Nikulden: Bulgaria’s Beloved Saint Nicholas Day
In Bulgaria, December 6 is celebrated as Saint Nicholas Day, or Nikulden (Никулден), a holiday that blends religious devotion, folk tradition, and social celebration
Stefka Slavova. Photo by BGNES
Stafka Slavova, former Alternate Director of the EBRD, Poland, and Albania, learned about her dismissal from media reports.
In an interview for Dnevnik.bg, she said the decision had been taken with no debate and arguments, and was not even part of a meeting at the Council of Ministers.
The official document (dated April 17), which states the replacement of Slavova by Kalin Mitrev in the European Bank of Recostruction and Development (EBRD)'s Board of Directors and a copy of which was published on Dnevnik's website, does not cite any motives for the move.
Slavova believes she was so hastily replaced because the Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski ahd been "put under pressure" and reminded that the Council of Ministers had decided to appoint her two months before the term of her predecessor had expired.
Slavova assumed office as alternate Director on February 1, 2010, and was currently in her second three-year term.
While she was in the EBRD, EUR 1.1. B worth investment projects into Bulgaria led by the organization were carried out.
The Ministry of Finance commented on Slavova's dismissal by saying that "narrow deadlines for nominating candidates and their coordination with other states represented by the Director were what determined" the way of decision-making in that case. Officials denied there had been any remarks regarding the way Slavova was doing her job.
On May 1, it is the Bulgarian Alternate Director who is due to assume the rotating presidency of the EBRD' joint Bulgarian-Polish-Albanian department.
Kalin Mitrev has held the position twice before being replaced by Slavova after GERB party, presently in opposition, took office in 2009.
His wife, Irina Bokova, is the Director-General of UNESCO.
Financial expert Max Baklayan has warned that the main risk in Bulgaria’s transition to the euro is not the exchange rate, but the increased likelihood of counterfeit currency
The Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has granted preliminary approval to Bulgarian-American Credit Bank AD (BACB) to acquire a controlling stake in Tokuda Bank EAD
Economist Dimitar Chobanov has warned that the current policies are pushing Bulgaria’s budget toward a structural deficit that is already becoming apparent
Bulgaria’s banking system will undergo a brief technical shutdown on New Year’s Eve
The demand for euro coin sets proved overwhelming, as post offices across Bulgaria reported that their stocks had rapidly depleted.
From December 1st, Bulgarians can purchase starter packages with the national side of the euro coins at banks and “Bulgarian Posts”
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