Bulgaria News1
10 November 2008, Monday Bulgaria History Museum Receives Contraband Roman Antique 
© Photo by NIM The Customs Intelligence Service of the Sofia Airport presented Monday to the Bulgaria's National History Museum the marble head of a Roman emperor. The unique antique was discovered at the airport in a parcel sent from the southeast Bulgarian city of Haskovo, and destined for Western Europe. The marble head is dated back to the 1st century AD. It is part of a whole stature or a bust of a Roman Emperor, most likely of Octavian August. According to the experts of the National History Museum, the antique is a highly intricate art work by an excellent sculptor. "We received antiques of such value and quality once every quarter of a century", the Director of the Museum Dr. Bozhidar Dimitrov stated as he thanked the Customs officials for their excellent work. The unique antique will be presented officially on Tuesday.
8 November 2008, Saturday Bulgaria Orthodox Church Honors Michaelmas 
The Bulgarian Church honors on Saturday Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael the Archangel (also the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael) or the Feast of Michael and All Angels.In the Christian Orthodox calendar Michaelmas falls on November 8. Michelmas in Bulgaria is the name day of people named Angel, Angelina, Michael, Michaela, Radka, Radmila, Rayna, Reneta, Ognyan, Plamen and Emil. The Archangel Michael is one of the principal angelic warriors, seen as a protector against the dark of night, and the administrator of cosmic intelligence. The Christian Orthodox Church introduced the holiday to oppose the heretic Judea since, according to some canons of the Old Testament, they had fallen into a pagan worship of the sun, the moon, the stars and believed that angels have created all living things and were more important than Christ. With the recognition of Michaelmas, the Christian Orthodox Church also imposed the idea of the appearance of the nine angelic religious orders in the Day of the Judgment, called also the Eight Day. According to the Christian Orthodox Church, Saint Michael is one of the seven primary angels, who is always standing near God's throne and represents God's word. Angles are the guardians of the human race and each individual receives one guardian angel at birth. According to the Bulgarian folklore, Archangel Michael holds a golden apple in one hand and a knife in the other. He tempts people, who are going to die with the apple and takes out their souls with the knife.
3 November 2008, Monday EC Forecasts Economic Slow Down and High Inflation for Bulgaria 
Sofia the Center© Sofia Photo Agency Buoyant growth to slow down, large external imbalances and high inflation are in the forecast for Bulgaria, according to the business prognosis of the European Commission released on Monday. Economic activity has so far remained robust and resilient to the deterioration in the global economic environment; however, the worsening external conditions are expected to have an impact on Bulgaria by affecting domestic demand. According to the prognosis, the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to decrease from 6,5% in 2008 to 4,5% in 2009 while the growing risk aversion among foreign investors could result in a more significant deceleration in capital inflows and investment than assumed; rising interest rates and persistently high inflation may additionally dampen real disposable income and private consumption. Private consumption expenditure is expected to slow from 5% in 2008 to about 4,5% in 2009. By contrast, public consumption expenditure growth will be further boosted by additional current spending in 2008, reaching around 4%. According to the publication, after a particularly weak performance in 2007, export growth seems to be recovering in 2008. However, as a result of lower external demand, exports will decelerate in 2009. At the same time, due to weaker domestic demand, import growth will decelerate from 9% in 2008 to around 6,25% in 2009. The trade deficit is expected to narrow only gradually in 2008-2010, inducing a small reduction of the very high current account deficit to about 21,5% of GDP from a level of slightly over 24% of GDP in the second half of 2008. Employment growth remains strong in 2008. The unemployment rate will maintain its downward trend, falling below 6% in 2009. Nominal wage growth has accelerated to above 20% in 2008, compared with 18% in 2007, largely because of tight labor market conditions. However, part of this wage growth might also be explained by the ongoing reduction in the grey economy triggered by successive cuts in income taxes and social contributions. Moreover, public sector wage developments have been in line with private sector increases. Nominal wage growth is expected to remain high during the forecast period, but it may decelerate as a result of weaker labor demand due to increased wage costs and the economy slowing down in the next two years. Labor productivity is expected to increase from around 3% in 2008 and 2009 to almost 3½% in 2010, well below wage growth. As a result, nominal unit labor costs developments will continue to reflect a persistent deterioration of price competitiveness compared with the EU average. Inflation in Bulgaria has surged in the first half of 2008 and is expected to average 12,5% in 2008. The imminent global economic downturn and the resulting fall in domestic demand could potentially slow inflation to below 8% in 2009, followed by a further deceleration in 2010. At around 3,25% of GDP, the projected general government surplus is above the official target of 3% of GDP in 2008. The better-than-targeted surplus is mainly due to higher-than-expected revenue and a result of favorable growthcomposition, higher inflation and improved collection of direct taxes. Based on the no-policy-change assumption, the general government budget surplus will remain high at slightly below 3% of GDP in 2009 and 2010. A small decline in the revenue-to-GDP ratio compared to 2008 is linked to a less tax intensive composition of growth, notably a projected slowdown in domestic demand. In line with strong nominal GDP growth and continued high primary fiscal surpluses, general government gross debt is expected to drop well below 10% of GDP by the end of 2010. 
