Sofia Morning News (published by Sofia News Agency, novinite.com)

HOT PHOTO

Euro 2012: Bulgaria Draws the Short Straw
Bulgaria faces strong competition in the Euro 2012 championships, as it is drawn against England, Wales, Montenegro and Switzerland. Photo by BGNES

BULGARIA FAILS BIG TIME TO ABSORB EUROPEAN UNION FUNDING

The Chair of the Bulgarian parliamentary commission on European affairs, Svetlin Tanchev, has announced that take-up of EU funding by Bulgaria ihalfway through the period was extremely low, at 1,3% of all available money.

The European Union has allocated 15 billion euros in post-accession funds to new member Bulgaria for 2007-2013.

At a meeting of the commission held on Sunday in the Bulgarian town of Pravets, Tanchev has presented its annual report for 2009, covering 21 operational programs funded by the European Union.

According to that document, there was a significant discrepancy between the agreed EUR 1,4 B of EU funding, and the actual disbursements, which amounted to EUR 72 M.

Bulgaria is the only EU country to have had Conformity Assessments returned twice and is still without any approved Assessment of Compliance.

There was a real risk, Tanchev announced, that much of the funding provided for EU pre-accession assistance - mainly for ISPA - may not be absorbed by Bulgaria.

Cases of conflict of interests, delays in the state procedures, the slow process of payment to beneficiaries, and increased costs in the candidate projects, had caused significant problems.

90% of rejected projects were overbudgeted, while many involved suspected conflicts of interest or corruption, commission head Tanchev noted.

Bureaucratic administrative procedures and a lack of prioritization of the announcement of the grant schemes, had proved to be significant obstacles to the disbursement of funds.

The transport and environment operational programs for key infrastructure projects were at a low level of preparation, the report said, also citing irregularities in the organization of procurement procedures and excessive use of direct contracting procedure, particularly in the environmental sector.

Bulgaria risks losing EUR 200 M, or 10% of its post-accession funds for road building and river transport on the Danube, including the second Danube crossing, unless it allocates the money by the end of 2010.

Despite major delays thus far, Tanchev noted that the use of European funds by Bulgaria had improved in recent months.

BULGARIA INFORMS EC ABOUT LOSSES FROM GREEK FARMERS BLOCKADE

Bulgaria submitted to the European Commission information about the losses for the country’s economy from the continuous border blockade by protesting Greek farmers.

The information was announced officially by the Foreign Affairs Ministry Saturday.

The report lists losses from bi-lateral trade, traffic between the two countries, and in sectors of the Bulgarian economy – farming, tourism, and textile industry.

The data analysis shows that about 40% of the goods that are seasonally imported to Greece have been affected by the blockade. The Greek export of oranges and tangerines to Bulgaria also endured significant losses.

Bus transportation between the two countries has suffered cancelations and delays along with the annulment of two trains on the Sofia – Thessaloniki line.

In January only, the number of Greek tourists visiting Bulgaria’s winter resorts has been down 5%.

110 Bulgarian businesses in the industrial, agriculture, tourism and services sectors have reported losses.

Saturday was the last day when Bulgarian companies could inform about damages from the blockade.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian border authorities announced that the border crossing point at Kulata – Promahon between Bulgaria and Greece has been opened at 4:30 pm for all traffic.

The authorities still warn all drivers to not use the Kulata checkpoint since it is not clear when the blockade will be renewed.

BUSINESS

GREEK FARMERS CLOSE AGAIN BULGARIA'S KULATA BORDER CHECKPOINT

The Kulata - Promahonas border checkpoint has been closed to heavy vehicles at 3 pm on Sunday by striking Greek farmers, the Interior Ministry has announced.

Protesting Greek farmers had lifted their blockade of the crossing on Saturaday evening to allow through a 2-km queue of trucks waiting to enter Greece.

The ministry has reported that all other border crossings to Greece are operating normally. There was no information as to how long the Kulata checkpiont would remain closed.

DIPLOMACY

HIJACKED SHIP WITH BULGARIAN CREW LOADED WITH WEAPONS - REPORT

The hijacked UK ship Asian Glory is reportedly carrying not only hundreds of modern cars, but weapons, the Iranian English language Press TV reports.

