Sofia Morning News (published by Sofia News Agency, novinite.com)

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St Patrick's Day: Painting the World Green
St Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish at home and abroad on March 17, in honor of their patron saint. Photo by BGNES

EU CALLS ON BULGARIA TO PURSUE STRICT FISCAL POLICIES

The European Commission has called on Bulgaria to pursue “strict” fiscal policies that will make up for “slightly favorable assumptions on growth and revenue collection".

“Given the need to ensure sustainable convergence, Bulgaria is invited to continue pursuing strict fiscal policies as well as to implement the planned structural reforms,” the commission said in its assessment of the country’s three- year fiscal plan.

The European Commission examined on Wednesday the updated stability and convergence programmes (SCPs) of fourteen EU member states, including Bulgaria.

"After reaching a deficit of 1,9% of GDP in 2009, the general government budget is projected to be balanced in 2010 and to stabilize at a surplus of 0,1% of GDP in 2011-2012. The overall fiscal stance appears restrictive in 2010, broadly neutral in 2011, and provides for some fiscal relaxation in 2012," the Commission said in its assessment.

According to the Commission the undertaken consolidation measures and the strong political commitment to fiscal discipline are expected to partially compensate the risks stemming from the slightly favourable assumptions on growth and revenue collection.

Bulgaria's conservative government has based its 2010 budget on a 2% fall of the gross domestic product, though it revised its expectations upwards by 0,3% in late January. The growth is expected to be due to a recovery of the Bulgarian economy in the second half of the year.

The country's gross domestic product fell by 5% in 2009, ending a three-year growth pattern.

The government plans to sell the remaining minority stakes it owns in 55 former state-owned companies on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange and cut social benefits for public employees and pensioners in an effort to boost revenue.

The International Monetary Fund projected at the beginning of March that Bulgaria’s budget deficit will stand at 1,8% of gross domestic product this year, which totals nearly BGN 1,2 B.

The Washington-based global lender forecast 2010 inflation at 2,2%, economic growth at 0,2%, and the current-account gap at 5,5%.

CONTROVERSIAL GMO ACT STALLS IN BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament failed Wednesday to vote on all amendments in the much disputed GMO Act with the most important ones postponed for the next day.

The vote stirred heated debates between representatives of different parties, leading to the decision to vote on the most argued about text on Thursday - the so-called article 80 introducing the general ban to grow genetically modified organisms (GMO). The ban would not apply to GMO already on the market.

MPs from both sides of the spectrum – the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party and the right-wing Blue Coalition said the article leaves an open door for the growing of GMO in Bulgaria.

The only text that was passed Wednesday was the requirement for all foods containing GMO to have clear signs about the content with twice larger font than all other letters on the label and different color letters.

Meanwhile, the protest rally in downtown Sofia lasted over 6 hours with representatives of civic and environmental organizations and NGOs demanding a full ban on the growing and release of GMO.

The GMO legislation has been in disputed in Bulgaria over the last two months, and despite the many amendments designed to exclude the possibility that GMOs will be allowed on Bulgarian soil, NGOs and civil society coalitions believe that the law in question still does not provide sufficient guarantees.

Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov, strongly criticizes the amendments of the GMO Act and threatens a veto if the Act is passed the way it has been proposed.

BUSINESS

BULGARIA AIR TO BE HEADED BY NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bulgaria' s national air carrier Bulgaria Air will be headed by a new executive director following the resignation of the current CEO Dimitar Pavlov, according to reports, citing insiders.

Pavlov is expected to be replaced by Yanko Georgiev, who is currently head of the Flight Directorate at Bulgaria Air.

The company has refused to officially confirm the information.

According to the reports Dimitar Pavlov, who before that was executive director of the charter company Hemus Air, is quitting due to personal reasons.

Bulgaria Air is owned by Bulgarian Aviation Group, which holds 99% stake in the company. The remainder 1% is state-owned via the Transport Ministry.

BRITISH AIRWAYS TAKES OFF TO BULGARIA'S VARNA

UK airlines British Airways will renew its flights to and from Bulgaria's sea capital Varna as of April 1, representatives of the company announced on Wednesday.

The price of the one-way ticket on a flight from Varna to the airport Gatwick has been set at EUR 35 and EUR 70 for a return ticket, airport fees excluded.

The company said it is testing special ticket prices for flights from Sofia and Varna to the United States and Canada, varying from EUR 281 to 291.

The tickets for Varna – London destination will be on sale from March 28, but only those passengers who travel from April 1 to May 31 can avail themselves of the cheaper prices.

British Airways have also announced a new price of EUR 99, airport fees included, for a one-way ticket from the Bulgarian capital Sofia to Gatwick. There is only one condition - passengers will have to book their flight online.

BUILDERS' COMPLAINTS TO DELAY BULGARIA TRAKIYA HIGHWAY COMPLETION

Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) is yet to issue a final decision on the complaints over the “Trakiya” highway public tender, Regional Minister, Rosen Plevneliev said Wednesday.

CPC has only rejected the requests of the Austrian road construction consortium "Strabag" and the Greek builder “Terna” to block the public tender procedure, but there is a legal 2-month deadline to probe the complaints, the Commission informed to clarify the issue. In addition, CPC reports that any of their decisions can be appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court.

It has been already officially announced that the complaints have been rejected, and the latest information means the signing of the contract to build Lot 2 - the Stara Zagora – Nova Zagora section - of the highway might be delayed for an undetermined period of time.

According to the current Public Tenders Act, the Road Infrastructure Agency can sign the contract with the selected company, despite the complaint, but such outcome is not likely.

In the beginning of February it was announced that the lower bid was submitted by the "Bulgarian Trace Group Hold", owned by businessman Nikolay Mihaylov. Subsidiaries include "PSI", "SK13 Holding", "Viastroy Engineering" and "Road Construction - Dobrich".

The group's proposed cost for the project was almost three times lower than the highest offer received, at EUR 2,2 M per kilometer, while in 2005-2007 it had built the section from Orizovo to Stara Zagora for EUR 2,4 M per km. Because of the low price submitted, the company will be asked for additional justification, said chairman of the selection committee Dimitar Margaritov.

“Terna” and “Strabag” already filed two complaints with CPC.

AUSTRIAN COMPANIES DESIRE TO BUILD BULGARIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE

Over 20 Austrian companies have expressed strong interest in participating in the construction of the Bulgarian road and railroad infrastructure.

