Bulgaria, EU's least vaccinated nation, faces deadly surge

September 08, 2021

VELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria (AP) — Standing outside the rundown public hospital in Bulgaria's northern town of Veliko Tarnovo, the vaccination unit's chief nurse voices a sad reality about her fellow citizens: “They don’t believe in vaccines.”

Bulgaria has one of the highest coronavirus death rates in the 27-nation European Union and is facing a new, rapid surge of infections due to the more infectious delta variant. Despite that, people in this Balkan nation are the most hesitant in the bloc to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Only 20% of adults in Bulgaria, which has a population of 7 million, have so far been fully vaccinated. That puts it last in the EU, which has an average of 69% fully vaccinated. “We are open every day,” Yordanka Minekova, the chief vaccination nurse who has worked at the hospital for 35 years, told The Associated Press. “But people who want to be vaccinated are very few.”

Krasimira Nikolova, a 52-year-old restaurant worker, has chosen not to get vaccinated, saying she has doubts over the vaccines' effectiveness, even though the shots have been shown to be highly effective in preventing serious illness and deaths.

“I don’t believe vaccines work,” she told the AP. “I already had the virus. I don’t believe it’s so dangerous.” But Sibila Marinova, manager of Veliko Tarnovo’s intensive care unit, says the full COVID-19 ICU ward in her hospital shows that's simply not true.

“100% of the ICU patients are unvaccinated,” she told the AP, adding that staff shortages are only piling on more pressure. And she said she's angry that so many Bulgarians are refusing to get jabbed.

Bulgaria has access to all four of the vaccines approved by the EU — Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. But since the start of the pandemic, more than 19,000 people in Bulgaria have died of COVID-19, the EU’s third-highest death rate, behind only the Czech Republic and Hungary. In the last week, an average of 41 people have died each day.

In response, the government imposed tighter restrictions Tuesday. Restaurants and cafes must close at 11 p.m. and their tables are limited to six people. Nightclubs have been shuttered and cinemas and theaters are limited to half capacity. Outdoors sports arenas are limited to 30% capacity.

“The low vaccination rate forces us to impose these measures,” Health Minister Stoycho Katsarov said. Despite being in a vulnerable age group, 71-year-old retiree Zhelyazko Marinov doesn't want to get vaccinated.

“I think I’m healthy enough and have a good natural immunity,” he said, adding that he could be persuaded to get vaccinated if he couldn't travel without a vaccine certificate. Mariya Sharkova, a public health law specialist, believes that Bulgaria's worryingly low vaccine uptake is the result of residents' low trust in official institutions, along with fake news about the shots, political instability and a weak national vaccination campaign.

“In Bulgaria, we don’t have good health literacy,” she told the AP. “Many people choose to believe conspiracy theories and fake news.” Only vaccines that are mandatory in Bulgaria — such as measles, mumps and rubella — have a high uptake. Sharkova said some blame has to lie with the government's vaccination program.

“They didn’t build any strategy on how to fight vaccine hesitancy,” she said. “We didn’t have any real information campaign for the vaccines. The ministry of health relies mainly on announcements on the ministry’s website, and I don’t think anyone actually goes on and reads it.”

“The best policy for such hesitant countries and populations as ours are mandatory vaccines,” said Sharkova, who is dismayed that national TV channels often invite vaccine-skeptic doctors to be on their programs.

But making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory could risk further polarizing the issue, she said. Hriska Zhelyazkova, a 67-year-old military officer from the coastal city of Burgas, says she distrusts vaccines because "they were created so quickly” -- apparently unaware that years of research laid the groundwork for the vaccine shots, which now have been used in hundreds of millions of people with exceedingly rare serious side effects.

Still, she said she may get vaccinated if authorities slap tougher restrictions on unvaccinated people. Back at the Veliko Tarnovo hospital, pro-vaccination drawings colored by children hang on the walls. “You are our superheroes,” one caption read.

But Minekova, the vaccination nurse, isn't optimistic about the future. “Somehow, I think it’s too late,” she said. “The right moment has been missed. I don’t see a way right now to solve this.”

Valentina Petrova contributed to this report from Burgas.

Bulgaria is latest block in North Macedonia's bid to join EU

November 21, 2020

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — It's not easy to plan your future in a region like the Balkans, where history often clouds the present. One of Europe’s youngest nations, North Macedonia, spent years resolving differences with Greece that prevented it joining the European Union and NATO. This week, that path was blocked again, this time by another neighbor, Bulgaria.

The government in Sofia wants North Macedonia to formally recognize that its language has Bulgarian roots and to stamp out what it says is anti-Bulgarian rhetoric. Launching accession talks with a prospective member country requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU nations. Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told Bulgaria’s lawmakers that their country withheld its consent Tuesday because North Macedonia was not observing a 2017 bilateral friendship treaty and was fueling hatred through some of its policies.

“Hysteria has been whipped up in their media, fueled by open hate speech toward Bulgaria, and by branding anyone who expresses a dissenting opinion a traitor,” Zaharieva said. “In effect, Skopje has continued its policy of maintaining unfounded claims about minority rights, history and language, among other matters,” Zaharieva said.

