Bulgarian Press Review, October 7, 2009

Press Review
Sofia, October 8 (BTA)

THE HOME SCENE

"Sega" writes that although education and healthcare top the cabinet's agenda in 2010, the two sectors will receive 240 million leva less altogether compared with 2009. The newspaper cites estimates by Finance Minister Simeon Djankov, according to which the budget will set aside more money for pensions, motorway construction and tourism only.

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Djankov's ministry is proposing a VAT levy for legal services from 2010, "Dnevnik' writes."Standart News" reports that a 20 per cent VAT will be imposed on all legal services including divorce lawyer serviced. Building taxes may increase by 25 per cent and gambling taxes by 12 per cent, the newspaper highlights. The Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday a package of tax bills it is going to push through in 2010.

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"Pari" quotes Finance Minister Djankov as saying that the 2010 budget will be a visa for the euro area. Bulgaria will apply for the ERM-2 in January or February 2010 instead of November 2009 as had been announced previously after deadline for submitting the medium term fiscal framework had been extended.

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"24 Chassa" writes that civil servants pocket some 400 million leva a year in extra remuneration. A survey runed by the newspaper shows that on average civil servants receive 430 leva a month (roughly 215 euro), while the prime minister's salary is 3,287 leva. However, ministries and agencies have adopted schemes for awarding bonuses, which allow staff to receive one to three times the prime minister's salary in bonuses. Between 10 and 40 per cent of revenues from fees and sanctions (in some cases 70 per cent) are distributed as bonuses. After giving away to the budget half of the estimated 700 million leva in revenues for 2009, staff stands to receive between 140 and 280 million leva.

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"Troud" reports that the state administration claimed 590,555 in expenses in 2008, which makes 2,343 leva a day. The Bulgarian National Audit Office (BNAO) has found irregularities in the contract for the build of an information system for the state administration. According to the BNAO report, the controversial Austrian lobbyist Dr Peter Hochegger had received an upfront payment of 1.87 million leva. Upon his contract's expiration, Hochegger had to present a report on the work he had done, which he failed to do. At the end of 2007, the state land stock was reduced to 235,162 ha [by some 4,000 ha].

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In an interview for "Klassa" former environment minister Djevdet Chakurov says that he is not worried by checks into his governance.

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"Novinar" writes that a database of Bulgarian criminals across the world is being set up. Kamen Mihov of the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office said that over 100 Bulgaria offenders receive convictions abroad every year. The prosecution authorities are targeting all criminals involved in money laundering.



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In an interview for "24 Chassa", Roumen Ovcharov, leader of the Sofia chapter of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) blames BSP leader Sergei Stanishev for the fact that the party has been driven into a corner.

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Interviewed by "Troud", Bankserviz Executive Director Lyubomir Tsekov says that the crisis has forced companies to pay in cash and bypass the banks. According to Tsekov, a limit should be set on cash payments and all larger payments have to go through a bank.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

"24 Chassa" analyzes how Bulgarian nominee for EU commissioner Rumiana Jeleva fares compared with the other nominees. Journalist Yovka Dimitrova writes that encouraged by Irina Bokova's win as UNESCO Director General, Borissov's cabinet has set its sights on the strategic post of EU energy commissioner. According to Dimitrova, Bulgaria stands a good chance to have its nominee approved, as the selection is done behind the scenes.

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After Ireland's endorsement of the Lisbon Treaty, there are only two hurdles left: Prague and Warsaw, writes "Standart News". Interviewed by the same paper, Czech Ambassador here Martin
Klepetko says that the Czech Constitutional Court is due to pronounce a ruling after it had been petitioned by Czech senators. Poland's President Lech Kaczynski will probably ratify the Lisbon Treaty after he returns from his visit to Romania, according to Polish Ambassador to Bulgaria Andrzej Papiez.