The ship, headed to Saudi Arabia, was coming from Singapore when the Somali pirates hijacked it, according to a Press TV correspondent, who further says the UK ship was carrying the weapons for Saudi Arabia to launch additional attacks on Yemen's Houthi fighters.

Press TV also confirms earlier reports that Somali pirates have demanded USD 15 M, the largest amount of ransom asked so far.

The ship was kidnapped on January 2 and has 25 crew, of which 8 Bulgarians, 2 Romanians, 10 Ukrainians and 5 Indians.

The largest amount of money given so far for the release of a ship in the Gulf of Aden was USD 7 M as ransom for a Greek tanker, Press TV reminds.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia daily “Arab News” writes that the insurers are unlikely to agree to pay such large amount. The newspaper cites their own source from the insurance company saying that the USD 15 M ransom is just the first round of negotiations, which will lead to an amount of USD 3 – 4 M, adding the Somali pirates are asking so much money because this is the first time they hijack such expensive cargo.

BULGARIA PM MAKES OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREAT BRITAIN

As announced on Friday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov travels on Sunday to Great Britain, on an official two-day visit at the invitation of UK PM Gordon Brown.

Borisov is being accompanied by a delegation including the Deputy PM and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, and Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov.

His first meeting in the UK will be with members of the Bulgarian community, an event to be hosted by The Bulgarian Embassy in London.

On Monday, The Bulgarian Prime Minister will have talks with his UK counterpart, Gordon Brown. Borisov also plans to meet representatives of the Conservative, opposition party, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.

The Deputy PM and the Foreign Minister will have their own discussions with their UK counterparts, before the Bulgarian delegation returns to Sofia on Monday evening.

During the brief diplomatic visit, Simeon Djankov, Minister of Finance, will assume the role of acting Bulgarian Prime Minister.

There are also media reports that Boyko Borisov may attend a football match on Sunday, at the invitation of Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich.

DEFENSE

COMATOSE BULGARIAN RANGER INJURED BY TALIBAN UPGRADED TO STABLE

All 3 Bulgarian rangers, injured during a Taliban rocket attack in Kandahar, are in stable condition.

The information was reported Saturday by Nikolay Petrov, Head of the Emergency Care Unit at the Military Medical Academy.

The 3 were transferred to Sofia late Friday from the US military hospital in Landschtul, Germany to Sofia.

Sergeant Alexander Alexandrov, who sustained the most serious injuries, remains in a coma, and is still in critical, but stable condition. The doctors now say his life is out of danger.

The other two - Corporal Yordan Petkov, who has stomach wounds, and Private, Yavor Ivanov, with leg and ankle injuries are in stable condition.

Petkov might require another stomach surgery, while Alexandrov’s treatment will be postponed for a week, the doctor informs, adding the decision to move the injured from Germany has been the right one.

4 Bulgarian rangers were injured, 3 of them seriously, during a Taliban rocket attack on the Kandahar airport in Afghanistan on January 24.

BULGARIAN RANGERS INJURED IN TALIBAN ATTACK MOVED TO SOFIA HOSPITAL

The 3 Bulgarian rangers injured during a Taliban rocket attack in Kandahar have been transferred from the US military hospital in Landschtul, Germany to Sofia.

The servicemen arrived at 10 pm Friday and are listed at the Military Medical Academy.

4 Bulgarian rangers were injured, 3 of them seriously, during a Taliban rocket attack on the Kandahar airport in Afghanistan on January 24.

Sergeant Alexander Alexandrov, who sustained the most serious injuries, remains in a coma and in critical condition and his life is still in danger. The other two - Corporal Yordan Petkov, who has stomach wounds, and Private, Yavor Ivanov, with leg and ankle injuries are in stable condition.

Alexandrov and Petkov are listed at the emergency care and intense treatment clinic while Ivanov is at the trauma unit.

A team of medical experts is consulting Saturday morning to decide on a plan for further treatment.

DOMESTIC

BULGARIA PM WANTS LIFE SENTENCES FOR ACID ATTACKS

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, demanded sentences of life behind bars for people ordering acid attacks on other individuals.

Borisov spoke Saturday during a round table dedicated to preventing violence against women.

The amendment voiced by the PM will be included in the new Penal Code to be discussed Wednesday by the Parliamentary Legal Committee.

Borisov further asked for 35-year jail sentences for the perpetrators of such attacks, saying this type of a crime brings Bulgaria closer to Asia and distances it from Europe.

