Bulgarian press review, December 14, 2009

Press Review
Sofia, December 14 (BTA)

HOME SCENE

"Dogan Rescues Party in Crisis," "Troud" says. Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) leader Ahmed Dogan delivered surprising messages at the Seventh National Conference of his party. He is the first politician who discussed the need of a new social pact after Bulgaria's entry in the EU based on a consensus of all the political elite and the intellectual potential of the civil society. Practically, this means conciliation for the sake of the national priorities within the framework of the EU. Another topic Dogan discussed is the identity of the MRF which he singled out as a strategic priority. As it was 20 years ago, the value of the MRF is no longer seen in its opening and in attracting more ethnic Bulgarians to it but in "the blood group" of difference: difference in terms of language, religion and culture. The MRF is important for the EU because of being different, he said.

"24 Chassa" headlines an analysis on the topic "Dogan Trapped: Indispensable for His People, Hated by Outsiders," saying that for this reason Dogan could not just resign as MRF leader. Because he will not only be blamed "for all negative phenomena and processes in this country" but for the disintegration of his party, which is strong not only because of the logical ethnic prerequisites but also because of its consistent, reasonable and diligent efforts combined with a general admiration of members and sympathizers for its leader. It is interesting how Dogan plans to get out of this vicious circle, the daily notes.

"We are ready to replace Dogan," admits Filiz Hyusmenova MEP and member of the MRF Central Operative Bureau. Interviewed for "Klassa," she says that at several forums Dogan raised the question of electing a new leader but for the time being there is no person who is trusted and respected by all members and followers of the MRF 100 per cent. Hyusmenova says there will probably be such a talk in future, but it will hardly open soon because the MRF is neither willing nor is it ready to change its chairman. She believes that Dogan's successor as leader should have his qualities. Dogan is different from the rest - he is a strategist, a professional politician and a leader who can define the relevant parameters. "At this stage Dogan is our party's undoubted leader," Hyusmenova says.

"Commendations about the Future" is the "Douma" comment. It is observed that speaking at the MRF conference, Dogan did not mention Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his party at all. Such behaviour is normal and explainable for Dogan, the daily notes. In the past 20 years he has proved more than once his ability to sense the prevailing wind and change the sails but stay with the winners. Besides, oil and water won't mix.

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Yanev has worked in a strange way in the Anti-corruption Committee, Dimo Gyaourov MP of the Blue Coalition, who succeeded Yani Yanev as chairman of the National Assembly Anti-Corruption, Conflict of Interests and Parliamentary Ethics Committee, says in an interview given to "Troud." Yanev MP of the Order, Lawfulness, Justice (OLJ) made a point of opening all correspondence and be the first to acquaint himself with the complaints, alerts, documents and replies from various institutions and only then issue instructions as to what should be done with them, whether and how they should be entered in the incoming register. Theoretically, it is possible to make unfair use of documents which have not been registered; it is possible a large part of them to get missing. The Committee was managed in a media-style, Gyaourov says. Now this style has come to an end. The Committee will reveal and comment only on issues which have already been discussed by it.


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Raiko Ivanov, Director of the Scan agency, says in an interview held with "Monitor" that confidence in the GERB policy has increased. According to him, 75 per cent of Sofianites have a positive opinion about the performance of the GERB government, which shows that people approve its anti-corruption actions and measures. Another proof is that 26 per cent of the followers of the National Movement for Surge and Stability and 24 per cent of the supporters of the Blue Coalition also trust GERB. GERB came into power polling 40 per cent of the vote in Bulgaria. At the moment, the GERB government enjoys the approval of 60 per cent of Bulgarians, the latest polls conducted in mid-November show.

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"Boyko Borissov should crack on thugs head on," political scientist Evgenii Daynov says in an interview for "Novinar." He appreciates highly the performance of Borissov's cabinet in the first few months observing, however, that there are two "blind spots" in it. One is security, they have not cracked on thugs and criminal groups as they should, Daynov says. The other one is that they are yet to formulate their economic policy. Everything they do has to be done, he says.

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The financing of universities will be determined based on international assessments, Education, Youth and Science Minister Sergei Ignatov says in "Dnevnik." He discusses the package of new laws and bills amending the effective statutory acts which should provide a framework for reforms in education. A law encouraging research will be adopted, Ignatov says. "We have got to complete the strategy for scientific research. We have commissioned a survey of Bulgarian production and industry to see what this country produces and what it will need in the coming years. Because when funding research with public money, we should know where it goes."


