soc.culture.bulgaria FAQ (monthly posting) (part 0/10)
Dragomir R. Radev
Last-Modified: May 15, 1996
Posting-Frequency: Monthly
Version: 4.03
Archive-Name: bulgaria-faq/part0
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BULGARIA
-----------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART 1
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CHAPTER 0: INTRODUCTION
0-1 About this FAQ
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
0-2 Disclaimers and Notes
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
0-3 Partial list of contributors
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 12-Apr-1996
0-4 How to get the FAQ from an FTP site
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 10-Apr-1995
CHAPTER 1: THE SOC.CULTURE.BULGARIA NEWSGROUP
1-1 How was soc.culture.bulgaria created
(by Ivan Petrov), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
CHAPTER 2: GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BULGARIA
2-1 Bulgaria - Ancient and Young
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
2-2 Bulgaria - consular information sheet (9/1994)
(by US Department of State), last updated: 02-Sep-1994
2-3 CIA World Factbook on Bulgaria
(by CIA World Factbook, 1995), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
2-4 Country report on Bulgaria
(by Jivko Kolchev), last updated: 31-Oct-1995
2-5 Demographic, Social And Economic Features Of Bulgaria
(by National Statistics Institute), last updated: 12-Nov-1995
2-6 State System
(by Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission)
2-7 Human Rights Practices in Bulgaria
(by U.S. Department of State), last updated: 07-Mar-1996
2-8 Temperatures
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
2-9 Bulgarian Clothing
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
2-10 Bulgarian Architecture
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
2-11 Who are the Slavs
(by Harry Tsamaidis), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
2-12 Who are the Pomaks
(by Roumi Radenska), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
2-13 Where to buy Bulgarian Flags
(by The Flag Guys), last updated: 17-Sep-1995
2-14 Salaries in 1995 (in Bulgarian)
(by Julian Dontchev), last updated: 04-Dec-1995
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PART 2
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CHAPTER 3: VISITING BULGARIA
3-1 Travel agencies dealing with Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-2 Telephones of Balkan Airlines
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-3 How much does it cost to fly from the USA to Bulgaria and back
(by Plamen Bliznakov)
3-4 State Department Travel Advisory on Bulgaria
(by U.S. Department of State), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-5 Where is the Travel Information Archive
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
3-6 Visa info for foreigners
(by Plamen Bliznakov)
3-7 Tourist Information
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
3-8 Useful Contacts in Bulgaria
(by Department of Commerce of the USA, Eastern Europe Business Bulletin)
3-9 Visit to Bulgaria
(by Jan Terziyski)
3-10 Hotels in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
3-11 Where to sleep in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-12 The Sheraton Hotel in Sofia
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 07-Jun-1995
3-13 Renting Cars
, last updated: 06-Sep-1995
3-14 Eating in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-15 Bringing electrical devices to Bulgaria
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
3-16 Information for drivers
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
3-17 Time, office hours (by Plamen Bliznakov)
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
3-18 Local Calls
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-19 Sending Mail Home
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-20 Police Assistance
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-21 Medical care for foreigners
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
3-22 Contraceptives and Safe Sex
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-23 Taxi
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
3-24 How to use credit cards in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov)
3-25 Can Bulgarians exchange leva for hard currency
(by Vassil Peychev)
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PART 3
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CHAPTER 4: TRAVELOGUES
4-1 Some advice from an American who visited Bulgaria in 1991
(by Rick Speer)
4-2 Visit to Varna
(by Austin Kelly)
4-3 A Journey Through Romania and Bulgaria
(by Melissa Harris)
4-4 Visit to Bulgaria by Balkan airlines - 1
(by r...@doc.cc.utexas.edu), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
4-5 Visit to Bulgaria by Balkan airlines - 2
(by Ernie Scatton), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
4-6 Food in Bulgaria
(by Rolf Henze), last updated: 01-Jan-1995
4-7 Travel to Burgas - travelogue
(by Vesselin Velikov), last updated: 23-Jul-1995
CHAPTER 5: EDUCATION
5-1 The Bulgarian Educational System
(by Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission)
5-2 Major cities and universities in Bulgaria
(by Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
5-3 Bulgarian University Degree Equivalency
(by gopher://rodent.cis.umn.edu:11131/00/Country_Sheets/Bulgaria)
5-4 Educational Opportunities in Bulgaria
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
5-5 Schools in Bulgaria offering admission for foreigners
(by WorldWide Classroom), last updated: 10-Jun-1995
5-6 Scholarship sources
(by Dennis McDonnell, Austin Kelly)
5-7 Transferring degrees
(by John Bell), last updated: 12-Aug-1994
CHAPTER 6: INFORMATION FOR BULGARIANS ABROAD
6-1 Voice/fax numbers of the bulgarian embassy in US
(by Alex Haralampiev)
6-2 Bulgarian Embassy in DC
(by Civic Education Project), last updated: 25-Jan-1995
6-3 Bulgarian Embassy in Sweden
(by Daniel Belovarsky), last updated: 07-Aug-1995
6-4 Archive for Bulgarians living abroad
(by the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, DC), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
6-5 Which telephone company offers best deals for calling Bulgaria from the USA
(by Plamen Bliznakov)
6-6 Calling the USA from Bulgaria using the AT&T Calling Card
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 22-Feb-1979
6-7 Sprint in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
6-8 Bulgarian Cafe in San Francisco
(by Dimitqr Bojanchev)
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PART 4
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CHAPTER 7: NEWS SOURCES
7-1 How to receive Bulgarian news by e-mail.
