlined. However, the debt collection agency will not be merging with the National Revenue Agency.

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"Troud" reports that seven state-owned companies have abused millions of leva. Economy Minister Traicho Traikov disclosed on Monday that six officers with his ministry's department managing EU funding for an operational programme for competitiveness have failed to declare the conflict of interest they were in. Traikov recalled that the offence carries a sentence of up to three years in prison upon conviction.

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"Sega" gives prominence to a decision to close the labour market to foreign workers. Social Minister Totyu Mladenov announced on Monday that Bulgaria is restricting employment possibilities for non-EU workers to a minimum due to the economic crisis and rising unemployment. Mladenov dismissed reports that there is a shortage of skilled workers, as more and more Bulgarian emigrants are returning or planning to return, which is why the government will be amending the regulations for hiring workers from outside the EU bloc.

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"Troud" writes that a gas CEO will be put in charge of energy prices. Angel Semerdjiev, executive director of state-owned Bulgartransgaz, will be named to the chairmanship of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, according to Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov. The term of the present chairman, Konstantin Shoushoulov, is expiring September 10.

BULGARIA-EU

Interviewed by "Standart News", Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov says that Bulgaria stands to receive 90 million euro by the end of 2009. After his meeting with EU Commissioner for
Agriculture Mariann Fischer Boel, Naydenov is certain that a 100 per cent of SAPARD funds will be unblocked. Nineteen million euro will be restored, paid for projects in 2008, and another 90 million will be unblocked, which Bulgaria can absorb by the end of 2009. According to Naydenov, there is no shortage of projects and as long as they comply with all requirements, a payment procedure can start.

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"Troud" reports that 83,000 dairy farms have avoided closure after the European Commission granted a two-year extension of the period to complete the transition to EU hygiene standards. Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov had requested a 18-month extension in Brussels, but the EC gave Bulgaria and Romania 24 months. Only 3,000 Bulgarian farms meet the EU requirements. However, more than 83,000 dairy farms failed to secure investments and make the grade and faced closure in early 2010. Minister Naydenov said he relied on a technical assistance from the EU.

SOCIETY

In an interview for "Troud", opera prima Raina Kabaivanska says that today there is a lot more stress and that competition is fiercer. "First and foremost you have to be a master of technique, to know how to control your body and voice, which in turn will allow you to own the stage. Today's singers must know the music, be artists and also be good-looking," Kabaivanska adds.



Links to some Bulgarian info websites in English:

• http://www.bta.bg/site/en/indexe.shtml
• http://www.novinite.com/index.php
• http://www.focus-fen.net/


Most discussed topics of the day – September 9, 2009

• Prime Minister Boyko Borisov starts his first visit to Brussels, accompanied by 7 ministers.

• Bulgarian government has passed the 57 measures in the field of justice and home affairs, which were marked down after the European Commission criticisms, Minister of Justice Margarita Popova said.

• The Bulgarian government has stated that it will give BGN 10 000 to each of the families of the 15 Bulgarians who were killed in the Ilinden boat tragedy in Macedonia on Saturday.

• Pardoning of Liverpool fan Michael Shields is in the competency of the Justice Secretary of UK Jack Straw. However institutions must be respected – both the British ones and Bulgarian ones and if there had been any new evidences they must be submitted to the Bulgarian court. This is what former MEP judge Dushana Zdravkova.