1 November 2008, Saturday Bulgarians with Highest Economic Confidence in EU The confidence of Bulgarians in their country's economy is the highest in the EU, according an index of the European Commission reflecting the economic confidence levels in the Union member states. Bulgaria's October index has a value of 110,3, which is the highest in the EU. It is followed by Poland with 105,3, and by Romania with 103,7. The index of the confidence in a country's economy records significant decreases in all member states, and especially in the Netherlands, France, Italy, and the UK. The index is based on five confidence indicators in different spheres - industry, services, consumer trust, construction, and commerce.
1 November 2008, Saturday Bulgarians around the World Hold 1st Great Council The first great fair of the Bulgarians, who live abroad, was opened Saturday in the seaside city of Varna. The event aims at the spiritual unification the Bulgarians, living across the whole world, the organizers said. During the two-day forum, the Bulgarian citizens will establish a World Parliament, which is to held its sittings once a year as well as an Association of the Bulgarians around the globe. "Countries like Greece, Albania and Macedonia hold such meetings for a long time and we are still still behind them as far as the nation's unity is concerned," said Grigor Velev, who is one of the organizers of the event. "A total of 6.5 million out of 14 million Bulgarians are currently living across the borders of the their home land," he explained. The statute of the Bulgarian nationals in Greece and the acceptance of the new policy toward the diaspora in Macedonia will be among the main topics to be discussed during the fair.
29 October 2008, Wednesday Bulgaria 2008 Revenues from Hunting Tourism to Reach BGN 5,5 M 
The 2008 revenues form hunting tourism in Bulgaria are expected to exceed those from 2007 by BGN 0,5 M, according to the Deputy Chair of the State Forestry Agency Iordan Radoslavov.Radoslavov spoke on Wednesday, at the opening of the Fifth National Hunting Trophy Exhibit, held at the Plovdiv Fair. The current revenues from game shooting amount to BGN 4,2 M with a forecast of the total amount for 2008 to reach over BGN 5,5 M. Currently the game preserves in Bulgaria receive investments of BGN 20 M per year split between the State Forestry Agency and the National Hunting and Fishing Association. There is a planed investment increase that would come from the concession of the preserves to private investors, which would lead to better facilities, services, health of the game and would create new hunting destinations.
27 October 2008, Monday Bulgaria's Borovets Ranked Third Best Value Ski Resort for Brits 
© Photo by Daily TelegraphBulgaria's mountain resort of Borovets has been ranked the third best deal winter sports destination for British citizens in a report of the UK Post Office travel service cited by the Daily Telegraph. The report surveyed a total of fourteen winter resorts in Europe and North America of which the Romanian Poiana Brasov was found to offer the best value vacations. Slovakia's High Tatras is ranked second, which gives the first three spots to three Eastern European ski destinations. The only other resort in Eastern Europe included in the survey is the Slovenian Kranjska Gora, which occupied the sixth position. The two North American mountain resorts - one in the USA, and one in Canada - are found to be the most expensive, and are placed on the last two spots. In the first edition of the competition in 2007, Varna was ranked first again, followed by Veliko Turnovo, and Plovdiv.