(by Jivko Kolchev), last updated: 05-Apr-1996
7-2 How to read Bulgarian newspapers in NYC
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
7-3 Bulgarian Language Radiostation in New York City
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
7-4 Bulgarskata Radio Progama ALEKO
(by Silvana Dimitrov), last updated: 20-Mar-1996
7-5 Bulgarian Radiostations
(by Alexander Kostadinov), last updated: 02-Apr-1996
7-6 BBC schedule in Bulgarian (April 1996- September 1996)
(by Rosa Hays), last updated: 06-Apr-1996
7-7 Magazine for Bulgarians abroad
7-8 Voice of America News Service
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
CHAPTER 8: BULGARIAN INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
8-1 How to reach the Americal University in Bulgaria.
(by Karen Colburn and Gregory Gouzev)
8-2 Bulgarian Banks
(by U.S. Department of Commerce), last updated: 01-Aug-1995
8-3 Info on the Bulgarian Medical Association, USA
(by Simeon Boyadjiev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
8-4 Info on the Bulgarian Medical Association, USA - part II
(by Simeon Boyadjiev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
8-5 Bulgarian Studies Association
(by John Bell), last updated: 21-Nov-1995
8-6 What is the address of the Bulgarian chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
8-7 How to reach the AAPBC (American Association for the Promotion of Bulgarian Culture)
(by Mincho Tsankov)
8-8 Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce
(by Vasko Delev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
8-9 Bulgarian Foundations
(by Yulian Donchev), last updated: 09-Oct-1995
8-10 What is the address of the Fulbright Commission in Sofia
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
8-11 Mensa in Bulgaria
8-12 E-mail of "Standart News"
(by Dimitar Chankov), last updated: 11-Jul-1995
8-13 E-mail address of Kapital Press
(by Veni Markovski), last updated: 21-Jul-1995
CHAPTER 9: BUSINESS CONTACTS AND FUNDING SOURCES
9-1 BULGARIA: U.S. and Country Contacts
(by U.S. Department of Commerce), last updated: 01-Aug-1995
9-2 U.S. Information Sources On Bulgaria
(by Department of Commerce of the USA, Eastern Europe Business Bulletin, and Dennis McConnell)
9-3 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(by Holger Zscheyge), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
9-4 Finding Sources
(by Jim Cashel), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
9-5 How to get information about Eastern Europe (including Bulgaria) by fax
(by James Reese)
9-6 Fax to Internet
(by James Reese), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
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PART 5
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CHAPTER 10: ELECTRONIC CONNECTIVITY
10-1 Major World-Wide Web Sites about Bulgaria
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
10-2 Magdanoz
(by Jivko Kolchev), last updated: 12-Apr-1996
10-3 World Wide Web resources and Bulgaria
(by Alex Haralampiev)
10-4 World Wide Web resources and Bulgaria
(by Bojidar Dimitrov)
10-5 World Wide Web resources and Bulgaria
(by Penyo Penev)
10-6 How to join the #bulgaria channel on IRC
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
10-7 Internet providers in Bulgaria
(by mi...@cit.bg), last updated: 09-Aug-1995
10-8 How to subscribe to the Eastern European Listserv bulletin
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
10-9 How to subscribe to the OMRI daily on-line news bulletin
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
10-10 Bulgarian Electronic Archive accessible by e-mail
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
10-11 How to get HTML files by e-mail
(by Peter Flynn), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
10-12 How to play 'tabla' (backgammon) against human players on the Internet
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
CHAPTER 11: SOFTWARE
11-1 The Bulgarian and Soviet (Computer) Virus Factories
(by Vesselin Bontchev)
11-2 Transliteration
(by Jan Labanowski)
11-3 OCR for Cyrillic
(by Athol Yates)
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PART 6
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CHAPTER 12: BULGARIAN LANGUAGE
12-1 How to pronounce Bulgarian
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
12-2 How to count in Bulgarian
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
12-3 Modern Bulgarian Language courses
(by Kitty Kagay, Ken Grau, Prashant Dave, and Dragomir R. Radev)
12-4 More Bulgarian Textbooks
(by Kjetil Ra Hauge), last updated: 26-Jan-1995
12-5 Teach Yourself Bulgarian (Tape)
(by Graham Crowder)
12-6 Bulgarian and English dictionaries
(by Kamen Penev), last updated: 21-Nov-1994
12-7 Kakvo e "Dvoyno E"?
(by Iliya Talev), last updated: 27-Jul-1995
CHAPTER 13: ART AND CULTURE
13-1 Bulgarian Cinema
(by Valentin Todorov)
13-2 Filmography
(by Val Todorov)
13-3 Bulgarian sayings
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
CHAPTER 14: MUSIC AND DANCE
14-1 Bulgarian music on CD's
(by Brian Sutin)
14-2 Bulgarian musical instruments
(by Brian Sutin)
14-3 Bulgarian folk dance
(by Ersch Rotholz)
14-4 Bulgarian folk dance
(by Jim Garrett)
14-5 Bulgarian Folk Dance Club in Buffalo, NY, USA
(by Barbara Dintcheff)
14-6 Bulgarian records
(by Paul Amblard)
14-7 Bulgarian music : 20th Century
(by Luben Boyanov)
14-8 Addresses of Bulgarian musical companies
(by Luben Boyanov)
14-9 Bulgarian Music
(by Zdravena Maldjieva)
14-10 Bulgarian Rock'n'Roll
(by Peter Yovchev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
14-11 Bulgarian Rock Groups
(by Peter Yovchev)
CHAPTER 15: LITERATURE
15-1 Bulgarian Literary Archive
(by Luben Boyanov, Ivan Danchev, Gergana Haralampieva, Ivan Vassilev, Peter Yovchev, Martin Minchev, Ivoil Koutzarov, Anton Kirilov, Dragomir R. Radev, and others), last updated: 31-Mar-1994
15-2 Address of Hemus Publishing Co.