ECONOMY

"Troud" writes that 1.1 million pensioners in Bulgaria will get 25 leva (about 12.5 euro) each for Christmas. This is what Borissov said at the latest meeting of the Council of Ministers. These are people whose pensions do not exceed 200 leva. The bonuses will be paid by January 4, 2010 at the latest. The prime minister explained that the money had been gathered by scrutinizing the budgets of all ministries for reserves. He apologized to the state administration employees who will get nothing for Christmas due to the severe shortage of funds.

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"Troud" says that though slowly, revenues have been going up. There has been a slight increase in the revenues from indirect taxes (VAT, customs and excise duties) since July when GERB came to power, shows a check of the Finance Ministry reports made available to the daily. In September, revenues from indirect taxes totalled 907 million leva or 27.9 million leva up from August. In October, the last month for which there are official statistics, revenues stayed at a similar level.


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"24 Chassa" carries an interview with Tsvetelina Borislavova, Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of Cibank, headlined "Wealth Amassed by Unfair Means Is Utter Spiritual Poverty." She is categorical that there is nothing secret, unclear or unexplainable about the origin of her capital. Her income is all above board, she has paid her taxes. Everything is verifiable. Borislavova says that Bulgaria got in the grip of the crisis through its economy and not through the banking system. That is why all efforts are focused on finding the best ways to help along manufacturing enterprises. The capital adequacy of banks in Bulgaria is 17 per cent on the average, which is a serious buffer, she says. The banks feel the crisis because an increasing number of borrowers are unable to service their loans.

BULGARIA - EU

"Businesses Give Up over 100 Approved Projects," "Pari" says. One in six companies which has a project approved - and even an agreement signed - under Operative Programme Competitiveness has given it up later, shows a report on the implementation of the programme in the two years since it kicked off. The report was provided by the Economy, Energy and Tourism Ministry. A total of 738 contracts have been signed with various businesses but 124 of them totalling 16.6 million leva have been given up. The reasons include late evaluation and delay in remitting the money, as a result of which the potential beneficiaries just fell into despair. A large portion of the amounts agreed will not be absorbed because at this time of crisis it is hard for companies to find funding to be able to carrying out their projects and then wait for refund of the money.

"Payments under the programme [OP Competitiveness] have started," Julieta Houbenova, adviser on European programmes at the Economy Ministry, says in an interview given to "Pari."


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Analysts' repeated allegations that the lev is overvalued to the euro, that the State has been losing from its fixed exchange rate and that a moderate devaluation will stimulate the economy show that the currency board prevents some circles from bringing to a successful end yet another fishy affair of nationwide proportions, "Sega" comments. The only guarantee against such massive robbery is urgently applying for accession to the euro zone and having strict control exercised by the European Central Bank and, possibly, by the secretariat of the Euro Group. Technically, Bulgaria will not have any problems.


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, December 14, 2009

· Armed criminal group, dealing with car robberies on Trakiya motorway, has been neutralized in the frames of a specialized police operation conducted on Monday. The criminals opened fire against police with automatic firearms. Police returned the fire and killed one of the criminals. At around 00:30 a.m. on Monday, police officers hampered a robbery of Turkish national, travelling on Trakiya motorway by an Audi Q5 car. He was stopped by a vehicle with police lamp. The criminals put him handcuffs, took his money and left him alone near the village of Vakarel, located around 25 kilometers away from the capital Sofia.

· A daring robbery took place in Sofia in the late hours of December 13 2009. It took place in one of the supermarkets of food retail chain “Fantastico” in “Studentski Grad” district. According to police, a group of men broke into the premises at 12.40am, managed to open a metal safety box and escape with a substantial sum .Police said that the exact amount was yet to be established but, according to BNT (Bulgarian National Television), it was more than two million leva. According to BNT, the security company supposed to protect the premises did not notice the robbers. The CCTV recording only showed one masked man, armed with a machine gun, guarding the door while the other robbers worked on opening the metal box.
· Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov conferred in Sofia on Monday with European Council President Herman van Rompuy, who is paying a brief working visit to Bulgaria at his invitation. The two exchanged views and considered the Bulgarian positions on topics high on the agenda of the European Union.
Emerging from his one-to-one session with Borissov, Van Rompuy told journalists, explaining the purpose of his visit: “It is important for me to talk to my colleagues of the European Council and to establish close personal relationships with them.”
Bulgaria is again on the right track, “the European Council President said. I hope I will end this day as a new friend of Bulgaria”, he noted.