Other guests include the Speaker of the Parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva, and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov. All participants gathered around the idea that acid attacks are a serious issue and there is a strong need of prevention.

Tsvetanov said that public support and draconian penalty measures are a must in the fight of this type of a crime.

It was reported during the discussions that 24 people have become victims of acid attacks in Bulgaria.

Only one person has been sentenced so far for ordering such attack.

BULGARIA GERB MP SHOWS LANDS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL SWAP

Emil Dimitrov, from Bulgaria’s ruling GERB party, is going to show the exact location of the lands which were included in the scandalous public land swap deal.

The information was reported Saturday by the TV channel bTV, citing the GERB press center.

Dimitrov is said to have taken part in the largest scheme involving an illegal forest swap before he became a Member of the Parliament on the ticket of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party.

The deal was listed in a recent letter of the European Commission warning that Bulgaria faces fines in the amount of BGN 1,5 B over the illegal land swaps carried out during the term of the previous Cabinet.

Dimitrov’s involvement in the land swaps was confirmed Friday by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, however the GERB MP insists the deal was a matter of land consolidation, not just a swap.

The EC gave Bulgaria a 20-day deadline to respond if 15 land swap deals are actually illegal State assistance for private businesses.

SOCIETY

BELGIUM AUTHORITIES CONFIRM 3 BULGARIAN FATALITIES IN LIEGE BLAST

The Belgium authorities released Saturday the names of the 3 Bulgarian citizens, who have died during a blast of a building in the city of Liege.

The victims are: Iskren Biserov Mihailov, Turkiyan Sergeeva Ivanova (17) and Sergey Ivanov Mitkov (40).

The explosion happened on January 27 and reports about Bulgarian casualties have been quite contradictory. It was reported first by Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister, Marin Raikov, that 4 Bulgarians died in the collapse and 2 were injured. The Foreign Ministry later disproved the previous reports, saying according to the Bulgarian Embassy in Brussels, no Bulgarians were killed by the explosion.

The injured Bulgarian women reported at the time that 4 other Bulgarians might have been buried under r the ruble.

On Wednesday, a woman from Bulgaria's village of Probuda, near the city of Targovishte, stated that if Bulgarians have died in the building blast in Liege, Belgium, they are her relatives.

The 3 Bulgarian citizens have been identified through DNA probes from their relatives in Bulgaria. The sister of one of the victims, who lives in the Netherlands, had said she will arrange for the bodies to be transported back to Bulgaria.

The causes of the blast are steel being investigated, but the Liege Prosecutor’s Office says the building has been in compliance with safety requirements.

The rescue operation cost is estimated at EUR 1,5 M.

BULGARIA'S CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX HONOR ALL SOULS DAY

All Bulgarian Orthodox Christians honor Saturday All Souls Day by performing and attending memorial services for the Faithful Departed.

According to the Bulgarian tradition, women boil and sweeten grain to take to the services and hand it to other attendees. The tradition also includes wine and bread while in recent times cookies, crackers and pastries have been added.

The services are held at the cemetery, the church or at home. At the cemetery the priest usually performs the Parastas (Panikhida) - a liturgical observance in honor of the departed which is served in the Eastern Orthodox Church. If the service is for an individual, it will often take place at their graveside. If it is a general commemoration of all the departed, or if the individual's grave is not close by, the service will take place in a church, in front of a special "memorial table".

According to Orthodox beliefs, the Souls of the Departed come back on this day and stand at their own graveside. For this reason their relatives bring them wine and food. The ritual giving away of food to other people is believed to help satiate the Departed's hunger. The relatives also light a candle to illuminate the Departed's road so that they do not get lost in the dark.

The day after All Souls Day, is the so-called Sunday of the Last Judgment or the second Sunday before Great Lent. The second Sunday before Great Lent is observed on a different date each year because it depends on the date of the Orthodox Easter. The Second day before Lent is the first holiday of those from the Easter cycle.

The Sunday before Lent is the last day when meals cooked with meet are allowed on the table. On Monday, Christian Orthodox begin observing a 40-day lent until Easter.

The Eastern Orthodox Church dedicates several days, (usually four), throughout the year to the dead, mostly on Saturdays, because of Jesus' resting in the tomb on Saturday.