Bulgaria insists that instead of “Macedonian language” the formulation "the official language of the Republic of North Macedonia” should be used in the negotiating framework. Sofia considers the language a dialect of Bulgarian, arguing that the official language of its neighbor was artificially created after 1944.

Bulgaria also wants a text in the roadmap to state that claims that there is a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria will not be supported in any form. According to a 2011 census, some 1,600 of Bulgaria’s 7 million citizens call themselves Macedonians. Historians in Sofia claim that these people are not a minority but refugees who moved to Bulgaria after the Balkan wars at the beginning of the 20th century.

Zaharieva said Bulgaria wants legal guarantees before it will give the green light to membership negotiations that were slated to start next month. North Macedonia says its national identity and language are not open to discussion. A commission of renowned historians from both countries has been working to resolve the standoff but has so far failed to find enough common ground to satisfy the two nations.

Bulgaria, which joined the EU in 2007, has been an active supporter of letting in the six Western Balkan countries, believing it could help improve living standards and insulate the region against the influence of Russia and China.

North Macedonia’s government said Wednesday that it remains “committed to the European path.” During times of tension, “European values need to be demonstrated. Dialogue instead of conflict,” government spokesman Dushko Arsovski told reporters. “Calmness and readiness for cooperation, instead of nationalism for domestic use and new isolation.”

North Macedonia, a country of 2 million, applied for EU membership in 2004 and received a positive response from the executive European Commission a year later. However, a long-running dispute over the country’s name — when it declared independence from Yugoslavia, it was called Macedonia, the same as a neighboring Greek province — kept Greece blocking the move for years. The dispute was resolved when the country was renamed North Macedonia early last year.

A year ago, France demanded a postponement in starting the talks, arguing that with Britain preparing to pull out of the EU and other pressing issues, the bloc had too much on its plate. EU leaders finally agreed in March to begin the process for opening formal accession talks with both North Macedonia and Albania. But that can't happen for North Macedonia until Bulgaria is on board.

Officials from Germany, which currently holds the EU’s rotating EU presidency, said they hoped Bulgaria and North Macedonia will be able to find a compromise and the membership talks can begin before the end of the year.

Other Western Balkan countries are at varying stages of EU membership talks: Serbia and Montenegro have already started negotiating some chapters of the final deal; Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina have signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the first step on the path.

Konstantin Testorides in Skopje, North Macedonia, contributed to this report.

UEFA closes Bulgaria stadium for fan racism at England game

October 29, 2019

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Bulgaria was punished Tuesday for the Nazi salutes and racist chanting of its soccer fans with an order to play a European Championship qualifying game in an empty stadium, although the team avoided expulsion from the competition.

UEFA's options to deal with the incidents in Sofia at a Euro 2020 qualifier against England could have removed Bulgaria from the playoffs in March. The UEFA disciplinary panel also put Bulgaria on probation for two years, which should include most of the 2022 World Cup qualifying program. A repeat offense will trigger a stadium closure for a second competitive game.

Bulgaria fans made Nazi salutes and targeted monkey noises at England's black players during a 6-0 loss two weeks ago. The game was twice stopped by the referee following UEFA guidelines to address discrimination.

The Bulgarian soccer federation was fined 85,000 euros ($94,000), including the mandated 50,000 euros ($55,500) for a second charge of racist behavior. A charge of fans throwing objects was also proven.

Although the England game was the third time Bulgaria fans were guilty of racist behavior this year, the previous incidents at back-to-back Euro 2020 qualifiers in June were judged together in July. UEFA's disciplinary code states a team will be punished for a second offense with "one match played behind closed doors and a fine of 50,000 euros."

A third offense "is punished with more than one match behind closed doors, a stadium closure, the forfeiting of a match, the deduction of points and/or disqualification from the competition," according to UEFA rules.

Bulgaria's next home game is against the Czech Republic on Nov. 17. The stadium closure will likely cost the national soccer body at least 100,000 euros ($110,000) in lost revenue. Bulgaria drew about 5,000 fans for home games against Kosovo and Montenegro, then more than 17,000 to see England.

Bulgaria is last in Group A with no chance to advance to Euro 2020 by finishing in the top places. However, the sanctions do not affect Bulgaria's second chance to reach the final tournament from the playoff round in March. Potential playoff opponents include Iceland and Scotland.

A UEFA charge of Bulgaria fans causing disturbance during the national anthem for England accounted for 10,000 euros ($11,100) of the 85,000 euros ($94,000) fine. The English Football Association was fined 5,000 euros ($5,500) for a similar charge.

Bulgarian nationalists march in honor of pro-Nazi general

February 16, 2019

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian nationalists have marched through Sofia, the country's capital, to honor a World War II general known for his anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi activities. The annual Lukov March, staged by the far-right Bulgarian National Union, attracted hundreds of dark-clad supporters who walked through downtown Sofia holding torches and Bulgarian flags and chanting nationalist slogans.

It came despite strong condemnation by human rights groups, political parties and foreign embassies. The city mayor had banned the rally but organizers won a court order overturning the ban. A heavy police presence blocked any clashes between nationalists and their opponents.