Companies such as Alpine Bau, Deco-Tech Handeks, Evronik Para-Chemie, Strabag, Terra-Mix, VAE have taken part in the Bulgarian “Transport Infrastructure” forum and have stated their desire to be included in projects in the country.

Austrian Ambassador to Sofia, Gerhard Reiweger, pointed out Bulgaria must benefit from the Austrian experience in absorbing funds from the EU operational program “Transport”. The country currently lacks good projects, which is the main reason why it misses on European financing, according to Reiweger.

Bulgaria's Ministry of Regional Development is working on modernization and repairs of highways and first class roads, connecting Bulgaria to international thoroughfares, according to Deputy Regional Minister, Georgi Pregiov.

Pregiov reported that Bulgaria must realize projects in the amount of EUR 990 M by 2013 from the EU program. In the 2014 – 2020 period the country will receive an additional EUR 1.3 B in EU financing.

Meanwhile, the Austrian road construction consortium "Strabag" is appealing the selection of the "Bulgarian Trace Group Hold" to complete Lot 2 of the Trakiya highway.

ECONOMIST URGES TOTAL PRIVATIZATION IN BULGARIA

Bulgaria’s Borisov government should go all the way with privatization, according to Krasen Stanchev, Chair of Governing Board of the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economy.

Stanchev has welcomed the decision of the government to sell its minority shares in a number of companies saying that by doing this, the GERB party Cabinet is actually fulfilling its campaign promises.

By the end of the week, the government is going to set up a consolidated state company which will include minority shares from 55 companies in an attempt to generate badly needed revenue.

The IME Chair has pointed out that probably about BGN 100 M will be raised through these privatization deals which is not a lot but is still about one-third of the shortage of the National Health Insurance Fund. The other benefit will be that the state will save itself spending for inefficient enterprises.

“They should continue not just with the privatization of minority shares but also of still existing state companies. For example, there are road firms which are part of the problem with Bulgarian roads. They have to be privatized. The subsidies for the national radio and television must be axed, and they must be left to provide for themselves. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences should also be privatized,” Stanchev said on Pro.bg TV.

He said entities such the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, and the National Electric Company NEK are currently in the special list forbidding privatization. Yet, privatization should continue in areas such as retirement savings, healthcare, and education.

“Over the last 7-8 years we have seen centralization in these areas, and this is where the problems come from,” Stanchev said.

BULGARIA GOVT SLASHES PRIVATIZATION PRICES TO RAISE REVENUE

Bulgaria’s government is reducing by up to 30% the privatization prices of several companies in a quest to raise badly-needed revenue.

The Bulgarian Privatization Agency has announced that it is selling on the stock exchange state shares in 40 companies.

Some of the companies in question are among the ones which might be included in a state consolidation company designed to raise revenue as an emergency measure by selling the government’s minority shares in several dozen firms. This measure was suggested Monday by the Finance Ministry.

Thus, the privatization prices of the state minority share in 12 of the 40 companies in question will be reduced by 30%. For example, the state is going to sell 46% of ”Transit Commercial Zone – Varna” for BGN 8,08 M. 19,45% of the capital of ”Duty-Free Zone – Burgas” will be on sale for BGN 3,3 M instead of 4,11%, a 20% reduction.

Through the sale of state-owned minority shares in these companies, the Bulgarian government is trying to raise additional revenue in order to reign in the possibility of going into a very large deficit which might endanger Bulgaria’s ERM II accession.

CROSS-BORDER CONTACT CENTER TO OPEN AT GREEK-BULGARIAN FRONTIER

A cross-border Contact Center, a pioneer service of the police forces of Greece and Bulgaria, will be inaugurated on Friday at the Promachonas border station in Serres, opposite the Kulata border station on the Bulgarian side, the Athens News Agency reported.

The inter-state cross-border agreement for the establishment of a joint Contact Center with shared facilities on the Greek side of the border for a "one-stop border control" was signed in April 2008 by then deputy interior minister Panayiotis Hinofotis with then Bulgarian interior minister Mihail Mikov in Sofia.

This happened at the meeting of SEECP justice and internal affairs ministers, aimed at the creation of a joint contact center for the coordination of crime-fighting actions and the conduction of joint border controls.

BULGARIA MONOPOLY WATCHDOG PROBES TOP CABLE PROVIDERS

Bulgaria's anti-trust watchdog has launched a probe into the country's top cable providers "Eurocom" and "Cabletel" on monopoly allegations.

The Commission for Protection of Competition acted on a tip-off of Bulgaria's first national private television bTV, which has recently came into a conflict with Cabletel, claiming it is putting a spoke in the wheel of its sale to CEM.

The Swedish investment fund EQT V (EQT) acquired 100% of Eurocom and 70% of Cabletel at the end of October last year in a EUR 210 M deal.

The conflict with bTV dates back from a few months ago and concerns Cabletel and Eurocom refusal to air bTV recently launched theme channels without an increase in subscription fees.

The media wants its two theme channels – bTV Cinema and bTV Comedy – to be aired free of charge for the subscribers, but the cable operator says this is impossible due to the high price that bTV wants to charge.

The TV channel has described the reaction of the cable operators as “weird”, saying they have already contracted nearly 200 cable and satellite operators, charging them with the same price.

According to reports the price in question is seven-digit for a period of two years.

Cabletel planned to approach the anti-monopoly watchdog, the Commission for Competition Protection, in a step that may delay the finalization of bTV sale deal, but now it appears that the TV channel acted more quickly.

FINANCE

BULGARIA GOVT OFFICIALLY OKS U-TURN OVER HEALTH TAX HIKE

Bulgaria's center-right government has officially dropped plans for a health tax hike, which was approved last week amid doctors' walkouts and in a bid to raise additional funds to support the ailing system.

The cabinet of the ruling GERB party approved last Wednesday a 2 percentage-point rise in health insurance levies to 10 percent of an individual's income, effective from April.

The private sector cried foul, saying that the measure will deal a heavy blow to the companies, which are already struggling in these times of crisis and will create conditions for the expansion of the grey economy.

The government is expected at its meeting next week to back the alternative solution, which would make state officials, who are currently making no health insurance installments, dip deeper into their pockets.

According to Finance Minister Simeon Djankov the installment of health care taxes by the employees in the state sector will raise BGN 150 M thanks to cuts in the budget spending.