(by Teodora Davidova)
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PART 7
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CHAPTER 16: POLITICS
16-1 Parliamentary election results, 1994
(by Bulgarian Embassy in the USA), last updated: 23-Dec-1994
16-2 Bulgarian Cabinet
(by CIA World Factbook, 1995), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
CHAPTER 17: HISTORY
17-1 Short History of Bulgaria
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
17-2 Bulgarian History
(by John Bell)
17-3 Bulgarian Czars
(by Konstantin Zahariev), last updated: 13-Feb-1996
17-4 Evropa i Balkanite do Krimskata voina (1853-56 g.)
(by Plamen Stanoev)
17-5 When was Bulgaria declared independent
(by Luben Boyanov)
17-6 What did Leland Buxton write about Bulgarians
(by Luben Boyanov)
17-7 Who was Ferdinand I Coburg-Gotha?
(by Luben Boyanov), last updated: 18-Jun-1995
17-8 Medals given during the 3rd Bulgarian kingdom
(by Martin Mintchev)
17-9 The Carnegie Report
(by Luben Boyanov)
17-10 The Economy of Bulgaria (1878-1939), summary
(by Ivaylo Izvorski), last updated: 19-Mar-1996
17-11 Bulgaria and World War II
(by Luben Boyanov)
17-12 The Macedonian Question
(by John Bell)
CHAPTER 18: FAMOUS BULGARIANS
18-1 Who is John Atanasoff
(by Luben Boyanov)
18-2 Who is John Atanasoff
(by John Bell), last updated: 19-Jun-1995
18-3 Elias Kaneti
(by Konstantin G. Zahariev)
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PART 8
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CHAPTER 19: TRADITIONS
19-1 What are Bulgaria's national holidays
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
19-2 Bulgarian Folk Festivals and Customs
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
19-3 Trifon Zarezan (Wine-grower's Day)
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
19-4 Martenitsas (Festival of Spring)
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
19-5 What do Bulgarian celebrate on March 1
(by by Luben Boyanov)
19-6 What is Gergyovden
(by by Luben Boyanov)
19-7 What is the origin of Petkovden (by Peter Yovchev)
19-8 Lazarouvane
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
19-9 Bqlgarski obichai po kolednite praznici
(by Vladimir Marangozov), last updated: 30-Dec-1995
19-10 Koleduvane (Christmas Carol Singing)
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
19-11 The Festival of Roses
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
19-12 New Year's traditions (in Bulgarian)
(by Iliya Talev), last updated: 27-Dec-1995
19-13 Christmas traditions (in Bulgarian)
(by Vladimir Marangozov), last updated: 30-Dec-1995
CHAPTER 20: RELIGION
20-1 What are the roots of Bulgarian Orthodoxy
(by by Luben Boyanov)
20-2 What are the features of Orthodox religion
(by Jan Terziyski)
20-3 Orthodox Christianity in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Sivov)
20-4 Orthodox Calendar
(by Plamen Sivov)
20-5 The Balkans, Orthodox Christianity and the Youth
(by Plamen Sivov, Marian Stoyadinov)
20-6 Church
(by Plamen Sivov)
20-7 What is Theophany (Bogoyavlenie/Yordanov Den)
(by Plamen Sivov)
20-8 Annunciation
(by Plamen Sivov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994 (This entry is in Bulgarian)
20-9 Holy Thursday and Holy Friday
(by Plamen Sivov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
CHAPTER 21: SPORTS
21-1 How did Bulgaria perform at the World Football (Soccer) Cups
(by Karel Stokkermans)
21-2 How did the Bulgarian soccer team perform in the qualifications for WC 94
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
21-3 What is the schedule of the Bulgarian soccer team at WC 94
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
21-4 Bulgaria in WC94
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
21-5 What is the draw for Euro'96
(by Tsiel Ohayon)
21-6 Bulgaria in the European Championships (1960)
(by Yulian Donchev)
21-7 Schedule of our group for soccer World Cup 1998
(by Konstantin Kostov), last updated: 30-Jan-1996
21-8 Hristo Stoichkov
(by Iskander Ayari), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
21-9 Bulgarian teams in the UEFA cups.
(by Plamen Petkov), last updated: 01-Aug-1995
21-10 How did Bulgarian teams perform in the 1993-94 UEFA cups
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
21-11 How did Bulgaria perform at the 1992 Olympic Games
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
21-12 Who are the most famous Bulgarian athletes of all times
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
21-13 Who is Magdalena Maleeva?
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1995
21-14 The Soccer Champions of Bulgaria
(by Yulian Dontchev), last updated: 05-Oct-1995
21-15 Futbolisti na godinata, 1995
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 18-Jan-1996
21-16 Futbolisti na godinata - 1961-1995
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 18-Jan-1996
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PART 9
-----------------
CHAPTER 22: CUISINE
22-1 Bulgarian cuisine
(by Rumi Radenska)
22-2 Bulgarian Cuisine
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
22-3 How to make baklava
(by Chris Kantarjiev)
22-4 How to make Bulgarian yogurt in the U.S.