27 October 2008, Monday Varna Becomes "Bulgaria's Best City to Live in" for Second Year in Row 
© Sofia Photo AgencyBulgaria's Black Sea city of Varna won Monday the competition for "Bulgaria's Best City to Live in", which is organized by the Darik Radio and the 24 Chasa Daily. The Bulgarian "Black Sea capital" won the first place with 276 points total. The country's second largest city of Plovdiv was ranked second with 272 points. The medieval capital Veliko Turnovo made it to third position with 268 points. In addition to the main award, this year's competition featured also four additional award. The city of Plovdiv was awarded the "Culture City" Prize, the capital Sofia got the "Business City" award, Veliko Turnovo was declared "The Most Beautiful City", and the town of Teteven received the "Eco-Town" Award. The cities of Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kyustendil, Ruse, and Razgrad were also ranked among Bulgaria's Top Ten Cities to Live in. A total of 40 Bulgarian cities and town were included into the competition. They were ranked according to 44 different criteria including demographic growth, architecture, airport access, Internet access at public spots, sunny days, suicides, air quality, administrative services, etc. In the first edition of the competition in 2007, Varna was ranked first again, followed by Veliko Turnovo, and Plovdiv.
21 October 2008, Tuesday Bulgaria Newest Gold Treasure on Display at National History Museum 
A newly discovered gold treasure, including two spindle parts and 355 gold beads, is on display beginning Tuesday at the National History Museum in Sofia.The gold treasure has been discovered in a tomb near the town of Harmanli and until now has been kept as a top secret by the archeological team, the National History Museum and the Culture Ministry due to fears of treasure hunters. The objects are dated from the middle of the bronze era - about the 20th - 18th century BC. The spindle parts have most likely been used as jewelry, not for spinning. Borislav Borislavov, who had discovered the treasure, says that the find is of major significance for archeology. "These are objects dating from a period that is the least known, not only in Bulgarian, but in European history. The discovery proves that in Thrace, more precisely South Thrace - the region south of Stara Planina, a civilization comparable to the Aegean one has existed," Borislavov stated. The archeological team continues to work in the location of the tomb where more objects, such as a bronze knife and grindstone have been found. Professor Bozhidar Bozhilov, Director of National History Museum says that the gold objects would cost nearly GBP 2 M on the black market. 
9 October 2008, Thursday Bulgaria offers Russian property investors safe haven -officials Bulgaria will continue to be a safe haven for Russian property investors despite the global financial crunch, a panel of Bulgarian officials have said during Sofia-Moscow video conference that is part of a series on the prospects of Russian-Bulgarian cooperation in the field of tourism, organized by Russian news agency RIA Novosti organized at the Hilton hotel in Sofia. The panel included Deputy Foreign Minister Milen Keremedchiev, the chairperson of the national association for real estate Luchezar Iskrov, the managing partner of Address real estate agency Katya Tsenova and the editor-in-chief of Index Imoti magazine Deyan Todorov. The bulk of Russian investors are 25 to 45 years old second-home owners along the Black Sea coast, who may or may not open businesses in Bulgaria, the panel participants said. Climate conditions, short distance from permanent residence and agreeable prices in comparison to other EU destinations compel them to build on their coastal activities and seek opportunities in the mainland. The critical mass buys a vacation house for 100 000 to 200 000 euro. Still more Russian investors buy complete apartments and houses in small and mid-size Bulgarian towns to develop businesses at ski- and medical therapy resorts. Total foreign investments in Bulgaria in 2007 amounted to 5.7 billion euro, of which 36 percent come from property investment. Russian investments made up for 39 percent of the grand total and 45 percent of the property acquisitions in particular. Statistics for 2008 are yet unavailable. Keremedchiev briefed Russian officials on the e-Visa application system, effective March 2008, which enables foreign citizens to apply for Bulgarian visas online. The most beneficial way to invest in Bulgarian property for a Russian citizen is to enter the country on a one-year business visa, register a firm and acquire property as a legal juridical unit. A three-year business visa follows at the end of the first year, allowing the Russian investor to spend more time developing businesses in Bulgaria as well as the rest the EU.