Ahead of the march, the World Jewish Congress warned about the rise of far-right activities across Europe aimed at promoting anti-Semitism, hatred, xenophobia and Nazi glorification among young people.

"We urge governments across Europe to prioritize the introduction of administrative bans against such marches. This is not just a problem of the Jewish communities, but of European citizens and governments at large," the organization's CEO Robert Singer said.

In Sofia, the marchers praised Gen. Hristo Lukov, who had supported Germany during World War II and was killed by an anti-fascist resistance movement on Feb. 13, 1943. The general served as Bulgaria's war minister from 1935 to 1938, and led the pro-Nazi Germany Union of Bulgarian Legions from 1932 until 1943.

Organizers deny that Lukov was an anti-Semitic fascist or that they are neo-fascists, but claim that the descendants of the murderers of Lukov are afraid of the event. Zvezdomir Andronov, leader of the Bulgarian National Union, says the group's main objective is "the salvation of the Bulgarian people" from the social and economic crisis the country has been facing for many decades.

Nationalists from other European countries voiced anti-globalist and anti-EU slogans at the march and called on their peers from across the continent to join forces. "We want to get in contact with other nationalists in Europe, as we strongly believe that free, independent countries are very important. We want to regain the power from the globalists — the people who are running the EU, the people who are devastating Europe," said Per Sjogren of Sweden's Nordic Resistance Movement.

Tourist bus crashes in Bulgaria; 16 reported killed

August 25, 2018

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian authorities say a tourist bus has flipped over on a highway near Sofia, the capital, killing at least 16 people and leaving 26 others injured. Police said a bus carrying tourists on a weekend trip to a nearby resort overturned and then fell down a side road 20 meters (66 feet) below the highway. The accident happened at 5:10 p.m. Saturday about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Sofia.

Ambulances rushed to the scene and took the injured to Sofia hospitals. Doctors said some of them were in critical condition. Health Minister Kiril Ananiev gave an initial death toll of 15, but doctors from Sofia's emergency hospital said another bus victim died Saturday night.

The major of Bozhurishte, north of Sofia, told reporters that all the passengers were from his village. The government declared Monday a national day of mourning for the victims.

Far-right nationalists march in Bulgaria's capital

February 17, 2018

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Hundreds of Bulgarian nationalists marched through the country's capital on Saturday to honor a World War II general known for his anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi activities. The government had banned the rally saying it harms the image of the country, which currently holds the rotating six-month presidency of the European Union, but the organizers secured a court order overturning the ban.

The annual "Lukov March," staged by the far-right Bulgarian National Union, attracted hundreds of dark-clad supporters who walked through downtown Sofia holding torches and Bulgarian flags, and chanting nationalist slogans.

Police guarded the procession from possible attacks of opponents of the event. The marchers praised Gen. Hristo Lukov, who had supported Germany during the Second World War and was killed by an anti-fascist resistance movement on Feb. 13, 1943. The general served as war minister from 1935 to 1938, and led the pro-Nazi Germany Union of Bulgarian Legions from 1932 until 1943.

Organizers deny that Lukov was an anti-Semitic fascist or that they were neo-fascists, but claim that the descendants of the murderers of Lukov were afraid of the event. One of the leaders of the Union, 32-year-old Plamen Dimitrov, said ahead of the march that a "vast majority of young Bulgarians" approve of their activities.

He also said that several nationalist supporters from Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Estonia had arrived to join the event. "They are here today because the survival of all European people is jeopardized," he told reporters.

Human rights groups, political parties and foreign embassies condemned the Lukov March and criticized its organizers for promoting racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. The U.S. Embassy to Bulgaria expressed concern about "the display of intolerance represented by the Lukov March."

"General Hristo Lukov was a Nazi supporter who promoted hate and injustice, and is not someone deserving of veneration," the embassy said in a statement.

Bulgarian PM resigning after his party loses presidency

November 13, 2016

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov announced his resignation after exit polls showed his party losing badly in Sunday's runoff presidential election. Surveys by several polling organizations showed Gen. Rumen Radev, 53, a former non-partisan chief of Bulgarian Air Force, taking about 58 percent of the vote.

"We accept the will of the people and we congratulate those who have the support of the majority of the voters," Borisov said. Tsetska Tsacheva, a 58-year-old lawyer and member of Borisov's center-right party, had about 36 percent.

Initial results from the official vote count were expected later on Sunday. The new president will face a possible rise in migrants from neighboring Turkey and growing tensions between Russia and the West.

In the first round of voting, Radev surprisingly finished first with 25 percent of the vote, followed by Tsacheva with 22 percent. Bulgaria, which joined the European Union a decade ago, remains the poorest member of the 28-nation bloc. Its 7.2 million people are very much divided in its loyalties.

Bulgaria belongs to NATO and the EU, but many Bulgarians still feel a cultural and historical affinity with Russia, and the country's heavily dependence on Russian energy supplies leaves it vulnerable to political pressure by the Kremlin.