BULGARIA'S CENTRAL COOPERATIVE BANK SECURES THIRD MACEDONIAN BUY

Bulgaria's Central Cooperative bank, part of the country's largest holding company Chimimport, has been given the green light to acquire a third bank in Macedonia.

The Macedonian financial supervision authorities have approved the deal earlier in the week.

In the middle of February Stater Banka said in a statement on the Macedonian Stock Exchange website that its majority owner, Iceland 's Milestone Group, is currently negotiating with Bulgaria's Central Cooperative bank to sell its 91,71% stake in the bank.

The CCB will pay EUR 5.9 M for Stater Banka's 339 178 shares to its majority owner Milestone Group. The price per share has been set at EUR 17.3.

The Central Cooperative bank has already acquired two banks in Macedonia – Sileks Banka and Post Bank, as well as a branch in Nicosia, Cyprus.

EIU: BULGARIA EURO ADOPTION LIKELY IN 2014 EARLIEST

Bulgaria's aspirations to join the euro zone may be rewarded in four years' time, according to a leading expert from The Economist's analytical unit.

“The Bulgarian government will hope to join ERM II later in 2010, although Mr Borisov has admitted that the aim to adopt the euro by 2013 will be a struggle. We anticipate that Bulgaria may get to adopt the euro in 2014 at the earliest,” Toby Iles, an analyst for Central and Eastern Europe at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), said in an interview for Novinite.com.

He pointed out that the Greek crisis could harm Bulgaria's euro zone bid as EU policymakers, who had already shown a tendency towards a very strict application of the Maastricht criteria for euro adoption, will now cast an even warier eye not only on these criteria, but on a broader set of parameters. These are likely to include the sustainability of external balances and broader measures of the economy's performance and competitiveness.

According to Toby Iles Bulgaria's recent fiscal prudence is a major positive for its bid to enter ERM II and then adopt the euro.

“Nevertheless, it is no secret that some established euro members have concerns about admitting faster-growing economies to the euro club, owing to the perceived greater risk of imbalances, which may undermine confidence in the single currency. The Greek crisis is likely to exacerbate these cautious tendencies,” the analyst pointed out.

FULL text of the interview READ HERE

BULGARIA MINISTER PREPARED TO SWALLOW LYULIN HIGHWAY BUDGET INCREASE

Bulgaria's Minister for Regional Development, Rosen Plevneliev, has announced that he is prepared to reluctantly "accept" a EUR 41 M increase in construction costs of the Lyulin Highway.

Plevneliev said on Monday that the expert assessments recently made all pointed to an under-assessment of costs on the part of the Turkish consortium in charge of the construction project.

The current value of the contract with Mapa Cengiz amounts to EUR 137,4 M. Minister Plevneliev has now agreed to accept an increase of not more than 30%, to EUR 41 M.

Mapa Cengiz had originally won the competitive tender with a bid of EUR 138 M. Later cost estimates jumped to EUR 210 M, with the consortium asking for an additional EUR 73 M in funding.

The Regional Minister is now willing to provide half the shortfall, and has stated that: "Now we are looking for ways to reduce the price, and have already got below EUR 200 M".

According to Plevneliev, the ongoing discussions should come to a successful conclusion "within days". He added that experts from the European Commission arrived in Sofia on Wednesday, to comment on what proportions of the costs could be covered while adhering to the rules, norms and procedures of the EC.

European funding for the long-delayed construction project amounts to over EUR 111 M; this money will be lost if construction is not complete by the deadline - December 31, 2010. Several weeks ago, Mapa Cengiz stated that, despite various delays, they would be able to complete within the stipulated time.

The Minister noted that, if the Eurpoean deadline was not met, the Bulgarian government would have one year in which to complete the project at its own cost, otherwise the EC share would have to be returned to Brussels.

He added that, in an effort to regain lost construction time, the Turkish consortium would hire additional Bulgarian sub-contractors. They have also agreed in recent weeks to employ more Bulgarians in their workforce, and to pay them at the same levels as their Turkish co-workers.

ENERGY

RUSSIA LACKS OIL FOR BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS PIPE - REPORT

Russian companies appear to be in lack of enough oil in order to fill the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, according to Moscow newspaper Vedomosti.

The CEO of Transneft, Nikolai Tokarev, complained to the Russian Deputy PM Igor Sechin in a letter from September 2009 that there was not enough oil for the planned pipeline in Bulgaria and Greece, the Vedomosti has reported claiming to have a copy of the letter.

Tokarev is said to have pointed out that the actual economic benefits from the project will become clear only after its completion, and that it is geopolitical rather than an economic endeavor.

The Russian participants in the project, Rosneft and Gazprom Neft, want to clarify the economic issues such as the transit fee, and state they do not have sufficient amounts of oil for the pipe, Tokarev says in his letter to Sechin.

The 280-km pipe from Bulgaria’s Burgas to Greece’s Alexandroupolis is supposed to start operating in 2014, and to transport 35 million tons of oil annually.

The project has been stalled for years after the initial agreement between Bulgaria, Russia, and Greece in 1995.

The Vedomosti paper cites a representative of Russia’s Energy Ministry as saying that there are still no guarantees for the realization of the project, and that Russia is expecting the decision of the Bulgarian government which made its participation conditional on the environmental assessment expected in a few months.

According to an unnamed source close to the Russian oil companies, Gazprom Neft can provide no more than 3 million tons of oil for transit through the pipe.

The Vedomosti stresses the expected new political difficulties – the potential construction of the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline in Turkey.

An analyst of the Bank of Moscow, Denis Borisov, is quoted as saying that Transneft is building two other oil pipelines, and there was no way it could provide enough oil for all pipes. In order to fill all of its planned pipelines, the company will have to increase the oil extraction by 30% compared to 2009, which will be very hard to achieve.

Another analyst, Alexander Ershov, has commented that oil from Kazakhstan will be sufficient to fill either Burgas-Alexandroupolis, or Samsum-Ceyhan, depending on which one is more competitive in terms of prices.

The paper explains that experts cannot provide a forecast of the future transit fees for Burgas-Alexandroupolis, and that it is still unclear how it will be funded, and when it is expected to start making profit.

The Vice-President of Transneft, Mikhail Barkov, has stated the tonnage of the tankers going through the Bosphorus Straits will have to be decreased from 140 000 down to 60 000 in order to guarantee that Burgas-Alexandroupolis and Samsun-Ceyhan will generate profit.

