Bulgarian press review, January 20, 2010

Press Review
Sofia, January 20


BULGARIA – EU

Most newspapers lead with the news that the new Bulgarian candidate for European commissioner is Kristalina Georgieva, currently Vice-President of the World Bank. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has informed European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso about his intention to suggest Georgieva as member of the EC. Commenting on Rumiana Jeleva's withdrawal as Commissioner-designate, Barroso said he "fully respected" her "personal decision."

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Although Borissov did not accept Jeleva's resignation as foreign minister, too, "Troud" writes there are speculations about her possible successor. The candidates include Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov; the Bulgarian ambassador to the European Union in Brussels, Boyko Kotsev; the former ambassador to the United Nations, Stefan Tafrov; the new deputy foreign minister, Konstantin Dimitrov (affiliated to the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria).

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According to "Sega," by staying in the cabinet Jeleva is in breach of the principles of at least two statutory acts - on administration and on the prevention of conflict of interest, because she has not ended her participation in the management of the company ETKO Schneiders.

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"A strong candidature in Jeleva's place," "Novinar" says in a subtitle on the topic. "Klassa" quotes Georgieva as saying: "It is difficult, but we will manage it." "Klassa" publishes Georgieva's profile under the headline "All Is Work."

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Commenting on the EC portfolio she would get, Georgieva says, as quoted in "Troud," that it has themes in it that are close to what she is in charge of at the World Bank. In her words, her experience at the mega-bank will help for her successful presentation at the hearing in the European Parliament.

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"Standart News" discusses Georgieva's nomination under the headline "European Commissioner from America."

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"24 Chassa" observes that Borissov has suggested his "strongest possible player." Georgieva has huge experience on the world scene, she knows the hot spots in the world, has been in very dangerous situations and knows how to react to particular problems, the daily says. Her experience at the World Bank is just another advantage. Brussels can now be relieved that Bulgaria is going to name an elite player forgetting any party biases.

In "Standart News" Borislav Borislavov, Rector of the University of National and World economics, describes Georgieva as an excellent specialist; Stoyan Aleksandrov of the same university, who is former finance minister, says she is an "unshakable authority."

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Political scientist Andrei Raichev observes in "Troud" that Borissov is Bulgaria's first prime minister who knows how to "go into reverse gear" and still have complete control of the power.

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The press reports that Borissov has sent a letter to the EC President Barroso insisting that urgent measures be taken to end the blockade of the Bulgarian-Greek border that prevents the free movement of goods and people. Bulgarian economy will suffer a loss of at least 10 million euro as a result of the blockade on the Greek side of the border, "Standart News" notes.

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Bulgaria wants 10 million euro in compensation for the border blockade, "Ataka" says.

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"Douma" says tourism in Sandanski, Bansko and the entire surrounding area has collapsed totally due to the blockade.

HOME SCENE

"Telegraf" runs an interview with Health Minister Bozhidar Nanev who says that his Ministry plans the opening of 100 emergency rooms. A doctor on 12-hour emergency duty will be paid between 60 and 100 leva (about 30-50 euro).

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"The State Agency for National Security (SANS) is examining my papers to find out if my visit to the US in November 2009 involved a conflict of interest. Should they find there is something irregular about it, I am prepared to resign," "24 Chassa" quotes Health Minister Nanev as saying on Kanal 3 TV. Talking to "24 Chassa," however, Nanev said he had in mind taking on responsibility and not resigning. In November the US-based company Osteotech, Inc. paid the flight fare and hotel accommodation of a group of Bulgarians invited to the US by the Euro-Atlantic Fund (EAF) and the Americans of Bulgarian Descent Federation. The delegation included Nanev, Transplants Executive Agency Director Teodora Djaleva and EAF member Roumen Hichev. Hichev is vice president of Osteotech's daughter company Osteocenter Bulgaria, which exports tissue from corpse donors and imports allografts for the US-based company.

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A new approach to the reform of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences envisages to merge its institutes with universities concerned with similar scientific fields, Education and Science Minister Sergei Ignatov says in "Monitor." The first step to the merger would be the conclusion of framework agreements.



Some 15,000 permanent jobs in tourism have been lost in a year, "Douma" quotes Bulgarian Tourist Chamber Chairman Tsvetan Tonchev as saying. In 2008, nearly 110,000 people were permanently employed in the tourism industry. During the same period, the seasonal workers decreased by 30,000 from nearly 180,000 before.Branch organization surveys show that the volume of work in tourism has not decreased, but prices are falling, "Douma" observes.

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The retirement age in Bulgaria will become 65 years for both men and women but people would have a chance to retire earlier - at 60 for women and at 63 for men, former deputy prime minister and social minister Lidia Shouleva, currently a member of the Consultative Council on Pension Reform, says in "24 Chassa." However, those who retire earlier will get smaller pensions.

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"Pari" quotes Plamen Bonev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Radomir Metal Industries, as saying that Bulgaria's industry has been ruined by the thefts of energy monopolists who, with the consent of politicians, poured money into the Treasury, as well as in party funds.The newspaper carries an interview with Manuel Rivera, President of the Bulgarian-Catalonian Chamber of Commerce, who says that small businesses in Spain are looking for Bulgarian partners.

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In a small country such as Bulgaria it is possible to limit the influence of organized crime because, except for the biggest cities, which are three or four, in all towns the locals know who belong to the underworld and what they do, "Tihomir Bezlov of the Centre for the Study of Democracy writes in "24 Chassa." In his words, it will take time to see a new generation uninvolved in the criminal redistribution of national wealth. This is the optimistic scenario, he notes. According to the pessimistic one, Bulgaria may remain in the periphery of the EU ridden by organized crime just like Southern Europe. Quoting Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Bezlov writes that "250-300
emblematic figures of the criminal world are harassing this country" and observes that there is a 70,000 strong army of policemen, prosecutors, investigators and SANS agents to counter them. He says further on that 14 years ago the then interior minister, Lyubomir Nachev, put the number of "bandits" at 2,315; in 2001 General Vassil Vassilev, who then headed the National Police Service Directorate, said they were 2,787; and ex-interior minister Roumen Petkov (2005-2008), put them at several hundred. Bezlov says that now an attempt is made to make an assessment of the really active and risky criminal structures.

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 – Sofia, January 20, 2010

· Boyko Borisov’s government will have two new ministers. Bulgaria’s current Defense Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, is going to become the new Bulgarian Foreign Minister replacing Rumiana Jeleva, and his deputy Anyu Angelov takes over the post of Defense minister. The reshuffle of the cabinet of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has to be confirmed by the Parliament before it takes effect.

· The Vice President of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva, has been approved by the Bulgarian government to be Bulgaria’s new EU Commissioner-Designate.
· At 11:00 a.m. Greek farmers again blocked Ilinden-Exohi checkpoint for all vehicles. Kulata checkpoint is closed for a second day due to the blockade at Promahonas checkpoint. 192 vehicles are waiting on the Bulgarian side of the checkpoint, with 185 of them being TIR trucks.