(by Nikolay Mehandjiev, Rumi Radenska, and others)
22-5 Yoghourt
(by BSE...@UNLVM.UNL.EDU), last updated: 18-Jul-1995
22-6 Marinovani gqbi
(by Iliya Talev), last updated: 28-Jan-1996
22-7 Turshiya
(by BSE...@UNLVM.UNL.EDU), last updated: 18-Jul-1995
22-8 Other Bulgarian Recipes
(by Jan Terziyski)
22-9 How to make banica
(by Maria Popova), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
22-10 Kozunak sqs stafidi
(by Vladimir Aleksiev), last updated: 09-Apr-1996
22-11 Cocktails
(by Peter Yovchev, Dimitqr Nikolov, Lyubomir Aleksandrov, Peter Mitev, Penyo Penev)
-----------------
PART 10
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CHAPTER 23: MISCELLANEOUS
23-1 Computation in Bulgaria
(by Marin Marinov)
23-2 Macedonians in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Stanoev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
23-3 ASCII Map of Bulgaria
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
CHAPTER 24: BIBLIOGRAPHY
24-1 Grolier's Bibliography on Bulgaria
, last updated: 31-Jul-1994
24-2 Book about Bulgarian history
(by Luben Boyanov)
24-3 Books about Bulgaria, part II
(by John Bell), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
24-4 Books about Bulgaria
(by CharlesPower)
24-5 Books on Bulgaria
(by Roumi Radenska), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
24-6 Summer In The Balkans: Laughter And Tears After Communism by Randall Baker
(by Henry Berry), last updated: 01-Dec-1994
24-7 Books on the Bogomils
(by Roumi Radenska), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
--
Dragomir R. Radev Graduate Research Assistant
Natural Language Processing Group Columbia University CS Department
Home: 212-749-9770 Office: 212-939-7121 http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~radev
--
Dragomir R. Radev Graduate Research Assistant
Natural Language Processing Group Columbia University CS Department
Home: 212-749-9770 Office: 212-939-7121 http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~radev
Dragomir R. Radev
Last-Modified: May 15, 1996
Posting-Frequency: Monthly
Version: 4.03
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 0: INTRODUCTION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-1 About this FAQ
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
This list of frequently asked questions about Bulgaria is a collaborative
effort at creating a useful electronic reference document about Bulgaria.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-2 Disclaimers and Notes
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
Please read this FAQ list before posting to soc.culture.bulgaria.
The names in parentheses after each question are the contributor's, which is
sometimes a different person than the author of the quoted text.
The FAQ is a collection of materials, rather than a complete reference. Some
of the information may be out of date, so please be careful and take
everything with a grain of salt. Unless an article contains explicit
information about when it was last updated, it is older than February 1,
1994.
I don't assume any responsibility for wrong information.
This FAQ is available on the World-Wide Web from
http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~radev/cgi-bin/bgfaq.cgi
I need suggestions as to what parts of the FAQ to keep, what parts to move
to the ftp site and what new parts to include.
Of course, this FAQ (as well as all other approved FAQ) is available by
anonymous ftp from rtfm.mit.edu in either of the following directories:
/pub/usenet-by-group/soc.culture.bulgaria OR
/pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/soc/culture/bulgaria
This FAQ is available by mail server. You have to send mail to one of the
following:
- mail-...@cs.ruu.nl (in Europe) the text of the mail should include the
following line: send news.answers/bulgaria-faq
- mail-...@rtfm.mit.edu (in North America) the text of the mail should
include the following line: send usenet/news.answers/bulgaria-faq
The maintainer of this list is Dragomir R. Radev (ra...@cs.columbia.edu)
Any comments and corrections are more than welcome. So are contributions.
Please help make the FAQ really helpful and interesting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-3 Partial list of contributors
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 12-Apr-1996
This list will be expanded soon to include more names (many names of older
submission are not included now).
henry...@aol.com Henry Berry
phy...@clust.hw.ac.uk Graham Crowder
DONT...@KATK.helsinki.fi Yulian Donchev
r.h...@auntie.bbcnc.org.uk Rosa Hays
he...@hrz.uni-kassel.de Rolf Henze
ji...@nntp.ijs.com Jivko Kolchev
ve...@cit.bg Veni Markovski
mmin...@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca Martin Mintchev
pp86...@oak.cats.ohiou.edu Plamen Petkov
K.R....@easteur-orient.uio.no Kjetil Ra Hauge
vtod...@astro.ocis.temple.edu Val Todorov
ta...@access.digex.net Iliya Talev
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-4 How to get the FAQ from an FTP site
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 10-Apr-1995
1. Type 'ftp shiva.cs.columbia.edu'
2. For login: type 'anonymous'
3. For password: type your e-mail address. For example: 'joe...@nowhere.bitnet'
4. Then enter 'cd BULGARIA'
5. Enter 'dir' to see a listing of the files currently available
6. Use 'mget :filename:' to get a given file
7. Use 'mget *' to get all files
8. After you're done, enter 'quit'
If you have problems with the above, please contact me at
ra...@cs.columbia.edu
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 1: THE SOC.CULTURE.BULGARIA NEWSGROUP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-1 How was soc.culture.bulgaria created
(by Ivan Petrov), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
The proposal was made on Oct.10 1991 and read as follows:
"I am submitting a request for discussion to create a new newsgroup
SOC.CULTURE.BULGARIA.
Why: The country is being reborn. Politics, economy and culture are
rapidly changing. History is being given a fresh look. Free exchange
of information and ideas is essential. The input of everyone interested
in Bulgarian society and culture is important. Besides: Older waves of
emigration were followed by a new one. There is a need to create links
between Bulgarians around the world and to sustain the connection with
the home country.
CHARTER: To promote exchange of information and ideas on all aspects of
Bulgarian culture and society.
STATUS: Unmoderated
The proposal appeared in news.newgroups on Oct.16, opening a 30 days
discussion period. Vassil and Luben were the most active participants.
