Just two decades ago, Bulgaria’s politicians praised it as the Soviet Union’s closest ally and American commentators condemned it as a slavish communist satellite. Now, the Cold War era of poisoned umbrella assassinations is over and pragmatism is the common denominator of foreign policy. Bulgaria, a transitioning country, places its faith in a trinity of alliances, in order to secure the country’s energy, defense, and socio-economic needs.
Just two decades ago, Bulgaria’s politicians praised it as the Soviet Union’s closest ally and American commentators condemned it as a slavish communist satellite. Now, the Cold War era of poisoned umbrella assassinations is over and pragmatism is the common denominator of foreign policy. Bulgaria, a transitioning country, places its faith in a trinity of alliances, in order to secure the country’s energy, defense, and socio-economic needs.
In Bulgaria, Christmas (Koleda or more formally Rozhdestvo Hristovo, "Nativity of Jesus") is celebrated on 25 December (unlike in some other Eastern Orthodox countries) and is preceded by Christmas Eve (Badni vecher).
This is a quick photo-entry in which I recount how my family spent Christmas Eve. If you are interested in Bulgarian Christmas cuisine and traditional and contemporaneous rituals, enjoy this post.
On November 19, the ancient town of Kuystendil was shaken by controversy. A large billboard of two bare-chested men, in an erotic embrace, greeted some 50,000 citizens. The ad showed one of the participants biting his muscular partner on the chin, their naked bodies set against a black background. Was this a protest for gay rights or an art statement of a controversial new artist?
On the 5th of November, Bulgarians honored the male St. Archangel’s “All Souls’ Day” (Архангелова мъжка задушница). The day is commemorated the Saturday before St. Archangel’s Day, thus the name.
The religious festival is one of the three Major All Souls’ Days (Големи Задушници), which orthodox Christians mark annually. On this day, Bulgarians pay their respects to the dead and vow eternal gratitude to the officers and soldiers who fell for Bulgaria.
A few weeks ago, a piece of news concerning the newly independent country of Montenegro surfaced. Bulgaria had threatened to refuse signing their “Stabilisation and Association Agreement” (SAA), which was one of the fundamental steps for Montenegro’s EU application to advance. Why? Because of a letter.
On Friday, Bulgaria's parliament adopted an amendment of the Criminal Code, which provides for strict punishment for everybody who tries to bribe in any way the voters on all upcoming elections in the country.
The penalty for receiving payment for a vote stands at a maximum of 1000 Bulgarian levs ($724) or a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years of jail time. The ones who offer the bribe to voters to cast their ballot for them can be punished with up to three years behind bars or a fine, ranging from BGN 1,000 to BGN 3,000.
The proposal for the amendment was introduced by MP Pavel Shopov from Ataka (literally: "Attack"), a nationalist party that rose as an important political force from obscurity in the last elections.
Ataka has accused the ethnic Turkish MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedom) of buying votes among ethnically-Bulgarian Muslims in southern Bulgaria, where they form a majority of the population.
Hello everyone. My name is Ivo Dimitrov and I am a senior at Willamette University, as well as a long-standing participant in the LLC World News project. I major in History and Spanish literature, enjoy studying modern languages, competitive debate, cooking, and fine European chocolates.
This year, I will try and bring to you articles that reflect the highlights and difficulties of Bulgaria's membership in the European Union. How will Bulgarian society change culturally and economically in its integration with the larger European community? How does civil society affect everyday citizens' lives? What places Bulgaria on the world news stage?
I hope that you may enjoy the newsblog and I look forward to your comments!
=== Bulgarian Students Return to School ===
It seems rather appropriate that my first newsblog entry should include this piece of news. On the 15th of September, Bulgarian students flocked to their schools to celebrate the first day of school. The event is traditionally marked by numerous rituals: all children bring a bouquet of flowers for their teachers; they recite famous poetry that praises their country and school, and they sing songs.
Continue reading "Introduction and the First Day of School" »
According to the campaign “Active for passive smokers” 76.8% of children are passive smokers and 65.8% fall within the category in discotheques and internet clubs.
Only one-third of the students in the country live in an environment free of smoke. Children in families with smokers are three times more likely to become ill from asthma and bronchitis.
“The passive smoker,” states the article “has made the right choice – not to smoke." However, when he lives in an environment of smokers, he has to breathe in the smoke that burns near the cigarettes of the smokers as well as the exhaled smoke of active smokers.
Greetings to everyone reading this introduction!
I am Ivo Dimitrov and I have been involved in World News as a writer and editor since my freshman year (I’m now a junior). I was born in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and I study Spanish (philology) and history at Willamette.
I enjoy competitive debate, Konditorei (excellent pastries), tutoring, recess at Bush Elementary, socio-cultural history, volleyball, ping-pong, and badminton. I design websites for charity organizations and student groups for free, so you should contact me if you can use my services.
I am interested in seeing how history (past and present) is reflected in the national narrative and behaviour of people. What are our national and cultural myths? Why do we hold certain concepts to be sacred? Why do we pursue or flee our past?
I am dedicated to informing people about my native country, since its rich history and gorgeous nature make it a very attractive destination. Now, in the process of transition, Bulgaria is a truly exciting place of change. Interested to know more? Talk to me and visit my website:
(http://www.willamette.edu/~idimitro/bulgaria_overview.html)
(http://www.willamette.edu/~idimitro/bulgaria_sights.html)
I look forward to informing you on what happens in my country and hearing your thoughts on it!
Ivo Dimitrov
The Ottoman yoke in Bulgaria lasted for 500 years and affected the make-up of the population in profound ways. Indeed, almost 13% of Bulgarians converted and have remained an integral part of the population. Though a substantial minority, these Bulgarian Muslims have integrated well within the population and have built bridges of friendship and understanding with their Christian neighbours.
Recently, a series of ill-thought publications from Denmark enraged the Muslim community and, as a result, many engaged in riotous action and violent retaliations. In this case, Bulgaria 's Muslims offer a bright example to the rest of their brothers: The religious leaders of Bulgaria's Muslim community condemned the Prophet Muhammad drawings and called for peaceful protests.
The chief office of Bulgaria 's Mufti has expressed the deep offence of the Bulgarian Muslim communities by the publication of controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad both in foreign and Bulgarian media.