Borisov, whose party has triumphed in all national elections in the last decade, has said he will resign if Tsacheva loses the runoff, opening the way to an early parliamentary election. Halfway into its four-year term, Borisov's coalition government has managed to restore political stability after months of anti-corruption protests, but its popularity has faded due to the slow pace of reforms to eliminate graft and overhaul the judicial system.

A political rookie, Radev has attracted many Bulgarians who are fed up with corrupt politicians. The former NATO fighter pilot who once studied at the U.S. Air War College in Alabama, has pledged to maintain Bulgaria's place in NATO but also says "being pro-European does not mean being anti-Russian."

Tsacheva, seeking to become Bulgaria's first female president, was expected to continue her party's pro-Europe foreign policy. She has tried to rally other right-wing parties behind her, urging them not to allow "Bulgaria to return to the dark past" of being under Russia's thumb.

Economy, Russia top issues as Bulgarians pick new president

November 13, 2016

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarians are choosing their new president in a hotly contested runoff Sunday that may also determine the fate of the country's center-right government. The new president will face a possible rise in migrants from neighboring Turkey and growing tensions between Russia and the West.

The choice is between Gen. Rumen Radev, 53, a former non-partisan chief of Bulgarian Air Force, backed by the opposition Socialist party, and the speaker of Parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva, a 58-year-old lawyer and member of Prime Minister Boiko Borisov's center-right party.

In the first round of voting, Radev surprisingly came in first with 25 percent of the vote, followed by Tsacheva with 22 percent. Bulgaria, which joined the European Union a decade ago, remains the poorest member of the 28-nation bloc. The Balkan country of 7.2 million people is very much divided in its loyalties. It belongs to NATO and the EU, but many Bulgarians still feel a cultural and historical affinity with Russia, and the country's heavily dependence on Russian energy supplies leaves it vulnerable to political meddling by the Kremlin.

Borisov, whose party has trumped in all national elections in the last decade, says he will resign if Tsacheva loses the runoff, opening the way to an early parliamentary election. Halfway into its four-year term, Borisov's coalition government has managed to restore political stability after months of anti-corruption protests, but its popularity has faded due to the slow pace of reforms to eliminate graft and overhaul the judicial system.

A political rookie, Radev has attracted many Bulgarians who are fed up with corrupt politicians. The former NATO fighter pilot who once studied at the U.S. Air War College in Alabama has pledged to maintain Bulgaria's place in NATO but also says "being pro-European does not mean being anti-Russian."

Tsacheva, seeking to become Bulgaria's first female president, is expected to continue her party's pro-Europe foreign policy. She has tried to rally other right-wing parties behind her, urging them not to allow "Bulgaria to return to the dark past" of being under Russia's thumb.

Bulgarian presidential runoff a test of center-right govt

November 11, 2016

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) —  Bulgarians vote Sunday to choose their new president in a contested runoff that has become a referendum on the fate of the country's center-right government. Here is a look at the vote and the issues:

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Bulgaria is a nation of 7.2 million in southeastern Europe, bordered by Romania, Turkey, Serbia, Greece and Macedonia. It's one of the poorest members of the 28-nation European Union and joined NATO in 2004. Still many in this Black Sea nation still share deep historical and cultural ties with Moscow and the energy-strapped country is heavily reliant on Russian energy supplies.

WHO IS RUNNING?

In a surprise in the first round of voting, Gen. Rumen Radev, 53, a former non-partisan chief of Bulgarian Air Force came in first with 25 percent of the vote. He was followed by the speaker of Parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva, a 58-year-old lawyer and member of Prime Minister Borisov's center-right party with 22 percent. For the first time, voting is compulsory for Bulgaria's 6.8 million voters.

WHAT ARE THE STAKES?

Borisov, whose party has trumped in all national elections in the last decade, says he will resign if Tsacheva loses the runoff, opening the way to an early parliamentary election. The coalition government's popularity has faded due to the slow pace of reforms to eliminate graft and overhaul the judicial system

WHAT DOES RADEV WANT?

Radev, a former NATO fighter pilot who is a rookie in politics, has attracted many Bulgarians who are fed up with politicians they see as corrupt and distanced from the people. He has pledged to comply with Bulgaria's European obligations, if he is elected. But he also says "being pro-European does not mean being anti-Russian" and insists that sanctions on Moscow need to be lifted.

WHAT DOES TSACHEVA PROMISE TO DO?

If she becomes Bulgaria's first female president, Tsacheva is expected to continue her party's pro-Europe foreign policy. But unlike her party leader, Tsacheva is not very charismatic. She has tried to rally other right-wing parties behind her, urging them not to allow "Bulgaria to return to the dark past" of being under Russia's thumb.

WHY IT MATTERS

The new Bulgarian president will face a possible rise in migrant inflows from neighboring Turkey and growing tensions between Russia and the West, but the post carried little real authority. A Radev victory, however, could trigger political instability and produce an early parliamentary election — the country's third in five years.

Runoff expected as pro-Russia candidate tops Bulgaria race

November 06, 2016

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A former Bulgarian Air Force officer who has called on the European Union to lift its sanctions against Russia was the likely winner of the country's presidential election Sunday, but he did not secure enough votes to avoid a runoff, exit polls showed.

