Bulgarian Press Review August 11, 2009

Press Review
Sofia, August 11 (BTA)


HOME SCENE

The main topics in the national dailies are related to the review of the performance of the previous government, disclosures about abuses by its members as well as upcoming
inspections, initiated by the incumbent cabinet.

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"24 Chassa" writes that the Sofia City Prosecution Office has launched pre-trial proceedings against employees of the Transport Ministry for the supply of two planes for Air Squad 28. The investigation carried out is based on charges of abuse of office and is prompted by a report of Transport Minister Aleksandar Tsvetkov. In connection with the same issue, "Troud" runs an interview with Transport Minister Tsvetkov and his predecessor Peter Moutafchiev.

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The dailies report about upcoming checks for offences at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. "Dnevnik" writes that the prosecution authority will check thoroughly the Beautiful Bulgaria Project. Its hitherto chief Stanimir Kolev has been dismissed and replaced by Arch. Valeria Boteva, the paper writes referring to Labour Minister Totyu Mladenov. In a frontpage story "Troud" writes that in the last days of her tenure former minister of labour and social policy Emila Maslarova spent 35,868 leva for plates and boards for the Complex of Social
Services in Stara Zagora.

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Over 200 ha of fertile lands were taken away from the agrarian institutes with the Agricultural Academy and replaced by scattered and derelict fields, "24 Chassa" writes. The Agriculture Ministry's Inspectorate and the State Agency for National Security are inspecting the documentation on the scandalous deals and charges about these swaps are expected to
be pressed against former agriculture minister Valeri Tsvetanov within days.

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The Agriculture Fund has undertaken serious measures against companies implicated in frauds and has asked them to return voluntarily the subsidies received within the SAPARD programme,
"Sega" writes.

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"Standart News" says that the Anoya company signed a contract on the management of a beach in the Primorsko Black Sea resort with the help of former regional development and public works
minister Asen Gagaouzov days before the July 5 parliamentary elections. However, the beach already had a lawful manager, the local Orisei company, the Mayor of Primorsko says quoted by the paper.

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"24 Chassa" writes that former prime minister Sergei Stanishev will summon the ministers of his cabinet to create defence against the "general review" of their performance. The Executive Bureau of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) will discuss Tuesday the charges against the three-party coalition as all former ministers of the Left have been invited to attend the meeting, the paper explains. The same paper says further that, also on Tuesday, National Assembly Chair Tsetska Tsacheva will present the results of an internal inspection in Parliament. Internal restructuring is expected on the basis of the analysis so as to reduce expenditures, the paper adds.

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The dailies report that Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov spoke in defence of the five policemen, sentenced to prison for an aggregate term of 82 years. They are charged with the killing of Angel "Chorata" Dimitrov in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) on November 10, 2005 while allegedly resisting arrest during a police crackdown on organized crime codenamed Operation Respect. The Interior Minister backed the policemen's protests against the court judgment. Tsvetanov asked for lighter sentences for the five policemen. "If it were up to me, I would
not have allowed their imprisonment," said he.

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Prime Minister Boyko Borissov presented the new chief of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), Tsvetelin Yovchev, the press writes. The two said that no other replacement of SANS
officials are expected.

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A new unit in charge of the management of the EU funds is expected to be established already this or next week, at the latest, "Dnevnik" writes. It will most probably be headed by European Institute Director Yuliana Nikolova, the dailies report.

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"Front against Stanishev," "Standart News" writes in a headline. Referring to members of the Socialist Party, the daily says that there are five candidates for the position of a BSP leader:
Meglena Plougchieva, Georgi Pirinski, Georgi Kadiev, Yanaki Stoilov and Vessela Lecheva. A new BSP Chairman is to be elected at the upcoming congress in October.

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"Klassa" publishes an interview with Education, Youth and Science Minister Yordanka Fandakova. She says that a team of the Ministry is working to update the National Programme on School Education. A new law on school education is about to be drafted, she states.