A representative of Transneft, Igor Demin, has described the letter obtaioned by the Vedomosti paper, signed by the company head Nikolai Tokarev, as resulting from ”the imagination” of the paper’s correspondent.

DIPLOMACY

PRESS: BULGARIA MAKES 'INDECENT PROPOSAL' TO MACEDONIA

Macedonian papers have expressed their outrage over bits and pieces that allegedly leaked from the ‘Friendship Treaty’ proposed by Bulgaria.

Six of the 21 items in the treaty – which the Bulgarian government recently announced it had proposed to Skopje in order to provide for good neighborly relations – are problematic, according to an article of the Dnevnik Daily.

”Bulgaria is placing itself in the position of the elder brother,’ the paper says citing unnamed sources which have seen the English-language version of the proposed treaty. The document is said to be stressing the importance of the 1999 joint declaration for development of the bilateral relations and the legal framework in the field of culture.

”The proposed document contains too many disputable items which makes it hard to talk about construction good neighborly relations. On top of that, it reinforces the thesis for a single nation living in two separate states,” said an anonymous expert cited by the Dnevnik Daily.

The article expresses concern over the fact that Bulgaria has approached Macedonia from ”a position of power” by stressing that it is a member of the EU and NATO, while Macedonia is aspiring to join these organizations.

Item 10 of the proposed treaty says that ”the two parties should deepen their cooperation in the field of culture, their common culture, and cultural heritage... based on bilateral programs.”

Item 12 is reported to be providing for ”the protection of the joint cultural and historical heritage and organizing joint celebrations of historical events shared by the two countries.”

Item 13 focused on having Macedonia support the actions of the Bulgarian state and NGOs for the preservation of Bulgarian military monuments and cemeteries on its territory.

The Macedonian newspaper says Bulgaria assumes no reciprocal responsibilities according to the treaty.

Item 17 stipulates that Macedonia should strictly confirm its commitment that there is nothing in its Constitution that can be used as a basis to intervene in Bulgaria’s internal affairs.

According to the Dnevnik Daily, the Friendship Treaty in question has been handed to the Macedonian government in December 2008 by the former Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev. It says that the Macedonian government has not replied yet, and has set no deadlines to do that.

TURKEY FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT BULGARIA

Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister, will make a two-day official visit to Bulgaria.

Davutoglu will meet Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov on Thursday.

The Turkish Minister's particular focus will be on bilateral relations, but the recent situation in the Balkans will also be discussed. The Foreign Ministers will give a joint press conference.

Parliamentary Speaker, Tsetska Tsacheva, and Bulgaria’s Chief Mufti, Mustafa Hadzhi, will meet Davutoglu on Friday.

Once his official schedule in Sofia has been completed, Davutoglu will visit historical sites in the south central Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, before returning to Turkey.

DEFENSE

BULGARIA BECOMES PART OF INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE LOGISTICS UNIT

Bulgaria’s Cabinet approved Wednesday a memorandum for the country’s participation in an international integrated logistics unit.

Each of the participants – Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Slovakia – is going to take part with 4 military officers in the NATO logistics unit.

The main task of the unit will be to form a mobility control detachment through which the parties will be able to participate in current NATO operations conducted with the approval of the UN Security Council.

The unit is planned to become fully operational by the end of 2011. Bulgaria’s accession to the memorandum confirms its commitment to support the transformation of NATO, stresses the press office of the Bulgarian Cabinet.

BULGARIA AGREES MILITARY COOPERATION WITH SERBIA

The Bulgaria military deputy chief, Minko Kavaldjiev, is leading a delegation to Belgrade, in a continuing program of cooperation with the Serbian military.

Kavaldjiev declared that cooperation between the two countries was good, and that it significantly contributed to security in the region.

He announced that the Bulgarian army was preparing to share its experience with the Serbian army, as it goes through a period of reforms.

"The Bulgarian army is content with its cooperation with the Serbian army and believes that this cooperation is useful to both sides," he said after meeting with his counterpart, Mladen Cirkovic. They had agreed that all the conditions were in place for the two armies to "cooperate very successfully".

The Bulgarian delegation will remain in Serbia for further discussions, until Friday.

BULGARIA IN EU

BULGARIA PREPARES CANDIDATE LIST FOR EU DIPLOMATIC POSTS

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry is preparing a list of up to 20 diplomats to propose as members of the new European External Action Service.

All EU member states are to submit their candidates to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine Ashton.

Bulgaria hopes to impress the High Representative with its nominations and to receive some prestigious diplomatic positions.

Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who is already in the foreign politics sector and is now one of Ashton’s deputies, said this week that the government will do everything possible to support the Bulgarian team in the future European diplomatic service - not on a party level, but on a professional basis.

"The desire of all is to show that the service is a professional one and the member states have found their own place in it. Success is guaranteed by the candidatures that will represent Bulgaria. There are no quotas, there is competition, and we have many wonderful people who can compete at all levels," stated Georgieva.

The creation of a European External Action Service (EEAS) of the EU is enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty and aims to provide a greater authority on the international scene for the Community.

Competition between countries of the Union about which country will have a more authoritative say in EEAS have given rise to mutual suspicions and accusations, and have been extensively reported in the European media.

Bulgaria and the other new member states have insisted that the new service should provide geographic balance and representation of all EU countries.

The service will eventually employ some 6 000 personnel - from diplomatic level through management to support staff.

Bulgaria will seek to obtain several managerial posts - at least one executive, as well as ambassadorial posts in some of the 136 missions of other EU countries.

The Ministry of Foregin Affairs has confirmed that the list of diplomats which we will be presented to Ashton, must first be coordinated with President Georgi Parvanov, who by law, has to agree all ambassadorial nominations or appointments.

The formation of the EEAS will allow the member states to rationalize their diplomatic presences abroad. This would benefit Bulgaria, allowing the country to close some of its missions abroad, and to save costs by relying on the European diplomatic service, thereby ensuring continued support for its citizens..

Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Dimitrov explained on Wednesday that the department could protect the rights and security of its citizens, for example, in the Pacific region where Bulgaria would not have the resources to ensure a permanent representation.

EC SLAPS LATEST FINE ON BULGARIA OVER EX CABINET DEALINGS

Bulgaria's Ministry of Agriculture has received a letter from the European Commission notifying about a sanction of the amount of BGN over 49 M that the country must pay.