The exit polls gave opposition Socialist candidate Rumen Radev a narrow lead over the candidate of the ruling center-right party, Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, who was seen as the race's front-runner ahead of Sunday's voting.

The Balkan nation's relations with Russia, the future of the European Union and increasing immigration since neighboring countries closed their borders to refugees and migrants fleeing Africa and the Middle East dominated the election campaign.

Bulgaria, which joined the European Union a decade ago, remains the poorest member of the bloc. The slow pace of reforms to eliminate graft and poverty has fueled disillusionment, while over 1 million young people in the nation of 7.2 million have emigrated in search of better futures abroad.

Radev, 53, and Tsacheva, 58, were two of 21 candidates seeking the largely ceremonial presidency in an election that for the first time made voting for the position compulsory for Bulgaria's 6.8 million voters.

If officials uphold the election results, the two will go head-to-head in a runoff election on Nov. 13. Most political analysts said Radev's likely victory in the runoff poses a threat for Prime Minister Borisov and his ruling GERB party, possibly prompting early general elections next spring that could shake up Bulgaria's political scene.

Radev, a former fighter pilot, has pledged to comply with Bulgaria's European obligations, if he is elected. But he also has said that "being pro-European does not mean being anti-Russian" and insisted that sanctions on Moscow need to be lifted.

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004, but many in this Black Sea country still share deep historical and cultural ties with Moscow. Energy-strapped Bulgaria is also heavily reliant on Russian supplies. If she becomes Bulgaria's first female president, Tsacheva is widely expected to continue the pro-Europe foreign policy of incumbent Rosen Plevneliev.

"I voted for a stable and secure Bulgaria with educated and prospering people living there," she said while casting her ballot. Although the head of state has no executive powers, and all major policies must be approved by Parliament, the popular election imbues the post with a fair amount of political influence.

The president also leads the armed forces, can veto legislation and signs international treaties. A poll conducted by the Alpha Research agency had Radev receiving 24.8 percent of the vote on Sunday, Tsacheva 23.5 percent.

Another poll by the Gallup International agency gave Radev 26.7 percent and Tsacheva 22.5 percent. Although official results are not expected before Tuesday, they are not expected to change the need for or makeup of the runoff context.

Bulgarians to choose a new president from 21 candidates

November 06, 2016

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarians on Sunday were choosing a new president who will have to face both a possible rise in migrants from neighboring Turkey and growing tensions between Russia and the West.

For the first time, voting in the presidential election is compulsory for the Balkan nation's 6.8 million voters. Also on the ballot is a referendum on electoral process issues. Opinion polls suggest that none of Bulgaria's 21 presidential candidates are likely to win in the first round by getting more than the required 50 percent of the vote, and that a presidential runoff will be held on Nov. 13.

The front-runner is the Parliament speaker, Tsetska Tsacheva, a 58-year-old lawyer and member of the governing center-right GERB party of Prime Minister Boiko Borisov. Unlike her party leader, however, she is not a charismatic figure.

To become the first female president of the country of 7.2 million people, Tsacheva must defeat the opposition Socialist contender Rumen Radev, 53, a former fighter pilot and Bulgarian air force chief.

If Tsacheva is elected, she is widely expected to continue the pro-Europe foreign policy of incumbent Rosen Plevneliev, while her main opponent is seen as more sympathetic to Russia. Radev has repeatedly said he would comply with Bulgaria's European obligations but has called for better relations with Russia and called for lifting sanctions against Russia, arguing that "being pro-European does not mean being anti-Russian."

A recent poll by Gallup International Balkan suggests the presidential election will go to a second round, with Tsacheva facing Radev. The poll conducted Oct. 24-31 among 820 Bulgarians found Tsacheva supported by 27.2 percent and Radev by 23.1 percent. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Polling stations will close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) and preliminary results will be available 90 minutes later. Final results will be announced Tuesday.

Bulgaria to pay Russia 600 mn euros for dropped nuclear plant

Sofia (AFP)
Oct 26, 2016

Bulgaria said Wednesday it had agreed to pay Russia over 600 million euros ($655 million) in compensation after cancelling plans to build a nuclear plant on the Danube.

Bulgaria's national electricity company, NEK, will make "full payment" to the Russian nuclear giant Atomstroyexport by December 25, the energy ministry said in a statement.

The Geneva-based International Court of Arbitration ruled in June that NEK should pay Atomstroyexport 601 million euros plus interest for equipment ordered for a planned 2,000-megawatt twin-reactor plant at Belene on the Danube.

Bulgaria and Russia also agreed on Wednesday that Atomstroyexport will waive part of the interest of 130,000 euros per day if NEK repays it ahead of the December 25 deadline, the ministry added.

The Belene scheme was scrapped in 2012, with Bulgaria blaming ever-rising costs.

However, the government is mulling whether to revive it using a private investor, and is in early talks with Atomstroyexport about a possible procurement deal that would reduce the compensation payout.