Voting took place between Nov. 21 and Dec. 15, 1991 and was processed by
Svilen Tzonev and myself. Here is a portion of the announcement of the
results:
"I am happy to announce that soc.culture.bulgaria received a favorable
vote. A total of 270 people voted of which 241 in support and 29
against. The numbers meet the criteria for a successful vote by a wide
margin.
YES - NO = 212 > 100
and
YES >> 2 x NO"
... It is up to us now to make it an interesting and
viable group by supplying information, asking questions,
answering questions etc..."
The group was created on Dec.24, 1991 (rozhdestvo Hristovo i Grupovo)
and the first posting appeared on Dec.30, 1991.
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 2: GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BULGARIA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-1 Bulgaria - Ancient and Young
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
Situated in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria boasts
an old and rich history. Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines,
Slavs and Bulgarians inhabited this land in their time, leaving
behind monuments and enriching the world's treasure-house of culture.
Bulgaria occupies 111 000 square km and has a population of 8.8
million. Bulgaria's capital is the city of Sofia with 1.3
million people. Bulgaria is divided into two parts by the Balkan
mountain, and also borders Black sea.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-2 Bulgaria - consular information sheet (9/1994)
(by US Department of State), last updated: 02-Sep-1994
Country Description: Bulgaria is a moderately developed European
nation undergoing profound political and economic changes. Tourist
facilities are widely available, but conditions vary considerably
and some facilities are not up to Western standards. Goods and
services taken for granted in other European countries are still not
available in many areas of Bulgaria.
Entry Requirements: A passport is required. A visa is not
required for tourist or business visits of less than 30 days. An
AIDS test may be required for those staying more than one month;
U.S. tests are not accepted. All visitors to Bulgaria must register
with the police, a hotel or a guest house within 48 hours of
arrival. For further information concerning entry requirements,
travelers can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria at
1621 22nd Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 387-7969;
Consular Section is (202) 483-5885.
Medical Facilities: Although Bulgarian physicians are trained to a
very high standard, hospitals and clinics are generally not equipped
and maintained at U.S. or West European levels. Basic medical
supplies are widely available, but specialized treatments may not
be. Visitors must pay cash for medical and health services. U.S.
medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.
Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical
insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful.
Further information on health matters can be obtained from the
Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline at
(404) 332-4559.
Crime Information: There has been a recent rise in street crime,
much of which is directed against foreigners. Pickpocketing and
purse snatching are frequent occurrences as is theft from
automobiles, where thieves smash windows to remove valuables left in
sight. There have been a number of incidents in which tourists have
accepted offers of "help from friendly people" met by chance at the
airport, bus stations or train stations and have been drugged or
assaulted and robbed. Taxi drivers at Sofia Airport are notoriously
dishonest and refuse to run their meters. Travelers who insist upon
a pre-agreed fare can avoid the more outrageous overcharging.
Automobile theft is also a frequent problem, with four-wheel drive
vehicles and late model European sedans the most popular targets.
Very few vehicles are recovered.
The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported
immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or
consulate. The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad"
is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. It provides information on
protecting personal security while traveling abroad.
Currency Regulations: Bulgaria is largely a cash economy. Most
shops, hotels and restaurants still do not accept travelers checks
or credit cards. Visitors can exchange money at change bureaus.
People on the street who offer high rates of exchange are confidence
tricksters intent on swindling the unwary travelers.
Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the
country in which they are traveling. Persons convicted of
possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are subject to
imprisonment and fines.
Civil Aviation Oversight: In November 1992, the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration assessed Bulgaria's civil aviation authority
as in compliance with international aviation safety oversight
standards for Bulgaria's carriers operating to and from the U.S.
The same level of safety oversight would typically be applied to
operations to other destinations. For further information,
travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at
1-800-322-7873.
Registration: U.S. citizens who register in the Consular Section
of the U.S. Embassy can obtain updated information on travel and
security within Bulgaria.
Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, is located
at 1 Suborna (formerly 1 A. Stamboliski Boulevard); telephone
(359-2) 88-48-01 to -05. This is also the after hours number for
emergencies.
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located at 1 Kapitan
Andreev Street in Sofia; telephone (359-2) 65-94-59.
No. 94-182
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 19,
1994, to add the paragraph on aviation oversight.