The fine has been triggered by violations committed by the Ministry in direct payments to farmers in 2008. The violations stem from overlapping of declared land plots and the procedure for the selection of a contractor to create an aerial photograph map of farming lands in Bulgaria.

The amount would have to be deducted from future payments to farmers for 2010.

Agriculture Minister, Miroslav Naydenov, said Bulgaria will appeal the EC decision within the deadline in an attempt to reduce the amount of the sanction.

A month earlier the EC notified Bulgaria about another BGN 20 M fine over irregular subsidies payments in 2007.

EPP: GERB REINSTATED EUROPE'S TRUST IN BULGARIA

The reforms of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party managed to reinstate European trust in Bulgaria, according to Wilfred Martens, President of European People's Party (EPP).

Martens is in Sofia Wednesday to participate in the international conference devoted to Bulgaria's best practices to combat corruption.

The EPP President said that his statement is based on the fact the European Commission has released millions in EU funds that were previously blocked for Bulgaria, and on the stark change of the general attitude towards the country across Europe.

According to Martens, in the months since the general elections in July 2009, GERB had achieved impressive results in the economic sector and in the fight against corruption and organized crime and Bulgaria is a totally different country, compared to what he has seen during his last visit in February, 2009.

The EPP leader pointed out that the road ahead is still long, but Bulgaria has definitely stepped on the right path.

The EPP General Secretary, Antonio Lopez, reiterated his commitment to lobby for Bulgaria in Europe, adding when he met Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, for the first time, 7 years ago, he immediately knew this was the man Bulgaria needed.

BULGARIA STEADY RECORD HOLDER IN EU Y/Y CONSTRUCTION SLUMP

In January 2010, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector fell by 2.2% in the Eurozone and by 2.0% the EU area, compared with the previous month.

The data was released Wednesday by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Compared with January 2009, output in January 2010 dropped by 12.5% in the Eurozone and by 8.4% in the EU. In December 2009, production decreased by 1.0% in the Eurozone, but rose by 0.8% in the EU.

Among the Member States for which data are available for January 2010, construction output fell in eight and rose in Slovenia (+7.1%), Sweden (+2.7%) and the United Kingdom (+0.9%). The largest decreases were recorded in the Czech Republic (-22.0%), Germany (-14.3%), Bulgaria and Spain (both -6.1%).

Among the Member States for which data are available for January 2010, construction output fell in nine and grew in Sweden (+13.6%) and the United Kingdom (+1.1%).

Bulgaria still holds the record in year on year decrease with -30.0%, followed by the Czech Republic (-24.6%), Germany (-16.5%) and Spain (-14.6%).

DOMESTIC

BULGARIA POISED FOR SURGE OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS

Bulgaria is going to see a surge of protests within the next several days, with several sectors warning of strike action and demonstrations.

The target is the severe measures proposed by the Bulgarian government in its attempt to reduce the state budget deficit.

Employees of the Interior Ministry have been among the first to announce their protest in reaction to the proposal that civil servants should be obliged to pay their own insurances.

They plan to protest on Saturday, March 20. They may be joined in the streets that day by tax officials, who share their grievance about insurance payments.

Bulgarian mothers have a different reason to stage a protest. They have declared themselves strongly against the cabinet plan to reduce the period of maternity leave from the present 410 days down to 225.

A number of patient organizations are also considering a different legal proposal. They will react if the law on medicinal products in human medicine is introduced in its current form in the plenary session.

"Podkrepa", the labor confederation, has criticized the Bulgarian government in a sharp and extensive statement, has criticized the Bulgarian government on its present policy.

They have claimed that the economic crisis in Bulgaria is becoming more acute; that public finances are in a critical condition; and that the country is facing a collapse of basic social systems.

They have stated that employment is progressively falling, and the trend for the unemployment rate to reach critical levels is a reality. They add that the general impoverishment of the population is on the increase.

The labor unions have concluded that there the Bulgarian government has no considered, balanced, consensual, feasible or effective anti-crisis policy.

They further criticize the cabinet for being unrealistic and inconsistent in trying to achieve short- and medium-term objectives, such as balancing the budget, increasing state revenue, and rapid absorption of European funding.

"Podkrepa" have also attacked the new agenda of imposing more severe restrictions and obligations on citizens who rely on their work to survive.

The confederation claims that, while the ordinary citizen is required to make more sacrifices, the government is making no attempt to touch the benefits of those who have acquired their wealth illicitly, according to their declaration on Wednesday.

They continue by warning that the country faces a total collapse, unless the philosophy and methods of managing the Bulgarian economy are urgently revised and changed.

"Podkrepa" concludes that the country needs a "government of national salvation", and hopes that the Prime Minister’s common sense will lead to a correct and appropriate solution.

The unions confirm their readiness to begin active protests and strike action to defend their members, the entire workforce and all Bulgarian citizens.

BULGARIA GOVT DENIES DRACONIAN ANTI-CRISIS PLANS

Media reports about draconian anti-crisis measures attributed to Bulgaria's Finance Ministry are far away from the truth, according to an official statement issued by the institution Wednesday.

The document, cited by the media, does not exist, had never been discussed and the reports are the expression of another attempt to stir public tension, direct discontent towards the cabinet and its economic policies, and sabotage the common effort with labor unions and employers, according to the statement.

The Ministry further informs that experts are in the process of conducting thorough and serious analysis and forecasts on which the real anti-crisis measures will be based. About 100 ideas are currently discussed, considering the potential fiscal and economic effects of each one of them, especially effects on revenues, living standards and State budget.

The package of anti-crisis measures is to be presented to Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, by the end of the week, and then discussed by the cabinet. The project would be made available to the public only after an agreement with all social partners is reached, the Finance Ministry reasures.

Earlier Wednesday, the leaders of the 2 major Bulgarian labor Unions – KNSB and Podkrepa confirmed they have a copy of the document, containing the alleged measures that would cut important social benefits, including reducing the paid maternity leave from 425 to 210 days, sending state employees into forced unpaid leave, collecting income tax before the deduction of social security payments, cutting food and clothing allowances for certain categories of workers, taxing the pensions of retirees who have full-time jobs.

Bulgaria's Conservative Order, Law and Justice (RZS) party already demanded the dismissal of Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, and threatened a blockade of the Finance Ministry's building.