After joining the EU in 2007, the country -- a former top electricity exporter on the Balkans -- was left with only two operational 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors at its sole nuclear power plant in Kozloduy, also on the Danube.

On Tuesday, the energy ministry announced that a consortium of the Russian Rosenergoatom and French EDF will study options for extending the operational life of one of the Kozloduy reactors by as much as 30 years -- until 2047. The plant's other reactor has a lifetime that is scheduled to expire in 2021.

Source: Nuclear Power Daily.
Link: http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Bulgaria_to_pay_Russia_600_mn_euros_for_dropped_nuclear_plant_999.html.

Bulgaria replaces candidate for the United Nations' top job

September 28, 2016

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov announced Wednesday that the government is nominating its European commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, as a candidate to be United Nations Secretary-General, replacing its previous candidate, UNESCO chief Irina Bokova.

The decision came two days after Bokova, came in sixth of nine candidates in the Security Council's latest informal poll to succeed Ban Ki-moon on Jan 1. Earlier this month, Borisov said his government would continue backing Bokova's candidacy only if she was among the top two candidates in the fifth "straw" poll on Sept. 26.

"We made huge efforts, not only the government, but also the president, the foreign ministry and Irina Bokova herself, but you see the result," Borisov said at the government meeting. In order to be replaced, however, Bokova would need to file a letter announcing her withdrawal. She said she sees no reason to do that.

"None of the other candidates, even those with worse results, is doing it because the real race is still ahead," Bokova said in an interview for the daily 24 chasa on Wednesday, before the prime minister's announcement.

Under the U.N. Charter, the secretary-general is elected by the U.N. General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. In practice, this means the votes of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the U.N.'s most powerful body — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — are critical.

By tradition, the job of secretary-general has rotated among regions. Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe have all held the post. East European nations, including Russia, argue that they have never had a secretary-general and it is their turn.

There has also never been a woman secretary-general and more than 50 nations are campaigning to elect the first female U.N. chief, along with many organizations. In Monday's informal poll, Portugal's former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres retained first place and was the only candidate to get the minimum nine required "yes" votes.

The key question for Guterres is whether one of the permanent members opposes his candidacy. That should become clear in the sixth straw poll expected next week which will be the first to distinguish the votes of the permanent and non-permanent council members.

One of the big question marks is who Russia will support. Borisov spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, before he announced the government's support for Georgieva. Bokova said in the interview that calls for her to leave the race are undignified. She added that "with a second candidate, Bulgaria will become a laughing stock."

Since entering the race, Bokova has been a controversial candidate in Bulgaria because of her communist past. "It appears that my successful start was not liked by certain circles in Bulgaria and outside Bulgaria. They saw that I have a chance to win and launched a negative campaign against me," she said.

"Regretfully, I am the only candidate facing a hysterical campaign of name-calling and slander in my own country." In Brussels, Georgieva's boss, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, has granted her an unpaid leave of absence for the month of October to stand for the U.N.'s top post.

Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the EU's executive arm will "ensure a strict separation between activities relating to her candidacy and her work" at the commission, where she has the portfolio in charge of budgetary affairs and human resources.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said the government will be seeking support for Georgieva from neighboring countries. "I want to thank Ms Bokova, but we must transfer our support to Kristalina Georgieva," Mitov said.

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the U.N. contributed to this report.

Bulgarian archaeologist uncovers 'vampire grave'

By Ben Hooper
Oct. 14, 2014

KARDZHALI, Bulgaria, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- A Bulgarian archaeologist said he has uncovered "a vampire grave" from the 13th century featuring the bones of a man with a stake driven through his chest.

Nikolai Ovcharov, an archaeologist nicknamed "Bulgaria's Indiana Jones," said he discovered "a vampire grave" while excavating the ruins of Perperikon, an ancient city near the border with Greece.

"We have no doubts that once again we're seeing an anti-vampire ritual being carried out," Ovcharov told The Telegraph.

He said the skeleton, believed to be a man between the ages of 40 and 50, had a heavy iron stake hammered into his chest after his death to prevent him from rising from the grave.

"Often they were applied to people who had died in unusual circumstances -- such as suicide," Ovcharov said of anti-vampire rituals.

Bozhidar Dimitrov, head of the National History Museum in Sofia, said about 100 medieval "vampire" skeletons have been found in Bulgaria.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/10/14/Bulgarian-archaeologist-uncovers-vampire-grave/7601413294497/.

Bulgaria's center-right GERB party wins election

October 06, 2014

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is returning to power after his center-right GERB party won most seats in parliamentary elections but fell short of a majority to govern alone.

With 99 percent of the votes counted from Sunday's election, the GERB party led with 32.7 percent and the Socialists came second with 15.4 percent, the Central Election Commission announced Monday. GERB officials said Monday their party was ready to form a minority government and was seeking the support of other parties but not the Socialists.

Borisov said he was prepared to govern the country and left the door open for talks with possible coalition partners. He said the alternative was holding a new election that would cause political uncertainty and financial turmoil for the European Union's poorest nation.

Borisov, 55, headed a minority government between 2009, when his party took nearly 40 percent of the vote, until 2013, when he resigned amid sometimes violent protests against poverty, high utility bills and corruption.