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The owner of a building in Prague which collapsed on October 2 killing two Bulgarian workers, will pay their families 4,000 euro in compensation each, reports "24 Chassa", citing Czech e-zine iDNES. The building is owned by Spain's Galerie Sen

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Under the headline "Bulgarians Head NATO HQs in Tirana and Skopje", "Troud" writes that Brigadier General Dincho Karamunchev and Commodore Valentin Gagashev as NATO MAIL-T Commanders in Tirana and Skopje are bringing the two countries into line with the Alliance.

The newspaper quotes Gagashev as saying that Macedonia will present its national NATO integration programme in Brussels on October 13, where it is due be reviewed. In his words, Macedonia has a 8,000-strong army and its military budget is 1.76 per cent of the country's GDP.

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"Troud" quotes newly appointed Serbian Ambassador here Alexander Crkvenjakov as saying that the Bulgarian-Serbian relations have a great potential to develop and that his task is to assist in that. In an article on Crkvenjakov "Troud" writes that the diplomat is mistaken for Bulgarian all the time.

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"Troud" writes that the controversial Czech artist David Cerny, who portrayed Bulgaria as a ground-hole toilet in an installation in Brussels earlier this year, will be exhibiting in Plovdiv (Southern Bulgaria) the black cloth used to cover his artwork after Bulgaria's protests. Cerny will be participating in an exhibition entitled "European Art 20 Years After the Iron Curtain" along with 33 artists.


ECONOMY

Over one million Sofianites are going deaf or crazy from the round the clock noise they are exposed to, writes "Troud", citing data from Sofia's noise levels map. The survey was based on three-hour daily readings (from 11 am to 2 pm) in 69 spots across the city. Fifty-nine per cent of the capital population (unofficial data say some two million people) are exposed to noise levels exceeding safety limits. Some 72.23 per cent of the population at night is exposed to noises louder than the limit.All kindergartens, hospitals, schools and public buildings are situated in areas where noise levels are exceeding the limit.

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The Russian national of Armenian origin Seyran Arutyunian, who allegedly pulled the bogus transfer of four Levski players to Rubin Kazan, arrived in Bulgaria on the invitation of CSKA owner Titan AS, "Troud" reports. Arutyunian arrived on September 11 and in the following days negotiated the transfer of four Levski players with Levski owner Todor Batkov and the club leadership.On September 19 the four players left for Moscow, spent two days there, missed the Levski-CSKA derby (0-2) and returned an hour after the match. CSKA owner Dimiter Borissov confirmed that Titan AS had invited Arutyunian as they knew him as a football manager who was ready to arrange transfers for CSKA players. Borissov adds: "We met through Titan's longtime partner Sergei Oshinov. We watched the CSKA-Fulham match on September 18. We weren't hiding. What is wrong with that and why are you asking about him?" Borissov further said he could only speak about the contacts Arutyunian had with CSKA.

CULTURE

In an interview for "Troud", Sofia University Rector Ivan Ilchev voices hope that the new leadership of the Education Ministry will carry out an objective ranking of Bulgarian universities.

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 – October 8, 2009

· Spaska Mitrova has been released from the Idrizovo prison in Skopje, 20 days before her sentence to run out. Mitrova was arrested and sent to Idrizovo prison in Skopje to service a three-month effective sentence. According to court’s judgment, Mitrova has been arrested over a family argument with her former husband, connected to father’s access to the child. Mitrova was released by the director of the prison Mile Mladenovski in accordance with his authorities.
The case of Spaska Mitrova from Macedonian town of Gevgelija caused diplomatic disputes between Bulgaria and Macedonia after the accusations from Sofia she was sanctioned only because she was Bulgarian.

· The European Commission is sending written warnings to Bulgaria about four separate instances of failure to provide adequate protection for its natural heritage. Three of the warnings concern protected areas, while a fourth warning concerns the legislation currently in place.

· Prosecutor General Boris Velchev said that three Supreme Judicial Council members have been in contact with a person who, according to press reports in July, offered magistrates to secure high-level positions in the judiciary for them for 200,000 euro. Тhe Prosecutor General also said that an investigation into the case continues. The alleged trader in influence, known as "Krasyo", has been identified as 27-year-old disco owner Krassimir Georgiev from Pleven