SYNDICATES: GOVT ANTI-CRISIS MEASURES TO SCRAP SOCIAL BENEFITS

The package of 35 anti-crisis measures prepared by the government is going to hurt a number of social benefits, according to trade union leaders.

Syndicates claim to have obtained a draft of the measures prepared by the team of Finance Minister Simoen Djankov, and have expressed their concern over them.

According to information which leaked to the Bulgarian media, several of the anti-crisis measures are aimed at saving money at the expense of important social benefits.

These include reducing the paid maternity leave from 425 to 210 days, sending state employees into forced unpaid leave (an option available for the private sector), collecting income tax before the deduction of social security payments, cutting money for food and clothing of certain categories of workers, taxing the pensions of those retires who work full-time.

It is still unclear which ones of these steps are actually part of the anti-crisis plan of 35 measures as no document has been officially published.

Trade union leaders have raised alarm calling such proposed measures ”far-right.” Sources from the ruling party GERB have stated that hundreds of options are being considered but it is very unlikely that largely unpopular measures will be adopted.

BULGARIA INTERIOR MINISTER VOWS TO ATTEND POLICE PROTEST RALLY

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, declared he is going to join the Ministry's employees during their protest rally, scheduled for March 20.

Tsvetanov told reporters Wednesday he always supported his colleagues and understood their problems, adding that realities in the country must be taken into account.

“There is no Interior Minister, who would not want for policemen to have better pay and working conditions. I will go and show solidarity with them, but they must understand that such are the options of the State today. We need to take their demands step by step; we cannot afford to fulfill them all at once. The situation is extremely serious,” Tsvetanov is quoted saying.

The Minister explained he is looking hard to find ways to compensate policemen for having to pay their own health insurance contribution, which is a measure undertaken by the cabinet of his own Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party.

Tsvetanov, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister, said several days ago that he opposes the measure personally, but will support the cabinet.

Earlier Wednesday the Labor Union KNSB announced that the Police Union, the Revenue Agency Employees' Union and and other unions of employees in the State administration will stage a mass protest rally on March 20 against the cabinet's anti-crisis measures.

BULGARIA INTERIOR MINISTER SLAMS MAGISTRATES' LACK OF WILL

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, accused the judicial system of lacking the will to deal with organized crime in the country.

The Minister spoke Wednesday at the international conference devoted to Bulgaria's best practices to combat corruption, held in Sofia, saying the political will to combat crime is a fact, but not the judiciary one.

Tsvetanov reiterated the need of a serious legal reform, stressing that in the last 20 years those with political power have been untouchable by the Courts.

For a while now Tsvetanov has been exchanging criticism with top-ranking magistrates slamming courts for their rulings.

The Minister further pointed out that the presence of organized crime in the local power is another grave problem.

“Organized crime had huge interests to permanently enter local political projects,” Tsvetanov said, adding that if his ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party fails to successfully deal with organized crime, no other political force can do it.

BULGARIA CONSERVATIVES DEMAND FINANCE MINISTER DISMISSAL

Bulgaria's Conservative Order, Law and Justice (RZS) party demanded Wednesday the dismissal of Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, over his proposed extreme measures to deal with the economic crisis.

The request was announced by party leader, Yane Yanev, who threatened occupation of the Finance Ministry's building in case the request is not fulfilled.

According to information which leaked to the Bulgarian media, several of the proposed 35 anti-crisis measures are aimed at saving money at the expense of important social benefits.

These include reducing the paid maternity leave from 425 to 210 days, sending state employees into forced unpaid leave (an option available for the private sector), collecting income tax before the deduction of social security payments, cutting food and clothing allowances for certain categories of workers, taxing the pensions of retirees who have full-time jobs.

According to RZS, the measures are unprecedented for the European Union.

Yanev says that if Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, fails to release Djankov over being incompetent and unable to deal with the situation, RZS would gather retirees, mothers, and workers to stage a long-term blockade of the Finance Ministry.

BULGARIA MPS PASS PRESIDENT VETO ON DEMONSTRATIONS ACT

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament passed Wednesday at second reading the amendments of the Meetings and Demonstrations Act in agreement with the veto imposed by President, Georgi Parvanov.

The MPs approved the requirement to keep the security zone limiting access to government buildings, the President's Office and the Parliament during meetings and demonstrations between 5 and 20 meters, with the exact distance being determined for each particular event.

The distance will be agreed with the Interior Ministry and approved by the Mayor of Sofia. The organizers are to be notified about the decision.

The co-Chair of the right-wing Blue Coalition, Martin Dimitrov, voiced strong disagreement with the veto and asked to keep the buffer zone at 7 meters maximum, saying 20-meters is in practice a prohibition to rally in front of the above said buildings.

“So we will not be able to demonstrate in front of the Council of Ministers or the Presidential Office, rallies will be held somewhere in the vicinity of the Zoo. Lets not limit democracy,” Dimitrov told the Ms, who, at the end, rejected his proposal.

The MPs did keep the 48 hours deadline organizers have to notify the authorities about the event. The vote was also in compliance with the President's veto. The initial proposal was to increase this deadline to 72 hours.

BULGARIA RIGHTISTS PROPOSE FORMAL STATE DEBT REGISTER

A central register showing all debts owed by the state to private companies should be created in order to ease the economic situation, the rightist Blue Coalition has suggested.

Ivan Kostov, Co-Chair of the Blue Coalition, which supports the government of the ruling GERB party, has spoken in favor of creating a register specifying the exact amounts of money owed by the state to private businesses, and the deadlines for payment.

In this way, the state will largely improve the tense situation because it will provide the companies with documents that they can use before the banks from which they themselves had borrowed.

Kostov said the Bulgarian state had recognized debts to private firms for public procurement orders amounting to BGN 700 M but the actual amount was probably around BGN 1,3 B.

The Borisov government delayed paying the private businesses at the end of the 2009 in order to avoid going to a large budget deficit as it is applying for the ERM II, the Eurozone waiting room. It started to pay out to firms at the beginning of 2010 but first only to those companies that would give up 10% of their claims.

Speaking on the BNT Wednesday, the rightist leader Ivan Kostov declared himself against drastic anti-crisis measures that would lead to the scrapping of a number of social benefits such reducing paid maternity leaves. This statement has come in the wake of alerts raised by Bulgarian trade unions that the government’s new anti-crisis measures package is going to affect seriously the social situation of the population.

Kostov has warned that such measures, if adopted, might be received rather negatively.