The nation of 7.3 million is struggling with corruption and a widespread disillusionment with the governing elite. A weak economic recovery is now threatened by a Russian ban on European food imports and a major crisis in the country's fourth-largest bank.

Bulgaria belongs to NATO and the 28-nation European Union but many residents feel a strong kinship to Russia. It has been building part of the South Stream pipeline that aims to transport gas from Russia through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and other European countries, bypassing Ukraine's pipelines. But for anti-monopoly reasons, the EU has pressured Bulgaria to withdraw from the South Stream pipeline project and the work has stalled.

Borisov has said previously he would continue building South Stream only if the EU approved. Many Bulgarians, however, are eager for the jobs they hope it can bring.

Bulgarian to vote, fate of gas pipeline in balance

October 03, 2014

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarians are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether the country continues to build a Russian gas pipeline that would give the Kremlin even more leverage over Europe's energy market — a project the European Union opposes. Here's a look at Bulgaria, the vote and the controversial pipeline:

DIVIDED LOYALTIES The Balkan country of over 7 million is very much divided in its loyalties. Bulgaria belongs to NATO and the 28-nation European Union, but many Bulgarians feel a strong kinship to Russia, and the country's extensive dependence on Russian oil and gas leaves it vulnerable to political meddling by the Kremlin.

Opinion surveys predict the biggest vote winner will be center-right GERB party led by a former prime minister, Boyko Borisov, who says he would only continue building Bulgaria's part of the South Stream pipeline if the EU approved. That's a sharp contrast with the Socialists, who want the project at any price.

Although Borisov's party is expected to win the most votes, polls show it will fall short of a majority, and the 55-year-old could face an uphill battle in building a coalition government.

WHAT ABOUT THAT PIPELINE?

The European Commission has pressured Bulgaria to withdraw from the South Stream project and the work has stalled. South Steam aimed to transport gas from Russia through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and then to several other European countries, including Serbia, Hungary and Austria. Moscow's hope was to bypass Ukraine, which is now a major transport route for Russian gas.

The EU opposes South Stream because Russia's Gazprom plans to both operate the pipeline and sell the gas transported through it — a violation of the bloc's anti-monopoly regulations. Bulgarians have displayed overwhelming public support for the South Stream project, which is expected to bring jobs to the EU's poorest member.

SOCIAL UNREST SMOLDERS First elected in a landslide victory in 2009, Borisov held power until 2013, when he resigned under the pressure of nationwide protests that turned violent at times. The protests were sparked by austerity measures, high electricity prices and allegations of corruption by officials.

But Tihomir Bezlov, an analyst with the Center for the Study of Democracy in Sofia, says some people received money from GERB's political enemies to take part in the protests. "Borisov believes that he lost power in 2013 because of the Russians and must be cautious," Bezlov said.

Borisov has promised better fiscal discipline, an improvement of the country's infrastructure and a better use of EU funds.

PLENTY OF CHALLENGES AHEAD Bulgaria is struggling with corruption and a widespread disillusionment with the governing elite that is expected to result in a low turnout Sunday. A weak economic recovery is now also threatened by a Russian ban on European food imports and a major crisis in the country's fourth largest bank.

The Corporate Commercial Bank, or Corpbank, has been closed since it was hit by a run in June amid allegations of shady dealings by its managers, leaving about 200,000 depositors still unable to access their money. That has led to frequent street protests that factored into the July resignation of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski's Socialist-led government.

A caretaker government in charge since then has not had the authority to tackle any of the major reforms Bulgaria needs in its judiciary, educational system or health care. Political analyst Antonii Galabov expects more parties than the current four to enter parliament, which he said "reflects the deep fragmentation of Bulgarian society."

"The same faces are popping up on the TV screen, promising the same good things like last time. But life is getting harder, and now they even try to get hold of people's savings," said Donka Stamenova, a 53-year-old nurse who says she won't vote.

Associated Press Writer Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this report.

Ukrainian officers join NATO drills in Bulgaria

April 03, 2014

NOVO SELO, Bulgaria (AP) — Lt. Col. Valeria Parada had a challenge.

She and her team were responsible for rescuing people caught up in a dangerous situation around the Black Sea and making sure they received whatever humanitarian assistance they needed. To do that, she first had to learn how to coordinate among the air, navy and army forces available to help — and then map out the best way to achieve their goal.

Parada was one of 16 senior officers that Ukraine dispatched to Bulgaria to join a NATO military exercise Thursday — a very public demonstration of cooperation between the alliance and the crisis-torn former Soviet republic.

Organizers said the drills, dubbed "Saber Guardian," involved over 700 troops from 13 NATO member and partner nations, as well as representatives from NATO. They were held at Bulgaria's Novo Selo training area, 320 kilometers (200 miles) east of Sofia, the capital, and 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the Black Sea.

It's one of four Bulgarian military facilities involved in a U.S. deal signed in 2006 that allows U.S. troops to be deployed there on rotational training tours. Thursday's drill was virtual — involving troops working on computer simulations. Although planned in 2013, the exercises coincided with an East-West standoff over Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The exercises are being held just few hundred miles away from the contested Black Sea peninsula.