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2-3 CIA World Factbook on Bulgaria
(by CIA World Factbook, 1995), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and
Turkey
Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:
total area: 110,910 sq km
land area: 110,550 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total 1,808 km, Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all with
Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline: 354 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 34%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 18%
forest and woodland: 35%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted
from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from
air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals
from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from
Europe to Middle East and Asia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
People
Population: 8,775,198 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (female 800,413; male 841,697)
15-64 years: 66% (female 2,927,880; male 2,910,133)
65 years and over: 15% (female 735,706; male 559,369) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.25% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 11.75 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 11.31 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.68 years
male: 70.43 years
female: 77.1 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic divisions: Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%, Macedonian 2.5%,
Armenian 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic
0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%
Languages: Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic
breakdown
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97%
Labor force: 4.3 million
by occupation: industry 33%, agriculture 20%, other 47% (1987)
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Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
Digraph: BU
Type: emerging democracy
Capital: Sofia
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Burgas,
Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya, Varna
Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day 3 March (1878)
Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence; has
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zhelyu Mitev ZHELEV (since 1 August 1990); Vice
President (vacant); election last held January 1992; results - Zhelyu ZHELEV
was elected by popular vote
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister)
Zhan VIDENOV (since 25 January 1995); Deputy Prime Ministers Doncho
KONAKCHIEV, Kiril TSOCHEV, Rumen GECHEV, Svetoslav SHIVAROV (since 25
January 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Narodno Sobranie): last held 18 December 1994 (next to be
held NA 1997); results - BSP 43.5%, UDF 24.2%, PU 6.5%, MRF 5.4%, BBB 4.7%;
seats - (240 total) BSP 125, UDF 69, PU 18, MRF 15, BBB 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Zhan
VIDENOV, chairman; Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), Ivan KOSTOV an alliance
of pro-Democratic parties; People's Union (PU), Stefan SAVOV; Movement for
Rights and Freedoms (mainly ethnic Turkish party) (MRF), Ahmed DOGAN;
Bulgarian Business Bloc (BBB), George GANCHEV
Other political or pressure groups: Democratic Alliance for the Republic
(DAR); New Union for Democracy (NUD); Ecoglasnost; Podkrepa Labor
Confederation; Fatherland Union; Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP);
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB); Bulgarian
Agrarian National Union - United (BZNS); Bulgarian Democratic Center;
"Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National Union; Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization - Union of Macedonian Societies (IMRO-UMS);
numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
Member of: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI (associate members), EBRD, ECE,
FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Snezhana Damianova BOTUSHAROVA
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-7969
FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia
mailing address: Unit 1335, Sofia; APO AE 09213-1335
telephone: [359] (2) 88-48-01 through 05
FAX: [359] (2) 80-19-77
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the
national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has been
removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a
red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first
Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)
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Economy
Overview: The Bulgarian economy continued its painful adjustment in 1994
from the misdirected development undertaken during four decades of Communist
rule. Many aspects of a market economy have been put in place and have begun
to function, but much of the economy, especially the industrial sector, has
yet to re-establish market links lost with the collapse of the other
centrally planned Soviet Bloc economies. The prices of many imported
industrial inputs, especially energy products, have risen markedly, and
falling real wages have not sufficed to restore competitiveness. The
government plans more extensive privatization in 1995 to improve the
management of enterprises and to encourage foreign investment. Bulgaria
resumed payments on its $10 billion in commercial debt in 1993 following the
negotiation of a 50% write-off.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $33.7 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 0.2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,830 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 122% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $14 billion
expenditures: $17.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $610 million
(1993 est.)
Exports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: machinery and equipment 30.6%; agricultural products 24%;
manufactured consumer goods 22.2%; fuels, minerals, raw materials, and
metals 10.5%; other 12.7% (1991)
partners: former CEMA countries 57.7% (FSU 48.6%, Poland 2.1%,
Czechoslovakia 0.9%); developed countries 26.3% (Germany 4.8%, Greece 2.2%);
less developed countries 15.9% (Libya 2.1%, Iran 0.7%) (1991)
Imports: $4.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials 58.7%; machinery and
equipment 15.8%; manufactured consumer goods 4.4%; agricultural products
15.2%; other 5.9%
partners: former CEMA countries 51.0% (FSU 43.2%, Poland 3.7%); developed
countries 32.8% (Germany 7.0%, Austria 4.7%); less developed countries 16.2%
(Iran 2.8%, Libya 2.5%)
External debt: $12 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1994); accounts for about 37% of GDP
(1990)
Electricity:
capacity: 11,500,000 kW
production: 35.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,827 kWh (1993)
Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing, chemicals,
textiles, building materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals
Agriculture: climate and soil conditions support livestock raising and the
growing of various grain crops, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, and tobacco;
more than one-third of the arable land devoted to grain; world's
fourth-largest tobacco exporter; surplus food producer
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for southwest Asian heroin and South
American cocaine transiting the Balkan route; limited producer of precursor
chemicals
Economic aid:
recipient: $700 million in balance of payments support (1994)
Currency: 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1 - 67.04 (January 1995), 32.00 (January
1994), 24.56 (January 1993), 17.18 (January 1992), 16.13 (March 1991),
0.7446 (November 1990); note - floating exchange rate since February 1991
Fiscal year: calendar year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transportation
Railroads:
total: 4,294 km
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917 double
track)
other: 245 km NA-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 36,932 km
paved: 33,904 km (including 276 km expressways)
unpaved: earth 3,028 km (1992)
Inland waterways: 470 km (1987)
Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,400 km
(1992)
Ports: Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine:
total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,191,231 GRT/1,762,461 DWT
ships by type: bulk 47, cargo 29, chemical carrier 4, container 2, oil
tanker 15, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6,
short-sea passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 1
note: Bulgaria owns 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,960 DWT
operating under Liberian registry
Airports:
total: 355
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
with paved runways under 914 m: 88
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 10
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 226
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Communications
Telephone system: 2,600,000 telephones; 29 telephones/100 persons (1992);
extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial cable and microwave
radio relay; direct dialing to 36 countries; telephone service is available
in most villages; almost two-thirds of the lines are residential; 67% of
Sofia households have phones (November 1988)
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 earth station using Intersputnik; INTELSAT link used
through a Greek earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 20, FM 15, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 29 (Russian repeater in Sofia 1)
televisions: 2.1 million (May 1990)
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Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Troops, Internal
Troops
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,171,414; males fit for military
service 1,810,989; males reach military age (19) annually 69,200 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: 13 billion leva, NA% of GDP (1994 est.); note -
conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2-4 Country report on Bulgaria
(by Jivko Kolchev), last updated: 31-Oct-1995
Bulgaria
Capital: Sofia
Area: 110,987 square kilometers
Population: 8.9 million (1992)
GNP: $16.5 billion (1992)
Bilateral Trade Treaty/MFN: yes
Bilateral Investment Treaty: not yet ratified
GSP: yes
U.S. Export-Import Bank: TCID only
OPIC Agreement: yes
TDA: yes
GATT: pending
IMF/World Bank: yes
EBRD: yes
The United States and Bulgaria signed a bilateral trade agreement in April
1991, and a bilateral investment treaty is in the process of being ratified.