Bulgarian Muslims gather (picture)
Bulgarian scientist, inventor of automatic transmission, sues Toyota
The transmission of Toyota's Prius has been invented and developed by the Bulgarian Rumen Antonov, but he has received no financial benefits from his invention, German Die Welt wrote.
Antonov, who is currently living in France, has brought a legal suit in Germany against the automobile giant, the newspaper reported.
The scientist is claiming EUR 3 M as he has developed the new automatic transmission used by Toyota in its models Prius and Lexus RX. The Bulgarian has patented the transmission invented by him in France back in 1988 and since 1992 he has a license, which is valid on the territory of Europe.
Sofia enters bid for Winter Olympics
Sofia's application for Winter Olympics host in 2014 will rely not only on the budget of $1.322 billion directly related to the event, but also on $820 million to be invested in public funds and infrastructure. This emerged after the International Olympic Committee accepted Bulgaria's application.
Bulgarians and the Harry Potter connection
If you are a Harry Potter enthusiast like myself, you will surely know the name of Viktor Krum. The 'dashing' magician will compete in the TriWizard tournament; there have been strongly-supported rumors that he and Hermione Granger are shifting into the romantic. Yes, Krum is Bulgarian (kind of), but there are a few things you did not know:
• Krum is the name of the first recognized founder of the Bulgarian nation, Khan Krum, who ruled in the 7th century.
• His name is pronounced Krum, not crum-(my). It is a hard "u" like the sound in "puma."
• He was considered a genius by many, having entered the International Quidditch League while still attending wizarding school at Durmstrang (far from the truth).
• In the movie, the Durmstrang school is welcomed as "our friends from the north." That is geographically improbable considering Bulgaria is located south of England.
Children prized for creating violence-free games
Primary and High school students in Bulgaria competed in a contest asking them to create a violence-free computer game on Thursday. The competition, called "A game with your idea", was held in the eve of the World's Day of the Child, that marks the adoption of UN's convention for children rights.
Traditional Japanese sumo getting "Bulgarian accent"
With the next tournament in sumo set to begin on Sunday, all eyes are on the rivalry between the yokozuna, or grand champion, a Mongolian named Asashoryu, and a rising star from Bulgaria, Kotooshu.
The rise of foreign wrestlers in sumo has stoked fears of a foreign invasion in the past, read the International Herald Tribune on Thursday. But the emergence of Europeans may be a blessing for the ancient Japanese sport, which is suffering from falling popularity amid an absence of locally born heroes.
Another 75 Days of Agony for the Bulgarian Nurses
The Supreme Cassation Court of Libya postponed hearings on the AIDS trial against the five Bulgarian nurses for January 31, 2006. New pleading will be heard in the courtroom. Thousands of Libyans attacked the building of the Supreme Cassation Court, shouting death for the nurses. The five women have been in jail for seven years already without receiving a fair trial and investigation.
The Way Bulgaria Jumped into Libyan Trap
This article is just an opinions editorial, which describes in a few words some of the reasons which stand behind the long and painful prison stay of five innocent Bulgarian nurses in a country that does not abide to any human right laws.
Libyan court postpones Bulgarian nurses ruling
This is an article from Reuters about the latest ruling of the Libyan Supreme Court and some of the latest developments on the case of the Bulgarian medics in Libya from the view of a Western journalist.
Bulgarian President calls Libyan President
You may have read an earlier post of mine in which I described the huge international AIDS scandal involving Bulgaria and Libya (click here for the article). Although the situation remains dire, intellectuals and civil groups from both sides of the divide are trying to establish a friendlier climate of communication in the hope of bringing this tragedy to a peaceful end.
This (brief) article documents a simple, yet powerfully symbolic step √ a phone call of congratulations. Perhaps, in our world of tense diplomacy and hostility, the simplest action can bring us closer to understanding.
Bulgarian wrestler wins Gold
There are a few things which bring Bulgarians internationally fame. Wrestling is one of them. Turkey and Bulgaria routinely win the top prizes in the Olympics. Olympic champion Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria won the gold medal Sunday in the 132-pound Greco-Roman division on the last day of the World Wrestling Championships.
After winning, he said "I want to continue because you can never have too much success.■ He has been elected to the wrestling▓s Hall of Fame.
Bulgarian mime performs to beat own Guinness record
Every single news section should have a bit of the absurd. Keeping in line with this belief, I have decided to cover the famous and powerful art of mimes.
Popular Bulgarian mime artist Alexander Iliev is set to smash his own Guinness record by staging a 26-hour performance. The mime marathon includes hundreds of different pantomime pieces, dances of Eastern European countries, clown sketches, circus acts and variety tricks, as well as dances with original national masks from the repertoire of the greatest mime masters in the world.
Amazing 6.5 / 7 by Topalov in first RR
The best Bulgarian chess player Veselin Topalov is playing the games of his life in the Chess World Championships in San Luis, Argentina. In the first half of the competition, the Bulgarian grand master won 6 of his first 7 games and drew in the other one. This is a feat no other chess player has ever been able to achieve in the history of the World Championships, which started in 1886.
Bulgaria to pull out of Iraq after December polls
The new Socialist government in Bulgaria has decided to change its plans to pull out all national troops from Iraq as early as possible. The new plan is to wait for the end of this year, which means that our troops would still be there until the end of the general elections set for December 15th, 2005.
Bulgarian Football Makes Breakthrough in Europe
The past week was full of excitement for soccer fans in Bulgaria. Three of the four club teams √ Levski Sofia, CSKA Sofia, and Litex Lovech - which reached the first round of the UEFA Cup managed to qualify for the group stages of the same competition. Not even once before had any Bulgarian soccer club team managed to reach this far in the UEFA Cup, and now we had three qualify at the same. The euphoria in the country was amazing. It even reminded me of the summer of 1994, when the national team got fourth place in the World Championships here in the United States. An interview with one of the best Bulgarian comedians shows a little bit of the excitement that followed the games.
Greetings to everyone! My name is Ivo Dimitrov; I was born in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, and I went to Beaverton High School. I have declared a Spanish philology major and I concentrate on my History major (which is dearer to my heart).
I enjoy reading the classics, debating, and trying out different kinds of chocolate. I encourage you to visit my website (www.willamette.edu/~idimitro); there you can find brief information on Bulgaria as well as some information on myself. I would appreciate a guestbook entry.
This is my third semester with the World News program. I am especially interested in covering news articles that have a cross-cultural illuminating effect. However, the absurd may seep into my reviews from time to time.
