David Mirejovsky is a Prague jouranlist, working for the Czech TV Foreign Desk. He recently visited Bulgaria and talked to Sofia News Agency Editor-in-Chief Milena Hristova.


Q: How many times have you been to Bulgaria? What were your expectations and how did you find it different when you came here?

A: I have been in Bulgaria three times in the period from 2004 till now. These were business trips as I was doing reports and short documentaries for Czech TV. I have visited all Balkan countries for many times, so my expectations were realistic and I was just a little amazed about average payment in your country. I have a few friends there now. They speak many languages, have high knowledge, but can't earn enough money for good living.

Q: How do you interpret the decision of the EU Commission to postpone a verdict concerning Romanian and Bulgarian accession?

A: I believe the EC decision is positive for Bulgaria. I think, that Brussels needs now to push Sofia so that it fulfils EU enlargement criteria in the coming months. But in the autumn, in my view, the commission will announce Romania and Bulgaria accession. I think that EU will not afflict you - one more year for Bulgaria's preparation can't bring huge improvement.

Q: Do you think the European Commission procedures regarding aspirants Bulgaria and Romania are stricter than those applied to the ten newcomers from the bloc's 2004 wave of expansion?

A: No, procedures for aspirants are the same.

Q: Would you dare to draw a comparison between the Czech Republic half a year before joining the block and Bulgaria now? Some say we are in a similar position...

A: Some may even say that Czech people are germanised Slavs. I am not in a position to compare our positions because our countries are different. Maybe Bulgarian people have the same suspicions about EU membership.

Q: How would you comment statements that the Czech Republic is among the more liberal EU member states two years after it joined the Union on May 1, 2004? What makes it that liberal?

A: Yes, we are liberal because of our historical development. We have business priorities in the Balkan states and that's the reason why the Czech Republic has no problem with EU enlargement about Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. Discussion is being held about Turkey.

Q: How did the life of ordinary people in the Czech Republic change after the country's accession?

A: The life of ordinary people is now almost the same as before May 1. 2004. But economic growth is much more significant - about 6 percent - and our exporters have better access to old European markets. The major problem is drawing money from the European funds, we have still been learning it and there are big reserves in this respect.

Q: What are your impressions from the media market in Bulgaria? In what ways do you find it different from the market in you homeland?

A: I could tell you my opinion only about the television market. Bulgaria has more stations than Czech Republic. I see differences just in the technology that we use. All the other things are very similar - we have the same teacher after the communist era - BBC.

Q: What do you enjoy and hate most about you profession?

A: I enjoy travelling, meetings with interesting persons, visiting many countries. I hate the lack of money for big projects - this is a huge problem of Czech TV.

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