BULGARIA ORTHODOX CHURCH CELEBRATES DAY OF LAST JUDGMENT

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates this Sunday as the Day of the Last Judgment, the Second Sunday before Great Lent, eight weeks before Easter.

Traditionally, this is the last week when young people may gather together to sing and play together, before all believers begin a period of fasting for Lent.

During the fast, eating of meat is forbidden, so on this day, the traditional meal consists entirely of such dishes, before the following weeks when believers avoid consumption of all meat, meat products, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil.

Church services turn to contemplation of the Last Judgment, with the reading of passages of scripture recalling the tragic consequences of sin, and calls to look out for your neighbor, and for personal virtue.

ENVIRONMENT

BULGARIA ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: SOCIALIST CABINET VOTED YES ON GMO

Bulgaria’s Environment Minister, Nona Karadzhova, said that from January 2007 until July 2009 all Ministers from the previous, Socialist-led cabinet, have voted yes on the import of GM food.

Karadzhova spoke Saturday in an interview for the Bulgarian TV channel bTV.

The Minister pointed out that panic regarding genetically modified organisms (GMO) has been spread among Bulgarians on purpose, speculating with people’s fears.

Karadzhova insists that as a member of the EU, Bulgaria must adhere to the European procedures and the GMO Act aligns Bulgarian legislation with the European laws.

According to the Minister, a registry of all food containing GMO needed to be generated as early as 2006, but nothing had been done. Health Minister, Bozhidar Nanev, had ordered the establishment of such registry only a month ago.

Karadzhova pointed out that, on the example of the Austrian Environmental Ministry, the Bulgarian Cabinet proposes a safeguarding clause in the GMO Act.

On Friday, the ruling GERB party proposed that all cultivation of GM crops should be banned for 5-years, in a change to the new GMO Act.

The GMO Act submitted by the Environment Ministry, provides for the elimination of the current ban on cultivating and trading GM farming products.

The second reading in the Parliament is scheduled for March.

The amendments in the GMO Act triggered a strong reaction from environmentalists and civic organizations in Bulgaria, who voiced their disagreement through numerous petitions, declarations and rallies.

BULGARIA FEELS EFFECTS OF RAIN, SNOW

Almost the entire territory of Bulgaria is affected by snow or rain. Mountain passes are closed, and there is a danger of avalanches in the mountains.

It is raining in the regions of Shumen, Dobrich, Varna and Burgas The Hemus and Trakia highways are wet and snowy, with some icy patches in exposed areas such as viaducts. The roads have been cleared and sanded.

The mountain pass from Troyan - Karnare - Elena is closed, with a diversion in operation through Vratnik pass, as is the road between Etropole - Zlatica and Varbitsa - Sungurlare.

Trucks with trailers or over 10 tons are banned on the Shipka pass. Similar prohibitions have been applied to the Petrohan pass, the road between Sliven and Ichera, and in the areas of Dospat and Ardino. All vehicles travelling in these areas should be fitted with snow chains.

The Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Service has announced there is a high risk of avalanches in all mountain areas, and that skiing or snowboarding outside designated areas is dangerous.

At Aleko Hut, the depth of snow is 70 cm. Mount Musala is covered by cloud, and there is a moderate wind. In Borovets, the snow cover is 55 cm. Bansko is also affected, and there is a high risk of avalanche off-piste. Both Rozhen and Botev peaks are fog-bound, with moderate winds.

SPORTS

EURO 2012: BULGARIA DRAWS THE SHORT STRAW

Bulgaria has been drawn in Group G of the UEFA Euro 2012 competition, in the qualifying draw held on Sunday in the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Poland.

The five-nation Group G also includes England, Switzerland, Wales and Montenegro, all of whose national teams are highly regarded.

Bulgaria will play eight games, two against each team - at home and away. The European Championships will comprise the winning team from each group and the best second ranking nation of any group. The remaining eight group runners-up will face pay-offs to eliminate four teams.

The EURO 2012 European football championship will kick off in June 2012, in Poland and Ukraine, with the opening match at the National Stadium in Warsaw scheduled on June 8. Elimination matches will begin in September 2010 and continue until autumn 2011.

England

Undoubtedly the biggest name in the group is that of England. Their greatest success was to gain the world title against Germany in 1966, and other notable achievements were in the European Championship semi-finals in 1968 and 1996. England is in 9th place in the FIFA rankings.