8 October 2008, Wednesday Bulgaria Ranks 76 by Global Competitiveness - Report 
Bulgaria has moved three rankings ahead in the Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, released Wednesday by the World Economic Forum, featuring a total of 134 global economies. The country has moved from the 79th to the 76th position, but the report notes that Bulgaria has the most unfavorable ranking compared with all other countries members of the European Union. Romania has ranked behind Bulgaria for several years in a row, but now has moved from 74th to 68th position. Croatia (61) and Monte Negro (65) are also ahead of Bulgaria. Despite the financial crisis, the United States tops the overall ranking, Switzerland is in second position followed by Denmark, Sweden and Singapore. European economies continue to prevail in the top 10 with Finland, Germany and the Netherlands following suit. The United Kingdom, while remaining very competitive, has dropped by three places and out of the top 10, mainly attributable to a weakening of its financial markets. China continues to lead the way among large developing economies, improving by four places this year. Several other Asian economies perform strongly with Japan, Hong Kong SAR, Republic of Korea and Taiwan. In Latin America, Chile is the highest ranked country, followed by Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico. A number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa region are in the upper half of the rankings, led by Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Tunisia. In sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Botswana and Mauritius feature in the top half of the rankings, with several countries from the region measurably improving their competitiveness. The Global Competitiveness Report's main competitiveness ranking is the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), based on 12 pillars of competitiveness: Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeconomic Stability, Health and Primary Education, Higher Education and Training, Goods Market Efficiency, Labor Market Efficiency, Financial Market Sophistication, Technological Readiness, Market Size, Business Sophistication and Innovation. According to the report, the main reason for Bulgaria's relatively unfavorable position is the negative assessment of the Institutions in the country such as slow and ineffective legal system, wide-spread corruption practices, ineffective fight against organized crime, insufficient protection of intellectual property, lack of transparency in public tenders and others. Bulgaria ranks barely 111, according to the Institutions pillar. Another pillar where Bulgaria ranks very low is the Infrastructure - 95th place. The country also lacks behind in pillars such as Sophistication and Innovation (96th position from 88th last year), Higher Education and Training (96). The Health and Primary Education pillar, however, shows a much better position (39). Bulgarian companies have the most serious problems in areas such as adequate policy for qualification and training of the human resources, marketing, professional management, lack of implementation of innovations and modern technologies.
5 October 2008, Sunday The Times: Berbatov Is Houdini 
The Times has compared Manchester United's Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov to the legendary magician Harry Houdini because of his skill with the ball. Photo © gong.bgThe UK newspaper the Times compared Manchester United's Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov to the magician Harry Houdini for his distinguished performance during United's victory over Blackburn Rovers 0:2. Berbatov's skill at defending the ball and passing led the Times to describe him as "uncontainable". According to the paper, the United manager Alex Ferguson instructed his players to pass to Berbatov, even if he was tightly marked.
28 September 2008, Sunday Sofia Mayor Meets His Idol Sylvester Stallone 
Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov met Sunday his screen idol Sylvester Stallone© Sofia Photo Agency Hollywood superstar Sylvester Stallone, who has arrived to Bulgaria reportedly looking for locations for his new Rambo 5 movie, met Sunday Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov, an ardent fan of Sly. Borisov is the only politician Mr. Stallone is to meet during his short trip to Bulgaria that includes visits to the Nu Boyana film studios and the Worldwide FX company that made the special effects for Rambo 4. Speculations that Rambo 5 would be shot in Bulgaria have been circulating for months. Representatives of Nu Image said it is too early to predict where the film will be shot.
23 September 2008, Tuesday Bulgaria's PM to Be Guest Lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government 
Bulgaria's PM Stanishev (left) is not meeting US government officials during his visit to the USA, which starts Monday.© Sofia Photo Agency Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev set off Monday on a one-week visit to the USA as part of which he is going to deliver a lecture at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Stanishev's keynote lecture is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 29th at 4:30pm at the Taubman Building. It will be entitled "Bulgaria as a Stabilizing Factor in South-East Europe and the Black Sea Region". The lecture of the Bulgarian PM is hosted by the Kokkalis Program on South-Eastern and East-Central Europe, which was founded in 1997 by the Greek telecommunications and gambling billionaire Socrates Kokkalis. During his visit to the USA Bulgaria's Prime Minister will attend the 63rd regular session of UN General Assembly, which is to be opened on Wednesday, September 24. He is also going to take part in the summit meeting on the UN Millennium Development Goals. In Scandinavian House in New York City Stanishev is going to open an exhibition dedicated to the 100-th anniversary since Bulgaria's declaration of independence. Stanishev's program in the USA also includes meetings with the UN Development Program administrator Kemal Dervish, Malta's PM Lawrence Gonzi, Denmark's PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former US Secretary of State and Chair of the National Democratic Institute Madeline Albright, Belgium's Yves Leterme, Croatia's PM Ivo Sanader, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Bulgaria's PM will also visit Boston, MA, where he will meet with the local Bulgarian community, with the Bulgarian Harvard Club, and with the American Jewish Committee.
