Bulgarian press review, February 17, 2010

Press Review
Sofia, February 17 (BTA)




FOREIGN POLICY

"Zemya" and "Pari" report about the elimination of intermediaries in the gas supplies. The Bulgarian authorities requested from the Chairman of Gazprom's Management Committee Alexey Miller removal of the intermediaries and an increase of the fees for gas transiting to third countries, "Troud" reports. Surprisingly, Miller arrived on a short visit on Tuesday at the invitation of the state-owned Bulgargaz. At his request, the Gazprom chief was received by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and President Georgi Purvanov. The Bulgarian side also raised the issue of taking measures so that Bulgaria does not sustain losses from the future South Stream gas pipeline project by reduction of the revenues from transit fees, for example. Gazprom allegedly showed understanding to Bulgaria's request for the import of gas without intermediaries, Economy Minister Traicho Traikov said. According to "Dnevnik", Traikov's statement has made it clear that Gazprom keeps on making the new contracts on gas supplies conditional on the quantities, which this country would receive from South Stream.

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There is no and there should be no official diplomatic reaction on the part of Moscow in connection with reports on possible deployment of elements of the US anti-missile shield on Bulgarian territory. Bulgaria takes sovereign decisions and does not owe explanation when choosing the means by which it ensures the sources for guaranteeing its national security, Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov says in an interview for "Troud". "Our decisions in this area are taken in the context of the analysis, which we make jointly with our NATO allies," he adds.

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"I would like to tell our compatriots that we should be somewhat more open to people, who come from outside to work here. Honestly speaking, we are not very hospitable," Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva says in an interview granted for the "Troud" paper. Prime Minister Borissov opened an opportunity for the Bulgarians abroad to work here, she also states.

HOME SCENE

The dailies report that the Constitutional Court declared unlawful the elections for Bulgarian Parliament held in 23 voting sections in Turkey. "24 Chassa" says that a total of 18,358 votes were cast in these and now they have to be subtracted from the base for vote distribution that determined the election results. GERB will have 117 MPs and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) will remain with 37 MPs. The Blue Coalition and Order, Lawfulness, Justice (OLJ) will keep the number of their national representatives but there will be personal changes in these group.

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"We expect from the Octopus operation to clear the image of MRF," MRF Deputy Chair Aliosman Imamov says before "Klassa". "We suppose that Alexei Petrov knows where the billions from the privatization have gone. If this is uncovered it would become clear that MRF is not the curse of the transition."

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The designation of over 126 ha of agricultural lands has been changed as the latter had been obtained by private persons through swaps with the state prior to March 2009. They will be used for storage facilities, wind parks, green houses, tractor repair facilities, a winery, etc. The change of their designation was effected in the past six months, after the GERB Party came to power, from July 27, 2009 to February 2, 2010. Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov presented a list of the companies, involved in the swaps, at the request of Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) MP Anton Koutev, who expressed doubts about violations of the moratorium on the change of designation.

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Bulgaria has sustained losses of 8,500 million leva due to scandalous swap deals, "Ataka" writes. The country is threatened with a fine of 1,500 million leva because the EU considers the swaps as unauthorized state aid.

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Interviewed for "24 Chassa" Social Minister Totyu Mladenov says that less people will be laid off in February compared to the previous month but that unemployment is growing. As at January 31 it was 9.9. per cent. According to Mladenov, further reduction of the social security contributions would be perennial for the social security system.

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In a publication in the "Troud" paper Prof. Alexander Chirkov advises to establish a Medical Chamber and a healthcare fund under the budget.

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

Alexei Petrov was arrested on charges of leading a criminal gang but now he will be sued for tax evasion, "Standart News" writes. Referring to a statement of Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, the paper writes that Petrov owes 1.5 million leva in taxes. The report from the tax authorities would be enclosed to
the case file. As agent under cover Petrov has earned millions from providing consultations to companies. The Commission Establishing Property Acquired from Criminal Activity was reportedly preparing a request for distraint on half of Petrov's assets.

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Stefan Hristov, Chief of the Migration Directorate with the Interior Ministry, has been arrested on charges of helping a criminal gang to arrange Bulgarian residence for Moldovan citizens. The price for this "service" would reach 15,000 euro, "24 Chassa" writes.

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"Novinar" cites a survey of the Centre for the Study of Democracy showing that 4-5,000 million leva are the annual profits from criminal activity in this country. They come from human trafficking, drugs, illicit cigarette smuggling, corruption and VAT frauds. This, however, does not include financial frauds and the money generated from the grey economy, assessed at nearly 30 per cent of GDP in 2009. The boom on the market of real estates in the past ten years has turned Bulgaria into a preferred destination for money laundering by foreigners, the survey also shows.

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"I am sorry that I did not tender my resignation," Chairman of the State Agency for Refugees Svetoslav Michev says in an interview for "24 Chassa". Asked whether he would accept protection from BSP, he answers in the positive.


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 – February 17, 2010

· No elements of the United States' missile defence system will be coming to Bulgaria at this stage, US Ambassador James Warlick told the press in Sofia. He said that no talks are being held at the moment and it is a thing that is still in the air. The issue has only been discussed informally within the framework of NATO partnership. Asked whether he expected things to make progress, the US diplomat said it is a question that should be addressed to the Bulgarian government.

· The government relieved Svetoslav Michev as Chairman of the State Agency for Refugees (SAR), after considering a report of a commission which conducted a special check in SAR, the government's information service said Wednesday. The government appointed Nikola Kazakov as the new Chairman of SAR.

· The Bulgarian government has consolidated its thesis very clearly - it will not take position on Burgas–Alexandroupolis pipeline at all until a qualitative Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under the highest international standards is made. Up to now no documents on this issue have been tabled, said Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Rosen Plevneliev. Minister of Finance Simeon Dyankov will do the whole co-ordination and the control over the implementation of the future engagement of the state under the Burgas–Alexandroupolis pipeline.

· Greek farmers are withdrawing the tractors along the Promachonas border checkpoint with Bulgaria, the Border Police announced. It is expected the whole farming technique to be withdrawn and the traffic through Kulata-Promachonas checkpoint to be finally normalized.