I hope that with each story you discover yet one more link to an experience of yours, and that these links can serve as true bridges of identification.
Wow, year #4 is under way. I cannot believe what is happening, I am already in my last year of my Willamette experience, and it seems to me as if I started a few days ago. It is also my fourth year of writing for Willamette World News, the place where all of the campus residents can find lots of news from all over the world right from the source √ the international students who represent their own countries here on campus.
It is time for the first issue of the year and I am really excited to be writing the introduction article for this year. So, I guess it is time to tell you what I did this summer. I was really worried that this might be my last real summer before maybe entering graduate school, so I decided to live life to the fullest, so to say. No books, no textbooks, no studying for the whole two months spent in Bulgaria. The first couple of weeks, I spent at home with my parents, well not really since I was only home to sleep in my bed √ the days were spent meeting with all my friends, going to new cafes and clubs and so on. I spent a couple of days in Sofia, our beloved capital, with some of my friends who were working there for the summer √ the schedule there was pretty much the same as it was in my hometown.
In the beginning of August, I went on an organized excursion to Greece. It was awesome. I managed to visit all the places we were studying about in my Art History: Prehistoric to Gothic class √ the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Sounion, the temple of Zeus in Athens, the Theatre of Dionysus, the Acropolis, etc. The artifacts we managed to see were so ancient and famous that I could not believe my eyes that I can actually touch them. Although, I am not American, I was getting into all the museums and sites with my Willamette ID card, since there was a 50% student discount at all of the places we visited. I am telling you Greek people were not very fond of Americans, or people with American ID cards, the guy who sold me the ticket at the Acropolis looked at my student card and said American, I replied with a ⌠Yes■ and he looked at me very queerly and almost threw the tickets at me. We also managed to see the change of the Presidential guard in front of the Presidential building, the ancient Olympic stadium which was renovated for the Olympic Games in 2004, the National Archaeological Museum. This was my first visit to Thessalonica and Athens and Greece in general, but I enjoyed it so much that I would go back there at the first opportunity, because I wish I could have spent more time there. Four days are not enough for someone to feel the magic of such a colorful place.
After the time spent in Greece, it was time for the warmth and sunshine of the Black Sea. I spent almost a week visiting a friend in Varna, the largest Bulgarian port on the Black Sea. A few of my other friends also stayed in the same apartment and we had a really great time playing cards at night and sunbathing on the ⌠Golden Sands■ beaches (this sea resort has few of the best beaches on the whole Bulgarian coast).
After the week I spent on the coast, I had to go back home and start preparing all my things to come back to Willamette and the good old Salem. After a pretty long trip, I managed to get safely to Portland, after flying through Milan, Chicago, and Salt Lake City. I have been here for almost a month and school has been treating me well so far. It is my senior year and the classes I have to take during my last two semesters at Willamette will be pretty challenging and I will have to divide my time between school work and preparing for the GRE exam which I will most probably take in November. But I believe I am ready for it and will be able to manage to finish everything successfully.
English Family Became Kardjali's Talisman
This article briefly describes the story behind the decision of a British family to settle in Kardjali, a town 30 miles from the Bulgarian border with Greece. Nine years ago, after visiting Bulgaria for the first time, the family just decided to settle there for good. There also are a couple of photos of the house and the street where they are currently living.
Bulgaria Lost Its Icon
Emil Dimitrov, one of the best singers in Bulgarian history, passed away at the age of 65. There is hardly a person, who does not know his most popular song ⌠My country, my Bulgaria■ by heart. Under the name ⌠Monica■, the song has been translated into French, Italian, German and Swedish. His song ⌠Arlekino■ was translated into Russian and became a hit in the former USSR, sung by Alla Pugacheva. The article offers a retrospective to his past with a brief history of his achievements and successes during his artistic years. The second article describes the funeral of Emil Dimitrov, enumerating the some of the people who attended it.
US army says killing of Bulgarian "tragic accident"
Once again, the US army has proved its unwillingness to pursue the truth behind any of the incidents considered as ⌠friendly fire■ in Iraq. This is shown by the fact that the US soldiers who killed the Private Gardi Gardev several weeks ago will not be prosecuted or trialed, because the event was characterized as a ⌠tragic accident■ by the US top command. But this is what everybody was expecting anyway┘
BSP Runs at the Elections in Rap Rhythm
In the upcoming general elections the Bulgarian Socialist Party is changing strategy - it will draw young voters with rap music. Rap is particularly popular among the 18-year-olds and the BSP Leadership hopes to take advantage. The party is however worried that they may lose the support of the elderly people, who have always formed a substantial part of the BSP electorate. Hence, the party has decided to make rap and techno cover versions of the old partisan songs. The problem however remains √ wouldn▓t BSP▓s elder voters consider the cover versions a mockery with the well-loved lyrics?
Bulgarian Longest Horo Enters Guinness
Under the initiative of the singer Iliya Lukov, popular for its performance of traditional folk songs, the longest horo (ring dance) will be formed on May 2 around St Alexander Nevski Cathedral in the capital Sofia. 18 to 20 thousand dancers are expected to chain hand by hand and thus set a Guinness record. Willing ordinary citizens would be welcomed to join the folklore ensembles. Each participant will be given a sticker with his or her name, as this is the Guinness Book of Records requirement.
We Get Scanty Funds for Surgeries
Prof. Radoslav Gaidarski, one of the founding fathers of pancreatic surgery in Bulgaria says the first liver transplantation in Bulgaria was delayed due to a lack of funds. Suitable recipients need suitable donors but such are hard to find under the new Organ Transplant Law. Under previous legislation a patient had to explicitly refuse to donate his organs, anyone who did not do so was considered a potential donor. The Organ Transplant Act states that a patient should sign a statement included in their medical records to confirm this consent has been given. How is Bulgaria the going to aid the approximately 100 patients who need transplantation every year?
Clock towards European Entry is ticking
This brief article talks about the newly constructed clock that will countdown to Bulgaria▓s entry into the European Union; it highlights the motives of the governing party and the Bulgarian people to become integrated in the European community through the EU. Is Europe becoming
One as more countries join this supranational community? The answer in Bulgaria seems to lean to: "Yes".