The latter will assure American investors of national treatment guarantees,
as well as the services of an ombudsman office to facilitate joint ventures.
Bulgaria became a GSP beneficiary in December 1991, and most-favored-nation
status went into effect in November 1991.
U.S.-Bulgaria trade has slowed significantly due primarily to Bulgaria's
persistent shortages of foreign exchange. However, economic reforms signal
significant trade potential. The country offers several advantages,
including a highly skilled labor force, an established distribution network
with an extensive trucking industry, and an established (although antiquated)
base for the electronics and computer sectors.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-5 Demographic, Social And Economic Features Of Bulgaria
(by National Statistics Institute), last updated: 12-Nov-1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 1993 1994
Population as of
31.12\Thousand 8484,8 8459,7 8427,4
Men 6169,1 4251,6 4130,0
Women 4315,7 4308,1 4297,4
Birth rate - % 10,4 10,0 9,4
Death rate - % 12,6 12,9 13,2
Natural increase - % -2,2 -2,9 -3,8
Average life -
expectancy\years 70,9 71,2 70,9
Men 67,6 67,7 67,2
Women 74,4 75,0 74,8
Employed
in the country\ 3273,3 3221,8 3235,0
( thousand) 1\
Relative Share of
the employed in 17,7 28,3 35,9
the private sector - %
Employed on a
labour contract in
public sector of 2662,7 2667,0 2032,1
Economy\ in
Thousand 1\
Average annual
wage of the
employed on a
labour contract in 24568 38776 59525
the public sector
of Economy - LV
Unemployed
persons,
registered in the 576,9 626,1 448,4
Bureau of Labour,
as of to 31. 12
Unemployment level,
as of 31.12 - 2\ 15,3 16,4 12,8
Gross Domestic
product - indices
on the basis of 92,7 97,6 *101,4
preceding year = 100
Inflation -
consumer prices
indices for XII 179,5 163,9 221,9
month preceding
year = 100
----------------------------------
1\ Average annual number
2\ A relative share of the registered unemployed persons in the Bureau of
Labour from
the total number of employed and unemployed - %
* Preliminary data
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2-6 State System
(by Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission)
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic. According to the Constitution, which
was adopted in July 1991, the entire power of the state shall derive from the
people and shall be exerted directly and through the bodies established by the
Constitution. The Constitution proclaims pluralism of political views and
freedom of religion.
The supreme legislative body in the country is the National Assembly (Narodno
Sqbranie - Bulgarian Parliament), which exercises parliamentary control
over the government.
The President is the Head of State. He is elected through direct and secret
ballot for a five-year term of office, and he personifies the unity of the
nation.
The Council of Ministers is the supreme executive body for home and foreign
affairs.
The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is divided into nine administrative
regions and smaller municipalities. The municipality is the primary terri-
torial administrative unit, being a legal entity where local
self-government is exercised through a municipal council elected by the
respective local community population for a for-year term of office.
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2-7 Human Rights Practices in Bulgaria
(by U.S. Department of State), last updated: 07-Mar-1996
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic ruled by a democratically elected
government. President Zhelyu Zhelev, former chairman of the Union of
Democratic Forces (UDF), was elected in 1992 to a 5-year term in the
country's first direct presidential elections. The Bulgarian Socialist
Party (BSP), heir to the Communist Party, and two nominal coalition
partners won an absolute majority in preterm elections in December 1994
and formed a government in January. The judiciary is independent but
continued to struggle with structural and staffing problems. Most
citizens have little confidence in their legal system.
Most security services are the responsibility of the Ministry of the
Interior, which controls the police, the National Security Service
(civilian intelligence), internal security troops, border guards, and
special forces. A number of persons known to be involved in repressive
activities during the Communist regime returned to senior-level
positions in the security services in 1995. Some members of the police
force committed serious human rights abuses.
The post-Communist economy remains heavily dependent on state
enterprises. Most people are employed in the industrial and service
sectors; key industries include food processing, chemical and oil
processing, metallurgy, and energy. Principal exports are agricultural
products, cigarettes and tobacco, chemicals, and metal products. The
transformation of the economy into a market-oriented system has been
retarded by continued political and social resistance. Privatization of
the large Communist-era state enterprises has been very slow and is the
main reason for Bulgaria's economic stagnation. The Government is now
developing a mass privatization program which, if successfully
implemented, would partially address this problem. The service and
consumer goods sectors in private hands continued to be the most
vibrant. Although all indicators point to a reviving economy this year,
the last several years' decline has affected the employment of people
>from ethnic minorities disproportionately. The annual per capita Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of $1,300 provides a low standard of living.
The Government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, but
problems remained in some areas. Constitutional restrictions on
political parties formed on ethnic, racial, or religious lines
effectively limit participation. There were several reports that police
used unwarranted lethal force against suspects and minorities, and
security forces beat suspects and inmates. Human rights observers
charged that the security forces are not sufficiently accountable to
Parliament or to society and that the resultant climate of impunity is a
major obstacle to ending police abuses. Prison conditions are harsh,
and pretrial detention is often prolonged. Mistreatment
of ethnic minorities by the population at large is a serious problem,
and both the Government and private citizens continued to obstruct the
activities of some non-Eastern Orthodox religious groups.
Discrimination and violence against women and Roma are serious problems.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom
from:
a. Political and Other Extrajudicial Killing
There were several reports of police officers using unwarranted lethal
force against criminal suspects, as well as against members of minority
groups whether or not suspected of any crime, resulting in three deaths.
On February 11, a Rom was found dead in Gradets, near Sliven. A witness
told a human rights nongovernmental organization (NGO) that a police
officer had beaten the victim in the village center the previous day,
and the deceased's family described numerous signs of severe beating.
