The only Bulgarian publishing house in Serbia, "Bratstvo" (Brotherhood) is at risk of bankruptcy after its budget this year was reduced by 75 % compared to 2008.

The problems that Bratstvo is encountering were described by its Director, Neboysha Ivanov, on a visit to Shumen Tuesday. He stated that the publishing house has had had its subsidies cut by the Serbian Ministry of Culture by 75% from the original EUR 300 000.

Ivanov said that other publishing houses in Serbia have only had their state subsidies cut by 10-20%. He added that over the past 4-5 months the company has only been surviving because friends and supporters in Serbia and Bulgaria had bought part of the publishing output of Bratstvo.

Ivanov is now seeking help from local Bulgarian municipalities, who he has asked to buy certain publications they produce.

He said; "Publications purchased by residents of municipalities in Bulgaria will acquaint them with the achievements of the Bulgarian community in Serbia." He concluded that he has "great expectations that with the assistance of the Minister without Portfolio Bozhidar Dimitrov, Bulgaria's government will find a way to solve their problems."

According to the latest census of 2002 the Bulgarian community in Serbia, numbers over 20 000 people.