22 September 2008, Monday Bulgaria Marks 100th Anniversary since Independence Proclamation 
Bulgarian Flag Celebrations have been opened Monday across the country on the Independence Day of Bulgaria, September 22. On this day, 100 years ago, the state proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire and became sovereign kingdom. In 1878, Bulgaria was proclaimed an autonomous principality and regained full independence as kingdom in 1908. On September 22 the then head of state - the crowned King Ferdinand - promulgated a manifesto proclaiming all Bulgarians free and himself a king of an independent country. Bulgaria's old capital Veliko Tarnovo, where the Independence was proclaimed, is to host an official ceremony on this occasion. The Independence Day is celebrated as an official holiday by a decision of Parliament of September 10, 1998.
14 September 2008, Sunday Christians Celebrate Holy Cross Day 
St. Helena & Heraclius taking the Cross to Jerusalem© satucket.com Sunday, September 14 is Holy Cross Day, one of the most important and solemn religious holidays. During the reign of Constantine, first Roman Emperor to profess the Christian faith, his mother Helena went to Israel and there undertook to find the places especially significant to Christians. Having located, close together, what she believed to be the sites of the Crucifixion and of the Burial (at locations that modern archaeologists think may be correct), she then had built over them the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was dedicated on 14 September 335. The day has become a day for recognizing the Cross (in a festal atmosphere that would be inappropriate on Good Friday) as a symbol of triumph, as a sign of Christ's victory over death, and a reminder of His promise, "And when I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." Almost a hundred years later Jerusalem was captivated by the Persians, whose king destroyed and robbed the church, including the Holy Cross. The cross has been recovered by the Persians in 628. The Eastern Orthodox practice commemorates both the finding of the True Cross in 326 and its recovery from the Persians and is considered to be one of the Great Feasts of the church year. September 14 is always a fast day, even if it falls on Saturday or Sunday, and the eating of meat, dairy products and fish is prohibited. During the All-Night Vigil on the Eve of the Feast, a cross is placed on the Holy Table, on a tray that has been covered with liturgical veil and decorated with fresh basil leaves and flowers, and a candle burns before it. One of the high points of the celebration is when the priest or bishop brings the Cross out of the sanctuary. He sets it on a table in the center of the temple as the choir sings of the festal Troparion of the Cross. In cathedrals and monasteries, a special "Exaltation" is performed by the bishop or abbot, standing in the center of the church. This consists of his taking the cross in his hands and raising it above his head. He makes an exclamation, to which the choir responds, chanting. As they chant, the priest makes the sign of the cross with it three times, then slowly bows down to the ground, and stands up again raising the cross above his head as before. This process is repeated four more times to the four points of the compass. In Bulgarian folklore the day of the Holy Cross is connected to the end of summer and the beginning of fall. This is the day when the day and the night "cross" and become equal in length and the time to sanctify the grain and to begin harvesting the grapes. The tradition includes sprinkling the threshing floor and the house with holy water and setting the table where the priest would lay a cross over a newly woven table cloth. The hosts give the priest vegetables and other boiled food, mostly wheat from the new crop. Many Bulgarian towns and villages organize fairs on Holy Cross day.
12 September 2008, Friday Giggs Welcomes Berbatov's Arrival 
Dimitar Berbatov© Sofia Photo Agency Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has welcomed the signing of Dimitar Berbatov, saying the top Bulgarian striker is "a Manchester United type player." Giggs, who is the longest serving player at United, feels the new GBP 30 million player of the Red Devils will prove to be a big hit at Old Trafford. "He has that physique and stature because he is over six foot, so he offers something a little bit different to Wayne Rooney or Carlos Tevez," Giggs told British media. "I am glad Dimitar is on the same side as me. I have seen his ability at first hand when he played against us for Tottenham," Giggs added. Previous News Return from Bulgaria News1 to Home
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