Trial against Bulgarian doctors in Aids scandal
This website has outlined some of the major parties involved in the "Libyan Trial". The huge international controversy was raised when Libya accused several Bulgarian doctors and nurses that they have engaged in "a conspiracy to infect the Libyan children with AIDS and HIV". Amid a failing public health system, international agencies such as the EU, UN, and USA condemned the Libyan abuse of human rights towards the Bulgarians
and demanded a fair and open trial.Currently the trial is slowly proceeding; constant reports of torture, denial of legal representation, and unrest among the international parties involved makes the situation tense. International organizations have put serious pressure and threatened sanctions if Libya does not release the doctors and nurses. The president/dictator of Libya faces mounting domestic pressure amid an ineffective regime and sees the trial as a means to raise his public image in Libya; at the same time, his new policies of expansion and reconciliation with the international community conflict with his domestic policy in this case.
300,000 Delinquent in Paying Health Insurances Remitted
After deliberating for a long time, the Bulgarian government finally decided to exempt Bulgarian citizens who have lived abroad for more than 183 days in the last calendar year from their health insurance payments. Anyone who has spent more than half of the days in 2004 in a foreign country would not have to pay back the insurance payments he or she was supposed to pay in the last twelve month. This decision comes as a relief to all of the Bulgarian citizens living abroad, because up to today their health insurance status in Bulgaria was really undefined.
Private Gurdev Killed by US Bullet
This article points out that the eighth Bulgarian soldier killed in Iraq was not killed by terrorists as it was first reported but by an American soldier, guarding a communication point. This incident occurred 2 hours before the similar murder of an Italian negotiations officer by an American patrol in Baghdad. The slaying of our soldier proves once again the incompetence of the US soldiers currently deployed in Iraq.
USA Admitted Two Mistakes in Line with Gurdev's Death
This article illustrates the results of the US led investigation about the so called ⌠friendly-fire■ related death of Private Gurdi Gurdev. The results confirm the hypothesis that the US soldiers did not do anything to prevent this incident from happening.
The legend behind the "Martenitsa"
March 1st is a traditional holiday unique for Bulgaria. People exchange and pin to their clothes ⌠martenitsas■, tassels made out of red and white weaved threads. The symbolic significance and function of the "matenitsa" range from an amulet for protection from evil spirits to a symbol of the coming spring. Follow the link below to learn the legend of ⌠martenitsa■ as well as how to make one for yourselves.
March 3rd - Independence Day for Bulgaria
On March 3rd Bulgaria celebrates its Independence from the 500 year-long Turkish supremacy. On March 3, 1878 in the small town of San Stefano, a peace treaty was signed to put an end to the Russo-Turkish war. The victory of the Russian army, led by Tsar Alexander II brought Bulgaria back on the map of Europe.
Women's day - nice gesture or degrading tradition?
March 8th is celebrated as International Women▓s Day. In Bulgaria, the holiday has a long-standing tradition. It is an opportunity for people to acknowledge the special women in their lives √ mothers, sisters, wives. While many women feel faltered to have a day dedicated solely to them, others have been arguing that it degrades female dignity by setting an only date on which due respect is shown to them. Here is an American perspective on the issue:
Americans Queue to Buy Martenitsas at $1
This article shows how Bulgarians currently living in the US found an original way of incorporating a profitable business with continuing their traditions in a foreign country. They have started selling martenitsas √ bracelets made of interwoven red and white threads, worn after March 1st until the beginning of the spring season √ to people in Florida. Bulgarians believe that martenitsas bring good luck and health to the person who is wearing them.
Nurses Pinch Doctors
This article talks about the reversion of the trends of harassment in the field of medical practice. According to a recent survey, the cases of nurses harassing younger doctors have increased and even surpassed the cases of doctors harassing nurses.
Soup Ad Sparks "Diplomatic Crisis" between Turkey and Bulgaria
A TV soup commercial produced by a Turkish company for a TV channel in Germany has caused a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Bulgaria. In the commercial, a Turkish citizen on his way from Germany to Turkey is purportedly asked to pay bribes by a Bulgarian or a Serbian customs officer.
Country profile: Bulgaria
This is BBC▓s profile about Bulgaria with links to several media sources at the end. The profile offers a short overview for the country and describes completely the political system and situatio. There also are several geographical and geopolitical facts.
Hello!
My name is Rositsa and I am coming back to World News for a third consecutive semester. For this period, I have joined Hristo Pavlov in an effort to bring to you the most interesting events which color the daily social, political and cultural life of our home country √ Bulgaria. I hope that I have been able to present to you so far an objective and engaging perspective on Bulgarian and Balkan sensibility and that this attempt of mine has provoked your interest towards this unique piece of the globe.
Bulgaria is currently undergoing a rich in change and hardship transition from centralized economy to free market economy, from communism, to post-communism to democracy, in preparation for the country▓s admission to European Union. I eagerly encourage you to join me regularly on these pages to witness the historical process of a nation▓s reevaluation of identity and goals.
Bulgarian Muslims Protest Peacefully
The Ottoman yoke in Bulgaria lasted for 500 years and affected the make-up of the population in profound ways. Indeed, almost 13% of Bulgarians converted and have remained an integral part of the population. Though a substantial minority, these Bulgarian Muslims have integrated well within the population and have built bridges of friendship and understanding with their Christian neighbours.
Recently, a series of ill-thought publications from Denmark enraged the Muslim community and, as a result, many engaged in riotous action and violent retaliations. In this case, Bulgaria 's Muslims offer a bright example to the rest of their brothers: The religious leaders of Bulgaria's Muslim community condemned the Prophet Muhammad drawings and called for peaceful protests.
The chief office of Bulgaria 's Mufti has expressed the deep offence of the Bulgarian Muslim communities by the publication of controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad both in foreign and Bulgarian media.
Bulgarian scientist, inventor of automatic transmission, sues Toyota
The transmission of Toyota's Prius has been invented and developed by the Bulgarian Rumen Antonov, but he has received no financial benefits from his invention, German Die Welt wrote.
Antonov, who is currently living in France, has brought a legal suit in Germany against the automobile giant, the newspaper reported.
The scientist is claiming EUR 3 M as he has developed the new automatic transmission used by Toyota in its models Prius and Lexus RX. The Bulgarian has patented the transmission invented by him in France back in 1988 and since 1992 he has a license, which is valid on the territory of Europe.
Sofia enters bid for Winter Olympics
Sofia's application for Winter Olympics host in 2014 will rely not only on the budget of $1.322 billion directly related to the event, but also on $820 million to be invested in public funds and infrastructure. This emerged after the International Olympic Committee accepted Bulgaria's application.