Bulgaria last faced England in the European qualifications. In 1999, Bulgaria managed recorded two draws. First in London, the game was a no-score draw, but in the next clash at "Bulgarska Armia" Stadium it was 1:1 at the final whistle. Georgi Markov scored for Bulgaria, with Alan Shearer replying for England.

Switzerland

Switzerland has participated eight times in world championships, in which they have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions. They have competed in three European Championships, each time from the group stages. In FIFA’s rankings, the team is in 21st place.

Switzerland and Bulgaria played each other in Basle in February 2009, in a match that ended 1:1 after a goal by Ivelin Popov. This was Stanimir Stoilov’s first game after his appointment as coach of the Bulgarian national team.

Wales

Wales is the second team from Britain to face Bulgaria in the European qualification rounds. Wales reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup once, in 1958. At the European Championships, Wales also has participated in the European championships on one occasion - in 1978. Wales is 77th in the FIFA rankings.

In August 2007, Bulgaria lost 0:1 against Wales, in a match played at the ”Lazur” stadium in Burgas. In other recent encounters between the two nations, Bulgaria has achieved two wins over the Welsh.

Montenegro

Montenegro is one of the newest FIFA members, ranked in 72nd position, and the Balkan country has participated as an independent state only in qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa. Montenegro was in the same group as Bulgaria. The first match ended 2:2 in Podgorica, while in the return game Bulgaria latter we achieved victory with 4:1.

The full FIFA Euro 2012 draw is:

Group A

Germany Turkey Austria Belgium Kazakhstan Azerbaijan

Group B

Russia Slovakia Republic of Ireland FYR Macedonia Armenia Andorra

Group C

Italy Serbia Northern Ireland Slovenia Estonia Faroe Islands

Group D

France Romania Bosnia-Herzegovina Belarus Albania Luxembourg

Group E

Holland Sweden Finland Hungary Moldova San Marino

Group F

Croatia Greece Israel Latvia Georgia Malta

Group G

England Switzerland Bulgaria Wales Montenegro

Group H

Portugal Denmark Norway Cyprus Iceland

Group I

Spain Czech Republic Scotland Lithuania Liechtenstein.

BULGARIA NATIONAL COACH: TEAMS HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN EURO 2012

Bulgarian national football coach Stanimir Stoilov has reacted to the result of the Euro 2012 draw that sees Bulgaria pitted against some stiff opposition in Group G.

"The games against Montenegro worry me the most. All of the teams have places they can lose points. I can’t say whether we will qualify for the finals, before the qualification matches start and we see the first results," he said on Sunday.

"About England, there is nothing to comment on. Two of the most serious teams from urn 4 and 5 - Montenegro and Wales - fell into our group. There are no outsiders, and therefore the group is heavy. The teams have very equal opportunities," Stoilov added.

Yordan Lechkov, Vice-President of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), said on television that Bulgaria's draw was decent, but that the weaker teams in the group should not be dismissed.

"We should not concentrate on the other teams but on our own. England is the indisputable front-runner. I have not seen Switzerland play and cannot say how good they are. Montenegro and Wales should not be underestimated either. The results depend on the coaching management and football players of the team. We should believe in our team. Unfortunately, we have not managed good results recently, but we hope we will play at Euro 2012."

BULGARIA FOOTBALL HEAD 'FINANCIALLY' HAPPY WITH EURO 2012 DRAW

Borislav Mihailov, head of the Bulgarian Football Union, has described Bulgaria’s group for the Euro 2012 as “hard” while also expressing his satisfaction with the expected revenue from the matches.

As a result of Sunday’s draw in Warsaw, Bulgaria was placed in the same qualification group for Euro 2012 together with England, Switzerland, Wales, and Montenegro.

“It was important for me from a financial point of view that our opponents help us generate revenue in these economically hard times, and we got lucky because this will happen since we have England in our group. This will stimulate Bulgarian fans to fill up the stadium in Sofia. Yet, the teams are more or less of equal capabilities, and anyone can triumph in the end,” said Mihailov who was the goalie of the Bulgarian national football team during the USA 1994 World Cup when it won bronze medals.

BULGARIAN NO.2 COULD BECOME WORLD CHAMPION SUMO WRESTLER

Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlyanov, aka Kotooshu, has been promoted to second position in the profession, following the forced retirement of champion Asashoryu.