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The national dailies also write about the attack against journalist Ognyan Boyadjiev. Boyadjiev, who is chief editor of www.europe.bg, was beaten at his home in a downtown area of Sofia during a burglary on Saturday night. Two attackers beat and stabbed Boyadjiev, took some personal belongings, debit cards and a mobile phone, after which they locked him in. Before they left, they had cut the telephone wires, but somehow Boyadjiev managed to call the emergency services via the Internet. Boyadjiev was admitted to hospital with no immediate threat to his life. The dailies note that the attack was most probably prompted by personal motives.


ECONOMY

"Troud" refers to Finance Minister Simeon Djankov as saying that the July budget deficit was 372.4 million leva on an annual basis, according to Finance Ministry data. An inspection of
"Troud" has shown that Customs Office revenues dropped by 25 per cent in the first seven months of the year.

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"Dnevnik" writes that customs officers and tax inspectors will tighten control at the Koulata border crossing to guard against illegal import of fruit and vegetables from Macedonia. The daily
refers to a promise given by Finance Minister Djankov before farmers in Petrich.

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The positive signals for the Bulgarian economy - analyses of different institutions and statistical data - have increased for some days now, which caused stirring on the stock exchange. In June industrial production marked a 6.9 per cent growth month-on-month, according to figures of the National Statistical Institute cited by the paper. Days ago SOFIX surpassed 400
points. Regardless of the increase of unemployment up to 7.62 per cent in July, it will remain as one-digit figure (about 8 per cent) by the end of 2009, according to forecasts of the
Employment Agency. In a separate story "Dnevnik" refers to the Bulgarian National Bank as saying that there will be no significant drop of interests on credits in the following months
and the ones, charged on deposits, will level off and may begin a steady decrease.

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"24 Chassa" devotes a story on the profit of intermediary companies from electricity sales. Due to the crisis electricity prices have dropped, which causes losses in the sector. Sixty-four companies possess licences for trade in electricity but, actually, 20 of them are operational. The profits of
private intermediaries in the trade in electricity, produced by the Kozloduy N-plant, stand at millions of leva, the paper says.


SOCIETY

"Sega" writes that the June turnover of the trade in foods and spirits was 3 per cent up year-on-year. These are the only goods that marked an increase of sales.

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The Interior Ministry launched a campaign of detecting drunk driving on secondary roads among villages, "24 Chassa" writes. According to the Traffic Police, most flagrant violations are
performed by drivers in the areas of Plovdiv, Bourgas, Blagoevgrad, Haskovo and Pernik.


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 – August 11, 2009


• Belene NPP is an overrated project for the energy system. Belene NPP and renewable energy sources will enter in conflict, because renewable sources that must be about 3000 MW after three years work according to a schedule that will contradict to Belene NPP work schedule. This is what chairman of the Bulgarian Energy Forum Ivan Hinovski said for Nova TV. He stated that it is very likely Belene NPP and Kozloduy NPP units to knock off work for the night as an example, because when renewable sources will generate over energy for our energy network.

• The new Director of the Bulgarian State Agency National Security (DANS), Tsvetlin Yovchev, has released the advisers to his cabinet. Yovchev took office on August 10 after President Georgi Parvanov issued a decree for his appointment. He will propose to the Council of Ministers that the adviser unit should be closed completely, Darik Radio reported. The press department of DANS also stated that after a full review of the work of the Agency is completed, necessary structural and personnel changes will be made. Yovchev was appointed as the Director of DANS after Bulgaria PM Boyko Borisov accepted the resignation of former Director Petko Sertov last Monday.

• New admission regime at the parliamentary building on Alexander Battenberg will enter into force till the end of the week and till the end of the month at the National Assembly. This is what MP from Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (CEDB) Iskra Fidosova said at a press conference, FOCUS News Agency reporter informed. The equipment had been bought earlier but was stored in the basement of the parliament.
Devices that would be installed will report on entering and exiting of each MP from the building via reader detector. The reader will indicate the exact time and day in entering the building as there would be also a screen that will show the image and information for the figure that enters the building.