France Proclaims Bulgaria Competitor in Wine-making
According to the latest issue of French "Viti-Net", specialized in the field of viticulture and winery, Bulgaria is a pending competitor in the field of wine-making with the country's EU accession slated for 2007. This is an important acknowledgement for our wine industry which has struggled in the last couple of years, due to the decrease in grape production and the competition of imported wines.
Powell: We Feel Proud to Have You for Allies
The US Secretary of State Colin Powell appraised Bulgaria▓s involvement in the ⌠liberation■ of Iraq. He was visiting Sofia for the annual meeting of the OSCE. He also promised the support of the United States for the liberation of the five Bulgarian nurses who are still kept as prisoners in Libya. Bulgaria▓s Foreign Minister Solomon Passy presented Mr. Powell with a golden replica of the sword of Khan Kubrat, the first Bulgarian Khan in the 6th c. AD.
U.S. slams Bulgaria as toothless against crime
The US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew declared that the Eastern European country was powerless against the thriving gangsterism. He also commented on the effectiveness with which the country is managing to seize large loads of illegal drugs and counterfeit money, but at the same time unable to put any of the crime leaders involved in these crimes in jail. Corruption was also described as a huge problem for Bulgaria by the top US diplomat in the country.
Bush's Victory Is a Benefit for Bulgaria
The chair of the Atlantic club in Bulgaria stated his opinion that the victory which George W. Bush won in the Presidential elections in the United States would have a better impact on Bulgaria than the potential win by John Kerry. He defended his point with several arguments, based on his own analysis of the current situation in Europe and the rest of the world.
Powell Coming with 300 Agents
Bulgaria will be the host for the 12th summit of the OSCE √ Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The summit will be held in the National Palace of Culture on December 6 and 7, 2004. The foreign ministers of over 40 countries will attend the meeting. Due to the increased security measures, the parts of the downtown area of Bulgaria▓s capital will be closed for several days.
First Baby Liver Transplant Became Fact in BG
The first liver-transplant operation in Bulgaria▓s history was carried out several days ago. The patient was a seven year old baby girl, who received a small part of her father▓s liver. A team of several Bulgarian and Italian surgeons performed the operation which lasted 15 hours.
Halloween Wins over Enlighteners
This is a fascinating perspective that juxtaposes the newly adopted celebrations of the traditionally American holiday Halloween to the Day of National Enlighteners, a long-standing part of Bulgarian cultural tradition, celebrated on November 1st. The fundamental question remains √ can we allow commercialism to blur cultural boundaries to such an extent that it essentially eliminates tradition?
BG Trooper Put the Fear of God into Terrorists
Colonel Hristo Hristov, interviewed here, was second in command of the Multinational Brigade and senior national representative of the second Bulgarian battalion in Iraq from January 15 to July 15, 2004. He speaks of the challenges that face the Bulgarian contingent in Ad-Diwaniyah, Iraq.
Passengers Fined 1,000 Levs Each If the Driver is Drunk
Every passenger in a car driven by a drunk driver will be fined 1,000 levs. If the impartial passenger has a driving license, it will be suspended for a year. Traffic police believes that this will make people more aware of the life-death decision that they are making by agreeing to ride with a person under the influence of alcohol. There is no history in Bulgaria of legal measures punishing the impartial passengers riding with a drunk driver. As drinking is an integral part of the social culture of the country, the issue promises to became basis for controversy.
Bulgaria starts troops transfer in Iraq to Divaniyah
Bulgaria has started moving its troops from Karbala, the city where already six Bulgarian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war, to Divaniyah √ the town where the Spanish contingent was patrolling before its withdrawal. The moving is set to continue until mid-December. This news comes several days after the Bulgarian government expressed its willingness to decrease its number of soldiers in Iraq from 480 to 430.
Bush's Victory Is a Benefit for Bulgaria
The chair of the Atlantic club in Bulgaria stated his opinion that the victory which George W. Bush won in the Presidential elections in the United States would have a better impact on Bulgaria than the potential win by John Kerry. He defended his point with several arguments, based on his own analysis of the current situation in Europe and the rest of the world.
Travel Bulgaria
I am trying to continue my tradition in presenting all sides of Bulgaria to you with this really cool website which I found several days ago. It has a lot of good information if you decide to travel to Bulgaria one day. One more think I want to say, just look at the pictures, they will tell you a far better story than the articles!
New Gold Find
The archeological team headed by Professor Georgi Kitov dug a huge gold treasure from the Golyamata Kosmatka Thracian tell near the village of Shipka. The site is the same that yielded a bronze head of the Greek deity Zeus a couple of weeks ago. The current finding consists of 73 articles, 20 of them of pure gold.
Unskilled Language Teachers Teach the Youth
According to a recent research poll, 25% of the all English teachers in primary schools in Bulgaria didn`t have the necessary qualification. The trend remains persistent through middle and high schools. While qualified language instructors are on demand, there is an excess of professionals in Chemistry, Physics and other subject areas. Teachers that cannot fulfill their horarium within their field of study can make up for this by teaching P.E., the Education Minister Igor Damyanov has decided.
Romania, Bulgaria on track for 2007 EU entry
The European Commission confirmed that Romania and Bulgaria were on track to join the bloc in 2007. Bulgaria closed its EU accession negotiations in June, but Romania has still to complete some areas of its entry file. The two neighboring countries were working towards the implementation of reforms after the collapse of communism in 1989 and were excluded from the wave of mostly central and eastern European states that joined the EU in May, boosting its members to 25 countries.
Bulgaria Lost a Hero in Karbala
One more Bulgarian soldier died in Iraq on Sunday. A ZIL truck packed up with explosives crashed into a two vehicle convoy of Bulgarian soldiers patrolling in Karbala. Three more soldiers were injured in the attack, but according to the reports from the senior command they are in stable condition. This attack raises the death toll of the Bulgarian contingent in Iraq to six.
Alla - 135 Minutes of Songs and Emotion
Alla Pugachova returned to Bulgaria to give her first concert in the country for almost a decade. As she said during the concert, ⌠Some 30 years ago my career started from Bulgaria. And if that is the beginning of the end it must start from here, too.■ 5,000 spectators sang together with the First Lady of the Russian pop-music. By the end of the concert, she had managed to make most of those people cry.