The Mongolian’s career came to an abrupt end following a drunken brawl in a bar in Rupongi. His behavior was judged to be against all norms, both within Japanese society and in the world of sumo.

Asashoryu will receive a pay-off of USD 1 M, and the same amount again over the year.

Kotooshu is reported as behaving totally differently, abiding by all social and professional rules. His wedding, on February 14, will be conducted entirely according to Japanese protocol and tradition.

The entire sumo community will attend the wedding of Kotooshu and his bride Asako and some 250 wrestlers are expected to attend the celebration.

His future best man and head of the Bulgarian Sumo Federation Petar Stoyanov, commented on Kotooshu’s professional prospects, following Asashoryu’s retirement.

"We are not gloating over this, but for Bulgaria it is good. The retirement of Asashoryu gives him a very big chance to attack the top position from second place . Kotooshu needs to be the winner in the next two tournaments, in one to acquire a credit of 14:1 or 15: 0 and, I think, he will immediately be selected for yokozuna," Stoyanov said.

CRIME

BULGARIA COURT INTERDICTS HOTEL CONNECTED TO TURKISH PARTY LEADER

The District Court in Bulgaria’s northern city of Lovech has ordered a restraint on the “Kasa Domini” hotel in the mountain resort of Ribaritsa.

Arben Havaliov, who is said to be a close friend of the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), Ahmed Dogan, was known as the owner of the hotel, but it was revealed Friday that it actually belongs to several companies and Yuriy Dudinski.

The restraint came on the request of the Committee in charge of seizing the illegally acquired assets in favor of the state or the so-called “Kushlev Committee”, named after its Head, Stoyan Kushlev.

Dudinski has been charged with participating in an organized crime group that drained over BGN 10 M through Value Added Tax (VAT), using several fake or bankrupt companies. Havaliov is also investigated for the above crime.

On January 25, the Court in the western city of Pernik, issued a 3-year suspended sentence and a BGN 1 000 fine to Havaliov for tax evasion in the amount of BGN 451 000 and for illegally using both his Christian and Muslim names.

At the time, the leader of Bulgaria’s right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), Ivan Kostov, wrote to the Kushlev Committee, asking if they have began a procedure to take over Havaliov’s properties.

Kushlev is quoted as saying: “There are many mysteries around this hotel, and a well-known businesswoman is involved.”

The DPS leader, allegedly, uses figureheads, who are listed as the owners of the properties, while in reality they belong to him.

STATE-WIDE ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR BULGARIA BORILSKI KILLERS

A State-wide arrest warrant has been issued for Georgi Zhelyazkov and Stoyan Stoichkov, the police in the Black sea capital of Varna report Saturday.

On Thursday, Zhelyazkov and Stoichkov were sentenced by the Veliko Tarnovo Appellate Court to 19 and 17 years in prison, respectively, for the savage murder of Bulgarian Sorbonne student Martin Borilski in Paris in 2000.

After the verdict, the magistrates also changed their bail to detention, but the Court ruled in the absence of the defendants, which their lawyer explained with a traffic problem.

The Varna police went Friday and Saturday to the registered addresses of the two convicted killers, but failed to find them there and issued a State-wide arrest warrant.

In the summer of 2000, French firefighters discovered the brutally murdered Martin Borilski in his apartment in Paris. His body was tied down with a sweater, and his skull was broken with a dumbbell. There were 93 stabbing wounds on his corpse.

Zheliazkov, who is the son of a prominent Varna lawyer, and Stoichkov, were acquitted by the first two Bulgarian instances - the Shumen District Court and the Veliko Turnovo Appellate Court.

Amidst the pressure of protest rallies and stark remarks on the part of French Ambassador to Bulgaria, Etienne de Poncins, in the beginning of March 2009, Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations returned the "Borilski" murder case to the Appellate Court in the city of Veliko Tarnovo for retrial.

BULGARIA EX-SOCIAL MINISTER ACCUSED OF BGN 11 M FRAUD

The notorious renovation of a social home in the southern city of Stara Zagora had robbed the State treasury of BGN 11 M.

The probe had shown that the Ministry of Labor and Social Services, under the leadership of former Labor Minister, and now Socialist Member of the Parliament, Emiliya Maslarova, had slated BGN 18,8 M for the renovations. Only BGN 7,8 M have been used for construction and repairs, while the remaining BNG 11 M were embezzled through fake invoices, the Bulgarian news agency BGNES reports Saturday.