He has described the situation in Bulgaria as ”worrying” because the crisis is still raging, and is leading to a drop of the income of private companies, rising inter-company debt, and non-performing loans.

He believes, however, that one of the most positive things currenly going on is the debate of the various measures which can be adopted. In his words, this debate should have started in the summer of 2008.

BULGARIA NATIONAL RADIO NEW HEAD ELECTED IN MAY

Bulgaria media watchdog adopted at its meeting on Wednesday procedures for the selection of new directors of the state-owned national radio BNR and TV channel BNT.

The contest for director of the Bulgarian National Radio starts on March 24. Candidates can sbumit documents from April 26 till May 10. The selection of the new general director has been scheduled for May 20.

The national radio is currently headed by journalist Valeriy Todorov, who came into office in May 2007. As local legislation allows two consecutive terms, Todorov may run for the post this year as well.

The Council for Electronic Media has not pencilled in the dates for the selection of a new director of the national TV channel. It current director Ulyana Pramova is at the end of the second term, which is why she will certainly not be among the runners. Pramova was recently rumored to be heading for a diplomatic post, claims which she has denied.

SOCIETY

ECONOMIC CRISIS LOWERS LIVING STANDARD FOR 61% OF BULGARIANS

A large number of Bulgarians (61%) say their living standard has worsened in 2009, according to a poll conducted by the National Center for Study of Public Opinion (NZIOM).

From the 1 214 respondents, only 5% stated they led a better life with most of them being college graduates and Sofia residents. The most hardships are faced by people 50 to 59 years of age, unemployed, living in villages or without education degrees, with 70% of them pointing out their living standard has worsened.

The negative changes affect all social sectors with the majority of those polled saying that previous fears about the crisis are already a reality for them. NZIOM data from one year ago showed people feared mostly about becoming unable to pay their household bills (57%) while in March 2010, 56% responded they have real problems in paying those bills. Last year 51% were afraid they would not be able to afford basic goods while 55% now say they limit their purchases of such goods.

Temporary unemployment worried 38% last year while a permanent one - 36%. Currently 13% are temporarily unemployed (mainly people between 30 and 39 years of age) while 16% are permanently unemployed (youngest people and people near retirement age).

One year ago, 22% feared that in the conditions of a crisis they would not be able to make regular loan payments while now one of every 5 Bulgarians faces the problem in reality with the most difficulties endured by people between 30 and 59 years of age, blue collar workers and those employed in the private sector.

One third of all respondents are optimistic about the next few years. They are mainly young people, under 39, living in smaller towns, and unemployed. Experts say their optimism is not based on hopes for a real improvement of their living standard, but on the trend to stabilize their continuous impoverishment.

One of every 4 Bulgarians expects for the situation to worsen with the majority being represented by the elderly and by one third of those employed in the private sector.

RETIREES FROM BULGARIA'S PERNIK STAND FIRM BEHIND PRESIDENT

The Retirees Union in the Bulgarian western city of Pernik begins Thursday the collection signatures in support of President, Georgi Parvanov, the Union's leader informs.

The move comes in the heels of Bulgaria's ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party beginning a procedure to impeach Parvanov over the controversy stemming from the President publishing a transcript from his conversation with Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, without the latter's knowledge. GERB say the move violates the Constitution.

The Pernik retirees defend Parvanov with the motive Pernik is the President's hometown and appeal to all city residents to follow their example along with everyone from the Pernik Region.

In addition, the elderly issued a declaration defining the anti-crisis measure to tax the income of retirees holding full-time jobs, allegedly proposed by Djankov, as genocide. They say the impeachment is an attempt to divert attention from the real economic issues faced by the country.

The Union has 3 000 members in the Region with 1 500 in the city of Pernik. The number of retirees is estimated at 30 000.

BULGARIA JUDGE REFUTES COLLEAGUE'S MAFIA TIES

Bulgarian judge Panayot Genkov and alleged mafia boss Angel Hristov never shared a table in a Sofia restaurant.

This information has been revealed Wednesday morning by Judge Tsoni Tsonev, head of the Ethics Commission of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS), speaking on BNT 1.

A new judicial system scandal was about to unfoil amidst reports on Tuesday that judge Genkov and one of the two so called Galevi Brothers, Angel Hristov, were spotted sharing a table in a restaurant in Sofia.

The Galevi Brothers, former policemen and notorious businessmen from the southwestern town of Dupnitsa, are currently facing organized crime charges.

An inspection of the Ethnics Commission of the VSS investigated the case by talking to judge Genkov and the staff of the restaurant in question and found that Genkov and Angel Hristov were never sitting on the same table even though they were in the same restaurant at one and the same time.

The Commission is now investigating if any of Genkov’s cases is in some way related to Angel Hristov.

Tsonev has recommended that his colleagues avoid places where they might have ”bad company.”

SPORTS

BULGARIA'S STOICHKOV QUITS COACH JOB IN SOUTH AFRICA

Legendary Bulgarian footballer Hristo Stoichkov has resigned as the coach of South African team Mamelodi Sundowns.

Stoichkov is leaving offended because the team did not offer him an extension of his contract, according to South African media.

The 44-year-old Bulgarian coach took over Mamelodi Sundowns in July 2009, and led the team to the second position in the South African championship.

He has declared several times his readiness to continue coaching the club but to no avail.

It is unclear if Stoichkov is going to leave the team immediately or if he is going to stay until June 2010 when his contract expires.

The legendary Bulgarian striker is going to be in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup in his capacity of a commentator for a Mexican TV station.

CRIME

SUBPOENA BLUNDER POSTPONES NOTORIOUS BULGARIA ROAD FUND CASE

The Sofia City Court proved unable to find Wednesday 3 former ministers, who were summoned to testify in the case against the former Director of the Road Infrastructure Fund, Veselin Georgiev.

The ex Minister in charge of the EU Funds, Meglena Plugchieva, the ex Finance Minister, Plamen Oresharski, and ex European Affairs Minister, Gergana Passy, failed to appear before the magistrates. Their absence was explained by irregularly sent subpoenas.

The Prosecutor stated he insisted on having the 3 former ministers present and the Court ordered another attempt to locate them at their current addresses.

The magistrates heart testimony from Bulgaria's representative at the European Commission, Boyko Kotsev, who explained the motives of the EC to freeze intermediary payments for road projects – the case with former Road Fund employees, Ivan Lilov and Lyubomir Vladimirov, who were arrested for taking a bribe and the conflict of interests committed by Georgiev.