Moscow Insists on Petrol-for-Nuke Deal
The Russian government continues to insist on building the new nuclear power plant in Belene, Northern Bulgaria. The Russian Prime-minister has made a really lucrative offer to his Bulgarian counterpart √ Simeon Saxe-Coburg. The Russians are willing to approve the start of the profitable oil pipeline between Burgas and Alexandropoulos if they get the right to build the new power plant.
The Thracian tomb in the "Golyamata Kosmatka" mound
If you read Rositsa▓s article about the discovery of the huge tomb of an ancient Thracian king from a couple of weeks ago, this is going to be really interesting for you. The website is dedicated to this discovery and it has a pretty big picture gallery with some of the discoveries inside the tomb.
Chinese vice-premier holds talks with Bulgarian guest
The article is dedicated to the recent talks between the Chinese vice-premier Wu Yi and Bulgaria▓s deputy prime-minister and minister of economy Lidia Shuleva. The talks were dedicated to the past and future economic ties between the two countries.
Bulgaria Reluctant to Write Off Iraqi Debt
During the recent talks between the Bulgarian financial minister and his Iraqi counterpart, the former expressed his reluctance to further reduce the 1.7 billion $ which the Arab country owed to Bulgaria. This debt had been accumulated in the Cold War years when the two countries were close economic partners.
EU Criticizes Bulgaria about Legal System Reform, Freedom of Expression √ Report
Bulgaria was threatened by the European Union that if the legal reforms in the country do not accelerate in the near future, the date for the acceptance of Bulgaria into the E.U. community could be delayed one year.
Lonely Greek farmers take love bus abroad
The article explains some of the ways in which the Greek government is trying to fight the loneliness of its male farmers. With the help of the local governments, Greek farmers are searching for life-long partners outside of the borders of the country.
Bulgarian Nurses Fate "Stumbles" Libya's Integration
The fate of the five Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death in Libya is major obstacle for Libya's integration. Next month, the European Unions ministers would decide whether or not to lift the embargo imposed on Libya 18 years ago. One of the main reasons for the hesitation that still exists is the still ongoing trial against the Bulgarian medics in the Northern African country.
Milen Dobrev: I Was Ready to Break Record, but Didn't Try Hard
Read the interview with the Bulgaria▓s second Olympic champion from this summer▓s Olympic Games in Athens. He managed to defeat all the odds and win the gold medal in the 94 kg class in the weight-lifting competition.
Taliban on the Road
Here is a really nice description of the conditions that exist on the roads in Bulgaria. The author▓s way of describing what driving a car in Bulgaria means is extremely sharp and up to the point. The fact that enraged him the most was that on September 15th hardly anyone had their car lights on (September 15th is the first school day in Bulgaria).
Bronze Zeus Surprises Bulgaria
Bulgarian archaeologists excavated a bronze head believed to be that of the Greek deity Zeus. The head was discovered near the city of Shipka, near the location of another Thracian. The finding confirms that Bulgaria is a key territory of interest for modern archeology - a gold mask, weighing half a kilo and made of pure gold, alongside a ring, were discovered in August by the same team of archeologists.
Bulgaria Fought for Independence 30 Years
September 22 is the day on which Bulgaria celebrates its complete independence from the Turkish Empire. After 500 years of oppression, in 1878, Bulgaria gained its liberation but nevertheless the newly created kingdom remained under the authority of the Empire. September 22, 1908 formally ended the dependency, making Bulgaria a full-fledged European State.
FBI Priest Settled in Bulgaria
64-year-old Arthur Brook Ballard Jr., a former US police and FBI officer, has settled down in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. For 25 years he was a priest. First he was employed in the police and then worked for the FBI, having graduated from Theology School and Police Academy. He believes that priests should be employed in the Bulgarian police as well.
Hello!
My name is Rositsa Atanasova and this is my second year at Willamette. I am twenty years old and I am from Bulgaria. This is my fourth year in the United States. After finishing tenth grade in Bulgaria, I transferred to a Boarding School called Fryeburg Academy, situated close to the boarder between Maine and New Hampshire. I spent two years there before coming to Willamette.
My time here has been very enjoyable and meaningful. I have declared a major in Classical studies - an unusual academic path that surprised my family and friends immensely. Nevertheless, exactly these different perspectives on life that my college experience has given me are my biggest treasure.
I come back to World News after a year of experience with the publication. I believe that the work that we are committing ourselves to is indeed significant and noble. Despite the current age of globalization, the beauty of the world is in its very diversity, in the uniqueness of each nation and in each individual that represents that nation. We work to make diversity the basis of admiration and understanding, not of separation. I hope that when we paint our pictures of the world, you will enjoy them as much as we do!
Hi, there!
I can start with the same words as last year, after spending two short months back home in Bulgaria, I am finally back in my beloved Salem. As a matter of fact, I started to miss Salem just a little bit at the end of my stay back in Europe, but now since school started with full force I wish I was enjoying myself back on the nice and warm sands of the Black Sea. The summer in Europe as you may have heard was unusually cold and there were just a few days of real sunshine but I think I managed to enjoy them completely. I will not tell you the whole story about myself, if you want to read it, you may want to look in the archives from the fall of 2002, and there you can find a short summary of my biography.
I guess I have to tell you more about my summer and the several moths preceding it. My summer was fantastic and I had great time back with my friends and family. I even managed to visit Turkey, a country about 50 miles from my home town, but also a destination I had never visited before. The experience was completely new for me, but I managed to fully enjoy it. I did some hiking with my friends, went to the mountains with my family for a week, visited several interesting caves and most importantly managed to rest, something that I was not able to do in the 9 months I spent working and studying at Willamette. I will talk about school as little as I can. At the end of last year I decided to do a double major, both in Economics and Mathematics, so now I am enjoying myself with two Math classes and a Computer Science class. So, now I am having fun doing matrices and vector.
Sadly, almost all of the exchange and international students from last year left for their home countries and are not coming back to Willamette for this school year. I believe they were the thing that helped me go through last year and I want to thank them for that. Everybody was great and I wish one day I will be able to go around the world and meet with all of them once again. Fortunately, there is a new group of people from around the globe here this year, and I guess you will find out more about them if you read all of the other articles in this first Worldnews issue. So far, I have known them for two weeks but I truly believe that every single one of them is really nice, we have had a really great time and I am really looking forward to another exciting year of adventures.