The shady deal has been revealed through an investigation of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office of Cassations.

At the beginning of the probe it was reported that Maslarova, and her friend Ventsislav Draganov, who has a construction firm, have pocketed BGN 9,8 M by violating the Public Procurement Act over the repair of the building in Stara Zagora. The amount was just updated to BGN 11 M.

Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, asked for Maslarova to be stripped of her MP immunity, which the former Minister voluntarily gave away.

The Prosecutor’s Office accuses Maslarova of using the money for her own and for Draganov’s benefit.

The two are yet to be called to answer the investigators’ questions, but the pre-trial proceedings are said to be nearing their conclusion.

Maslarova and Draganov face being arrested if the Prosecutor manages to present sound proof for the embezzlement.

VIEWS ON BG

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WORLD

UKRAINE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS EXIT POLLS AGREE ON YANUKOVICH WIN

The Ukraine Electoral Commission is not due to release official results of the presidential run-off vote until Monday, but several independent pollsters in the country have produced similar results immediately after voting centers had closed on Sunday.

As Novinite.com has already reported, Victor Yanukovich, Party of Regions leader, has claimed victory at the second round of the presidential election, outrunning his political rival, Orange revolutionary and incumbent Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

Ukraine’s National Exit Poll 2010 found that 48,7% of voters chose Yanukovich.. Incumbent Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko finished close behind, with 45,5% of the vote, according to their exit poll. The Democratic Initiatives’ National Exit Poll is a single Western-funded poll and is considered to be the most independent of all.

ICTV's exit poll gave Yanukovich 49,8%of the vote while Tymoshenko had 45,2%.

A third poll, funded by Inter TV and conducted by Ukrainian Sociology Service, FOM, Center for Social and Marketing Research, reported that Yanukovich won with 49,78%, while Tymoshenko gained 44.63%. In another exit poll, commissioned by Inter TV and carried out by SOCIS, 49,6% was received by Yanukovich and 44,5% by Tymoshenko.

According to the exit poll of TRK Ukraina, Yanukovich gained 48,6%, while Tymoshenko finished with 45,7%.

The exit poll carried out by Yevhen Kopatko’s Research & Branding group, showed the following results: 50,26% of the vote was given to Yanukovich, while 44,02% percent of the vote was given to Tymoshenko.

Almost all the exit polls showed that an average 5,5% of voters supported none of the presidential contenders. Voter turnout has been estimated at 66,76%.

Earlier on Sunday, 1+1 TV channel, controlled by billionaire Igor Kolomoysky, cancelled its exit poll for unknown reasons. The poll was to have been conducted by Oleksandr Yaremenko’s Ukrainian Institute of Social Research.

Ukrainians had voted in 225 constituencies, at 33 496 polling stations. Apart from this, the Central Electoral Commission had set up 113 electoral wards abroad.

36,6 million people in Ukraine were eligible to vote at this presidential election.

YANUKOVICH BEATS TYMOSHENKO IN UKRAINE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - EXIT POLL

The leader of the Party of Regions, Viktor Yanukovich, has triumphed over PM Yulia Tymoshenko in the runoff of Ukraine’s Presidential Elections Sunday, according to an exit poll.

Yanukovich is reported to have won by a 6%-lead. He got 49,6% of the votes vs. 44,5% for Tymoshenko, according to an exit poll of the Research & Branding Group as cited by ITAR-TASS, as the Election Day ended at 8 pm local time.

5,9% of the votes are reported to have been cast against both candidates. Voter turnout has been estimated at 66,76%.

UKRAINE ELECTION POLL MANAGER FOUND DEAD

Oleksandr Turchynov, the campaign manager for presidential candidate Yuliya Tymoshenko, announced that its party representative and secretary of a polling precinct in Ivano Frankivsk Oblast has been found dead, Kyiv Post has reported on Sunday.

"The secretary of Polling Precinct 62 from Voting District Number 85 was at her polling precinct before she died," Turchynov said. "The safe at her polling precinct was found open and voting ballots were missing."

Turchynov added that polling commission representatives of Tymoshenko have been harrassed in Donetsk Oblast and in Crimea.