The next session was scheduled for April 20.

Veselin Georgiev aka Batko (Big Brother) is charged with abuse of power and conflict of interest as Director of the Road Fund, which he used to secure profits for his brothers.

Georgiev was forced into resignation from its Director's position in February 2008, after the two employees of the Fund were arrested while taking a bribe and the EC put a hold on the EU infrastructure subsidy payments due to conflict of interests.

The company "Binder" managed by Emil Georgiev, Veselin's younger brother, has received contracts from the fund valued at 120 M. Before taking over the Fund, Veselin Georgiev, has been one of "Binder's" managers. Another of the Georgiev brothers owns a business selling materials for road construction. There are allegations that his company has received BGN 200 M.

BULGARIA SAYS TO UNRAVEL JOURNALIST GANGLAND-STYLE MURDER

Bulgarian prosecutors have hinted they are on their way to unravel the murder of controversial crime journalist Bobi Tsankov, who was shot dead in a gangland-style execution at the beginning of the year.

“I already have an idea, though a vague one, about who killed Bobi Tsankov,” Nikolay Kokinov, Sofia City Prosecutor, announced on Wednesday.

Bobi Tsankov was shot dead on January 5 as he was entering an apartment block with other two men, according to the police.

The two gunmen escaped on foot.

Tsankov, who frequently reported on organized crime in Bulgaria, died at the scene. His companions were hospitalized in critical condition.

In a similar attack in downtown Sofia two years ago, gunmen shot dead writer Georgi Stoev, the author of several books on organized crime in Bulgaria.

INTERVIEW

THE ECONOMIST ANALYST TOBY ILES: GREECE HARMS BULGARIA'S EURO BID, RECOVERY

Click here to read the story:
www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=114288

VIEWS ON BG

BULGARIA'S STOICHKOV: AN ENDANGERED SPECIES

Click here to read the story:
www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=114301

TOY CARS, PLENTY OF CAKE AS PRINCESS KALINA OF BULGARIA'S SON TURNS 3

Click here to read the story:
www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=114308

WORLD

MERKEL BACKS EUROZONE EXCLUSIONS

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel says she wants the eurozone to be able to exclude one of its members in future if that is necessary to avert a crisis.

Merkel told the German Bundestag (parliament) that existing EU rules were not strong enough to deal with the current crisis triggered by Greece.

Exclusion from the 16-nation eurozone would be a "last resort", she said, as cited by BBC.

Merkel said that "in the future we need an entry in the [EU] treaty that would make it possible, as a last resort, to exclude a country from the eurozone if the conditions are not fulfilled again and again over the long term".

She said measures were needed to ensure the eurozone's long-term stability.

"The euro is facing the strongest challenge it has ever had to cope with... A quick act of solidarity is definitely not the right answer."

Euro-zone member Greece is under intense pressure from the EU and financial markets to bring down its budget gap, which hit an estimated 12.7% of gross domestic product last year, four times above EU limits.

The Socialist government has pledged to cut that deficit to 8.7% of GDP this year, and below the EU's 3% limit by 2012.

After talks in Brussels on Tuesday the EU finance ministers agreed how to help Greece in its battle to control its finances.

They revealed few details, but ruled out any loan guarantees.

WIZZAIR ROMANIA FLIGHT BOMB SCARE

A Wizzair flight from the Romanian city of Timisoara was forced to return to the airport, following an anonymous call claiming there was a bomb on board the plane.

The aircraft was bound for London when, 15 minute into the flight, the call was received at the airport. The plane made an emergency U-turn back to Timisoara, where all 165 passengers were safely evaculated.

No explosive device has been discovered, and the plane is expected to resume its flight within hours.

Wizzair, the Hungarian low-cost carrier, operates regular flights to and from Romania and Bulgaria, and to several other European countries.

ST PATRICK'S DAY: PAINTING THE WORLD GREEN

St Patrick's Day, the national day of the Irish, both at home and worldwide, is being celebrated on Wednesday.

The holiday began as a purely religious celebration to mark the death of Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holy man was born into an ecclesiastical family in Roman Britain in the late fourth century.

Legend has it that, at the age of 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to the west coast of Ireland as a slave. Told in a dream by God to escape, he made his way to Auxerre (in present-day France) where he entered the Church, studying to become a priest.

Years later, and by then a bishop, Patrick returned to Ireland to preach and convert the local people to Christianity. He taught in Ireland for the next 30 years until his death on March 17, 461 AD. To explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, he used the three-leaved shamrock, a symbol associated with him and with Ireland ever since.

The wearing of a shamrock may have given rise to the phrase "the wearing of the green", with its long associations with Irish national identity and loyalty to the Catholic Church. Green ribbons and shamrocks have been worn on this holiday since at least the 17th century.

Today's celebrations around the world take many forms, among them colourful street parades. The New York parade is the largest, typically drawing two million spectators and 150,000 marchers. The tradition apparently began in Boston, back in 1761. The Chicago River is dyed green for the day.

Ireland's cities all hold their own parades and festivals, including Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Derry, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Waterford. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin is part of an annual five-day festival.

The staff of Novinite.com are happy to congratulate the Irish on their national day, from expats working or living in Bulgaria, to the whole of Ireland and Irish communities worldwide. We wish you all a memorable, green day!

TURKEY THREATENS TO EXPEL 100,000 ARMENIANS

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to expel from his country some 100,000 illegal immigrants from Armenia.

The statement came after a US committee and Sweden recently approved resolutions to brand the 1915 killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

Asked about the votes in an interview with the BBC Turkish service that was broadcast late Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said:

"There are currently 170,000 Armenians living in our country. Only 70,000 of them are Turkish citizens, but we are tolerating the remaining 100,000.

"If necessary, I may have to tell these 100,000 to go back to their country because they are not my citizens. I don't have to keep them in my country.

Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said such statements "do not contribute to the improvement of relations."

"I think it's a violation of human rights," Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobian told RFE/RL's Armenian Service. "No one has the right to force anyone to choose a place for living. This is an absolute human rights violation.

"And secondly," Hakobian continued, "I think this is yet another statement that we are accustomed to hearing, a groundless statement. The Armenian diaspora did, does, and will continue to struggle for [publicizing] the genocide, including in the Republic of Armenia."


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