12 Children Dead, Bulgaria in Shock
12 children died in a bus accident in Montenegro on Sunday, April 4th. The children were come back to their home town Svishtov after an excursion in Montenegro. A driver of the bus lost control over the vehicle after the tire of the bus went flat. The bus flew out of the road down into the Lim River, which is about 4 meters deep at this spot. Twelve of the kids drowned with the bus. Most of them were sitting at the back of the bus. They were also the youngest of the group.
Three Bulgarians Injured in Karbala
A truck driver was killed in Nasiria. Three Bulgarian troopers were wounded. A column of six vehicles, coming back from a mission were attacked from an ambush by 40 terrorists. Five of the drivers were spared but Mario Dimitrov Minchev was shot dead. The Bulgarian camp in Karbala is under siege.
Bulgaria-Born Christo Wraps New York Central Park
Bulgaria-born artist Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude who wrapped the German Reichstag in 1995 are planning a similar project. This time their target is Central Park in New York City. They are planning to put up 7,500 16-foot tall gates of saffron colored vinyl throughout most of Central Park, which are to bring the impression of a passing river.
In Memoriam
A Bulgarian soldier has been shot dead by suspected insurgents who ambushed his convoy in the Iraqi holy Shiite city of Karbala, coalition forces said. The soldier, a sergeant, was shot in the head, Maj. Slawomir Walenczykowski, of the central southern multinational division at Camp Babylon, said on Friday. Sergeant Dimitar Dimitrov died in a field hospital in Baghdad, where he was flown after the attack, a defense ministry spokesperson explained. He was the sixth Bulgarian soldier to be killed in Iraq.
12 Children Dead, Bulgaria in Shock
A bus full of Bulgarian pupils tumbled into the icy waters of Lim River in Montenegro. 12 kids from Svishtov town on the Danube River died in a road accident in Montenegro. A Bulgarian bus full of pupils coming back from an excursion, toppled into a 40 m deep chasm at about 9:20 pm on Sunday. In the bus there were 34 pupils, aged 12-17, from the Nikolay Katranov School in Svishtov town, their teachers and a woman guide. Driver Illia Izmirliev lost control over the vehicle at a sharp turn, as one of the tires went flat, the Serbian Interior Ministry reported.
King Samuel's Border-stone Saved from Treasure-hunters
A sensational archaeological find, was discovered in an anti-mafia squad campaign. The antique was about to be illegally exported to Macedonia. A border-stone with an inscription "Samuel, the Bulgarian Autocrat" on it was confiscated from the home of treasure-hunter Stamen V. from Samuilovo village. Experts from the Blagoevgrad town history museum dated the find from the beginning of the 11th century, A.C.
Foreign Minister Passy Couldn't Hold up Tears in Brussels
Solomon Passy cried when he saw the national flag of Bulgaria high on the mast before the NATO Headquarters. The Foreign Minister of Bulgaria couldn't help betraying his excitement while the national anthem was sounding. Tears welled up in his eyes and he could barely control his emotions. At 10.46 a.m. Bulgarian Time in front of the NATO Headquarters in Brussels the Bulgarian flag was hoisted at a gala ceremony. The ceremony marked the accession of Bulgaria and 6 other countries of Eastern Europe to the Alliance.
Bulgaria celebrates its national day
This same day, March 3rd 2004, marks the 126th anniversary of the country's Liberation from a five-century Ottoman rule. Celebrations all over the country marked the National Holiday. A commemorative service was held in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia. This day also marks the 126th anniversary of the San Stefano Peace Treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire which granted the independent existence of Bulgaria.
Bulgaria to close EU deal before November
Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passy▓s speech in front of a group of journalist on Wednesday expressed optimism about Bulgaria▓s acceptance in the European Union in 2007. He also said that the current government hopes to close all negotiation chapters and sign an EU membership before the crucial Parliamentary elections in the summer of 2005.
Defund Middle East Studies by Daniel Pipes
The "International Studies in Higher Education Act of 2003" (known familiarly as H.R. 3077), and waiting action by the Senate. H.R. 3077 calls for the creation of an advisory board to review the way in which roughly US$100 million in taxpayer money is spent annually on area studies (including Middle East studies) at the university level. What is the US to do with over $100 million which would be spent on area studies? Is it really worth it???
March 1st
In Bulgaria, March 1st marks the existence of a very unique tradition. Bulgarians at home and all around the world tie a white-and-red thread around their wrists or pin one on their coats or sweaters. This symbol is believed to protect the people, guard their happiness and health. The white-and-red thread, called martenitsa, is taken off and put under a stone when the flocks of storks start coming back to the country in the spring. Sometimes, martenitsa, can be tied to the branch of a tree to ensure that this tree will be healthy and give a lot of fruit that year. If you want to see what martenitsa looks like and what are the roots of this tradition, follow the link!
Five Right-wing Parties Compete for Power
This interview with the sociologist Vasil Tonchev reflects the state of Bulgarian political parties as the next Parliamentary elections are coming up. Recently there has been a split of the Union of Democratic Forces, a party that had the monopoly in the right political space. Tonchev is saying that this split is only natural as Bulgaria has to deal with such issues as Joining EU and NATO, on which opinions vary greatly. All the new parties are still very weak and so is the main party on the left - the Bulgarian Socialist Party. So, which is the least evil and who are we to vote for?
75 Years Imprisonment for Murderer of Bulgarian Student in USA
The murderer of Simeon Popov, a Bulgarian student at Syracuse University, was sentenced to 75 years of imprisonment without the right to pardon. The Afro-American Dominic Denard Jr shot Popov in the head as he was delivering a pizza order to an apartment. Considering the enormous number of Bulgarian students that study in the US, tragedies like this one fill the hearts of mothers that have sent their kids to study far from home with indescribable terror. All that we can hope for is that justice always emerges victorious as in this case but even then the pain of the loss never diminishes.
Employers Insist on Paying per Hour
Employers have insisted that the minimal monthly salary is removed from the Bulgarian system of payment and replaced with fixed hourly payment rates. Such a change follows closely the American payment system and would be quite new for Bulgaria, where currently most of the monthly earnings are a fixed value. The Minister of Labor and Social Policy argues that such a change will be beneficial, especially for students and housewives, and also that it will significantly reduce unemployment.