At the headquarters of Tymoshenko's rival Victor Yanukovych, campaign spokeswoman Hanna Herman said at 13:00 p.m. that no system voting violations have yet been reported.

However, police had registered 14 cases by midday on Sunday where Ukraine's election laws have allegedly been breached during the presidential run-off poll, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported.

By noon the ministry's emergency headquarters had received 14 reports on breaches of the election laws, Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Public Security Department head Volodymyr Mayevsky said at a press conference in Kyiv.

Most cases were registered in the Ternopil and Luhansk regions and the Crimea, according to the official.

There had been five cases of illegal campaigning, one attempt to bribe voters, two instances of unruly behavior, one refusal to work as an election commission member and three reports about bombs being planted at polling stations, he said.

UKRAINE CAMPAIGN CHIEF ACCUSES RIVALS OF MURDER - REPORT

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's presidential campaign chief has accused her rival's supporters of killing a member of her campaign staff in the early hours of Sunday, according to Ukrainian media.

Alexander Turchinov claimed that supporters of rival candidate Viktor Yanukovych killed a Tymoshenko official at a polling station in Ivano-Frankivsk, traditionally a Tymoshenko stronghold in western Ukraine.

Police in Ivano-Frankivsk have confirmed the death, but said they had not yet determined the cause. Viktor Yanukovych's spokesman has refused to comment on the accusations.

The local headquarters of Ukraine's Interior Ministry has meantime announced the person had died of a heart attack.

APPEAL TO G7 NATIONS: WRITE OFF QUAKE-TORN HAITI DEBT

The leading industrial nations, the Group of Seven (G7), have announced on Saturday that they plan to write off all debts owed by Haiti, following January's catastrophic earthquake.

The Canadian Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, encouraged other international lenders to do the same. Some USD 1,2 B of Haiti's foreign debts have already been cancelled.

"We are committed in the G7 to the forgiveness of debt, in fact all bilateral debt has been forgiven by G7 countries vis-a-vis Haiti," Mr Flaherty said at the end of the two day gathering of finance ministers in the Arctic town of Iqaluit, Canada.

it is estimated that over a million people are in need of urgent aid, following the 7,0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the country's capital Port au Prince and other towns and settlements.

Even before the earthquake struck, Haiti was regarded as the poorest country on the western hemisphere.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed the Canadian pledge, saying: "It must be right that a nation buried in rubble must not also be buried in debt".

US, TURKEY AGREE TO UP MILITARY EXCHANGE

The US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, met Saturday in Ankara with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan.

The two discussed issues related to Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Israel and Iraq.

During the hour-and-a-half talks, the US promised to continue their support for Turkey’s fight against terrorist based in the mountain region of Northern Iraq.

Gates also agreed to send ASAP 3 American “Predator” airplanes to be used by the Turkish army to neutralize the Kurd separatists. The US will secure the supply of the military aircraft to compensate for the delayed delivery of the “Heron” airplanes from Israel.

There will be also intensified intelligence exchange between the Pentagon and the Turkish Defense authorities.

All decisions have been agreed with US President, Barrack Obama, during Erdogan’s trip to Washington in December.

Gates asked in exchange for Turkey to up their participation in the training of the NATO security forces in Afghanistan. The Turkish PM promised to send more Turkish instructors to Kabul and to accept Afghani soldiers for training in Turkey.

WESTERN POWERS WARY OF IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL CLAIMS

Western powers are very skeptical about Iran’s claims that a deal to swap enriched uranium for nuclear fuel could now be close, BBC reports Saturday.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the 46th Conference on Security Policy in Munich that an agreement could be reached in a "not too distant future".

China confirmed that talks were at a "crucial stage", but the US and European Union say they are still not persuaded Iran is not attempting to develop nuclear weapons.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is on an official trip to Turkey, is quoted as stating that Western powers needed to think about whether it was now time for a "different tack". Gates was backed by the US National Security Adviser, General James Jones, who warned Iran of tighter sanctions and deeper international isolation.

German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, and EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Catherine Ashton, who are among the participants of the Munich security conference, also expressed serious doubt in Iran’s intentions.

It was reported in January that Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the country is rejecting the terms of a deal agreed in October by Iran, the IAEA and the US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany.

The move came despite recent comments by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad indicating that the country would have "no problem" sending much of its low-enriched uranium abroad so it could be processed into fuel,” as agreed in October.


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