"Our peaceful, humanitarian-focused exercise will help bring stability to this geopolitically significant part of the world," Maj. Gen. Richard Longo, deputy commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, told The Associated Press.

"We are very glad that Ukrainian partners could be here and take part, and they have done a very good job as members of our team," Longo added. Thursday's exercise aimed to test the capabilities of NATO partner nations in assisting one another, as requested, in disasters or potential worldwide emergencies. Reporters were not allowed to question officers like Parada who were busy working on it.

The command center of the highly complex exercise was a huge tent where dozens of officers worked on real-time solutions for the "regional crisis." Under their command were air, navy, marine and army units and their moves were coordinated with similar centers in the capital cities of Bulgaria and Romania, as well as with the U.S. military base in Ramstein, Germany.

At the end of the two weeks of drills "we will have learned to work for a common goal — to stand shoulder to shoulder no matter what kind of crisis we face," Longo said. And the NATO-led teams are planning to get even more practice.

"When we do the exercise in the Ukraine next year, it will be even bigger and more complex," Longo said.

Bulgarian nationalists stage rally

February 15, 2014

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Hundreds of Bulgarians have marched through their capital to honor a World War II general known for his anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi activities.

Sofia's mayor had banned Saturday's rally, organized by the far-right Bulgarian National Union. But police did not intervene after the participants changed its planned route at the last minute. Chanting "Wake up, Bulgarians!" the marchers praised Gen. Hristo Lukov, who had supported Germany during the Second World War and was killed by an anti-fascist resistance movement on Feb. 13, 1943.

Human rights groups criticized the march organizers for promoting racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. Authorities have accused nationalists of stirring ethnic strife in Bulgaria, including an attack on a mosque in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city, on Friday that left several people injured and 120 arrested.

Former Bulgarian FM Appointed UN Envoy to Iraq

August 3, 2013, Saturday

Former Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolay Mladenov has been appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as the organization's special envoy to Iraq.

This has been revealed by Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky.

Mladenov takes over the UN mission in Iraq from Germany's Martin Kobler.

The Bulgarian comes in in a situation of lasting instability within Iraq fueled by interfighting religious and ethnic groups, and intensified by the civil war in neighboring Syria.

Nikolay Mladenov served as Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 2009-13 cabinet of former Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, initially serving for some months as Minister of Defense, before taking over Bulgaria's diplomatic service.

Source: Sofia News Agency.
Link: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=152562.

Cold grips parts of Europe; 4 die in Bulgaria

January 29, 2014

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A cold spell and snowstorms are sweeping across parts of central and eastern Europe, disrupting power supplies, travel and schools. Four people have died in Bulgaria over the past few days, and Wednesday was the coldest day of the year in Moscow.

In Bulgaria, heavy snow and strong winds have left dozens of villages in the eastern half of the Balkan country without electricity and water. A 76-year-old man died after getting stuck in a snowdrift in the village of Povet, near the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Three other men have died in weather-related incidents in eastern villages in the last two days. Many roads are closed to traffic while rescue teams try to bring food supplies to remote areas. Hundreds of schools remain closed, and the main Black Sea port of Varna was shut because of high winds.

Snow fell in the central Adriatic coast in Croatia, which is highly unusual because the region has a Mediterranean climate. The ice and snow in the seaside town of Sibenik prompted authorities to close down schools there. Heavy snow is also falling in neighboring Montenegro, causing road traffic problems.

Temperatures dipped to -22 C (-8 F) in Moscow and -31 C (-24 F) in surrounding regions, making it the coldest day of the year in the Russian capital. The temperature was 10 degrees below average for this time of year and expected to drop further. Many Muscovites, however, welcomed the sun and blues skies of a real Russian winter after the gray clouds that hung over the capital for much of December and January.

"The weather is magnificent and the sun is shining," said Yulia Sukhorukova, who was taking pictures near the Kremlin. "I'm in a good mood. No problem with the frost — winter has just now arrived." Big snowstorms have been hitting Romania in recent days, closing down schools and snarling road and rail traffic.

Romanian authorities declared a "red code" weather warning in six eastern counties, warning residents of blizzards, winds of up to 85 kph (52 mph) and near zero visibility. Heavy snow and high winds were forecast for the capital.

A 33-year-old woman traveling by train in northeastern Romania went into labor early and gave birth to a 3.5 kilogram (7.7 pounds) boy aided by a female ticket collector early Wednesday. She was transported from the train to a nearby hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Ana Rinder, who said both the mother and infant were doing well.

Railway authorities said more than 160 trains had been canceled as snow blocked railway tracks in southern and eastern Romania. About 5,000 people experienced power outages as the high winds disrupted electricity supplies in southern Romania. Authorities said schools were expected to reopen Thursday in the capital, but would stay closed in others area where residents have been snowbound since the weekend, when blizzards swept through Romania.

Associated Press journalists Vladimir Kondrashov in Moscow, Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, and Alison Mutler in Bucharest, Romania, contributed to this report.