Award Named after Radichkov Established
Yordan Radichkov died at the age of 74 on January 21st, 2004. He is one of the most significant Bulgarian authors of the last quarter of the past century. Radichkov▓ style stood out with incredible individuality even during the period of strong socialist influence on prose. His name has gone far beyond the borders of Bulgaria as his books have been translated into more than 30 languages. The award, honoring him is established in Vratsa, the town where Radichkov started his career.
Radichkov▓s Obituary:
Slovenia Stole BG Rakia
Rakia (grape brandy) is the most popular alcohol in Bulgaria with a long-stnading tradition of preparation and consumption. Now Slovenia has managed to patent it first for European Union exports. Such a development is clearly seen as a disgrace by the Bulgarian people as suddenly another country presents a Bulgarian symbol as its own. It is not about the alcohol, it is rather a question of identity and pride.
Ship Sank with 18 Bulgarian Sailors on Board
A ship with 18 Bulgarian soldiers on board sank near the Bosphorus. The vessel was sailing under Cambodian flag, but almost all members of the crew were Bulgarian sailors. The heavy snow storms around the Turkish capital have paralyzed the entire city, forcing authorities to close all sea ports.
Brussels Gives EUR 3.5 B to Bulgaria, Romania Gets 6.5 B
The European Commission will allot to Bulgaria and Romania some 9-10 billion euro in the first three years of their membership. Bulgaria will get a little over one-third of the sum, the rest will go to Romania. Some of the money will be for closing the 3rd and 4th blocks of the nuclear power plant in Kozloduy.
Enel, Mitsui eye Bulgaria power project-minister
Italian Energy Company ENEL and Japanese trading company Mitsui have jointly offered to build a Bulgarian coal-fired plant at its Maritsa East power complex, the energy ministry said on Friday. Three years ago Bulgaria signed a deal for the construction of a 670-megawatt plant at Maritsa East One section with the U.S.-based company AES Corp. But the project has failed to kick off because AES has had difficulties in securing funding. Bulgaria is to decide whether to replace the U.S. company with a new investor, ministry officials have said.
"Simeon Out!", Holler 20,000
The protests against the government of Simeon II intensify. More and more people are protesting on the streets against the worsening social and political conditions in Bulgaria. Although the country is on the right path to the European Union membership, the social welfare is far from being in a good conditionЕ
Sofia Airport to Compete with Heathrow
The new Sofia airport will be ready in about two years. A plane of the Boeing 747 class will be able to land on the runaway. The new passenger terminal will be able to service more than 2 million people a yearЕ
Finance Minister Lowered Taxes
Last week, the tax rates were lowered. The minimum payment that is not to be subjected to taxation will increase from 110 levs to 120 levs ($1 = 1.65 levs). All the percentages for the other tax brackets were also lowered. Lower tax revenues would be compensated by decreasing the government spending for the budget of the different ministers.
Simeon: We close NPP in Kozloduy
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg announced his decision to close the third and fourth block of the nuclear plant Kozloduy. He justified his decision by saying that if the two nuclear blocks keep on operating, our joining the European Union will be put off with years. This news has faced fierce opposition as EU experts testified that the two blocks meets all required safety standards.
UK Expert: Bulgaria is Potential Target to Terrorist Attacks
A Cambridge expert said that Bulgaria is potential target to terrorist attacks. He explained that Bulgaria, as a host of several military bases and a US ally bears a greater threat of becoming future goal for terrorist actions.
Vassil Ivanov Lodged a Complaint to IOC for the Bulgarian Weightlifters
Three Bulgarian weightlifters have been banned from the World Weightlifting Championship in Vancouver, Canada. They were accused of manipulating their doping tests by supplying urine the same urine that belonged to neither of them. The Sports Minister Vassil Ivanov sent a letter of protest to the president of the International Olympic Committee.
Bulgaria was one of the first countries in Europe, which admitted women's voting rights in 1944, even ahead of France and Italy. Bulgaria also stands at the prestigious second place in Europe, only behind Portugal, for enrollment of women in higher education institutions. Women represent 57 % of the student body in these institutions. The country is still in the transition period of recognizing legally some of the basic rights that women must have. Domestic violence is a wide spread phenomenon in Bulgaria but its comprehension and articulation in public are still in its embryonic stage.
Bulgaria was one of the first countries in Europe, which admitted women's voting rights in 1944, even ahead of France and Italy. Bulgaria also stands at the prestigious second place in Europe, only behind Portugal, for enrollment of women in higher education institutions.
Bulgaria was one of the three countries on the United Nations' Security Council, along with Spain and England that supported the American invasion of Iraq. I don't know the exact reason for this support, but part of it was the $1.8 billion dollars of Iraqi debt, which the Iraqis owe to the country. Now, when the war is over, Bulgaria will probably have to suffer some of the consequences the war might have on the economy. Whether the short-term conflict in Iraq will have favorable consequences for the Bulgarian economy will be clear in June or September, the Vice Prime-minister Nikolay Vasilev forecast. The first effect felt so far is the rise in oil prices; tourism has also been affected slightly. According to Vasilev, Bulgaria can expect a 10-percent increase in tourism receipts this year. A couple of weeks ago the Bulgarian Prime-minister Simeon Saxe Coburg-Gotha returned from his working visit in Washington. He assessed his meeting with president Bush as very successful. During the visit, the Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passi accompanied the Prime minister. Minister Passi commented from the USA that Bulgaria had presented all its requests: increasing US investment, the trade turnover, and the problem about Iraq's debt to Bulgaria. Asked to comment Simeon Saxe Coburg-Gotha's words that Bulgaria would receive guarantees like a NATO member, Passi quoted Bush: 'The USA stands by its friends.' Bulgaria can hardly receive a bigger guarantee than that, Passi commented. The military support for Bulgaria will increase substantially, the Defense minister Nikolay Svinarov was quoted.
On December 10th, 1998, the Death Penalty was abolished in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian government chose this date on purpose. It was the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Issued on this exact date in 1948, this declaration represented the will of the General Assembly of the United Nations to protect the equal and inalienable rights of all human beings. The vote of the National Assembly to abolish the Death Penalty showed the strong wish of the whole Bulgarian nation to join the United Nations in their pursuit of protecting the most important right of every human being п his or her life. The last execution in Bulgaria took place on 4 November 1989, but the courts continued to pass death sentences on those convicted of aggravated murder.
In the course of 1998 the Bulgarian au