An investigation is in progress.
During a March attempt to apprehend a man previously sentenced for
committing theft, a police officer in Nova Zagora allegedly beat an 18-
year-old Rom, then shot and killed the man's 22-year-old brother when
the older brother intervened. Neither of the victims was being sought
by the police. The alleged perpetrator, a police sergeant, has been
charged with murder resulting from excessive use of force in self-
defense. The investigation continues.
A 22-year-old male died in April while in police custody, apparently as
a result of beating. The deceased, an ethnic Bulgarian, had been
arrested for alleged complicity in a burglary. Six policemen were
arrested in this widely publicized case; one officer, a police
lieutenant, remains under investigation, and the national police
director resigned.
No progress was made in the case of a detainee who died while in police
custody following an August 1994 roundup of suspected criminals in
Pazardjik, although the Government's investigation remains open. There
was little progress in the September 1994 case of a detainee who died
one day after being taken into police custody in Pleven, and there were
no developments in the investigation of the 1993 incident in which
police allegedly beat three escaped prisoners (two of whom reportedly
died) upon recapture.
In November Amnesty International (AI) sent a letter to the Ministry of
Interior expressing concern about five incidents in which AI said that
police officers opened fire on suspects in violation of U.N. basic
principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement
officials. Interior Ministry data on serious police violations over the
18 months ending March 31 show 18 deaths due to police negligence, 59
cases of physical injury, more than 60 charges of serious offenses, and
58 convictions of police officers on these and lesser charges during the
period. The Minister of Interior publicly acknowledged that police
abuses occur and made a commitment to address the problem; a number of
cases are under investigation. However, the police have generally
refused the requests of human rights groups to make investigative
reports available to the public. The climate of impunity that the
Government allows to prevail is the single largest obstacle to ending
such abuses.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
The Constitution expressly prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment.
Despite this prohibition, there were a number of credible reports
describing police beating of Roma during arrests. In January and
February, a riot control unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs shot
and wounded at least 3 people and beat more than 10 during an operation
in response to illegal felling of trees near Velingrad. All of the
victims were Roma. No police officers were charged or investigated.
In a Sofia neighborhood in March, police reportedly beat almost 40
Romani teenagers and young men in an incident following several
confrontations between Roma and "skinheads." No police officers were
investigated, despite numerous victims' accounts and a credible NGO
report to law enforcement and other governmental authorities.
Conditions in some prisons are harsh, including severe overcrowding,
inadequate lavatory facilities, and insufficient heating and
ventilation. Credible sources reported cases of brutality committed by
prison guards against inmates; in some cases, prisoners who complained
were placed in solitary confinement. The process by which prisoners may
complain of substandard conditions or of mistreatment does not appear to
function. The Government cooperated fully with requests by independent
observers to monitor prison conditions.
d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile
The Constitution provides for access to legal counsel from the time of
detention. Police normally obtain a warrant prior to apprehending an
individual; otherwise, in emergency circumstances judicial authorities
must rule on the legality of a detention within 24 hours. Defendants
have the right to visits by family members, to examine evidence, and to
know the charges against them. Charges may not be made public without
the permission of the Chief Prosecutor. Pretrial detention is limited
to 2 months under normal circumstances, although this may be extended to
6 months by order of the Chief Prosecutor, who may also restart the
process. In practice, persons are often detained for well over 6
months.
About one-third of Bulgaria's approximately 9,000 prison inmates are in
pretrial detention. In the event of a conviction, time spent in
pretrial detention is credited toward the sentence. The Constitution
provides for bail, and some detainees have been released under this
provision, although bail is not widely used. Neither internal nor
external exile is used as a form or punishment.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
Under the Constitution the judiciary is granted independent and coequal
status with the legislature and executive branch. However, most
observers agreed that the judiciary continued to struggle with problems
such as low salaries, understaffing, and a heavy backlog of cases.
Partly as a legacy of communism and partly because of the court system's
structural and personnel problems, most citizens have little confidence
in their judicial system. Human rights groups complain that local
prosecutors and magistrates sometimes fail to pursue vigorously crimes
committed against minorities.
The court system consists of regional courts, district courts, and the
Supreme and Constitutional Courts. The Government has not yet carried
out several of the reforms provided for in the June 1994 judicial Reform
Bill, including the establishment of separate supreme courts of
cassation (civil and criminal appeal) and administration. Judges are
appointed by a 25-member Supreme Judicial Council and, after serving for
3 years, may not be replaced except under limited, specified
circumstances. The 12 justices on the Constitutional Court are chosen
for 9-year terms as follows: a third are elected by the National
Assembly, a third appointed by the President, and a third elected by
judicial authorities.
The Constitution stipulates that all courts shall conduct hearings in
public unless the proceedings involve state security or state secrets.
There were no reported complaints about limited access to courtroom
proceedings. Defendants have the right to know the charges against them
and are given ample time to prepare a defense. The right of appeal is
guaranteed and widely used. Defendants in criminal proceedings have the
right to confront witnesses and to have an attorney, provided by the
State if necessary, in serious cases.
The Constitutional Court is empowered to rescind legislation it
considers unconstitutional, settle disputes over the conduct of general
elections, and resolve conflicts over the division of powers between the
various branches of government. Military courts handle cases involving
military personnel and some cases involving national security matters.
The Constitutional Court does not have specific jurisdiction in matters
of military justice.
A number of criminal cases against former leaders for alleged abuses
during the Communist period were carried forward. Former dictator Todor
Zhivkov is serving a 7-year sentence under house arrest for abuse of
power involving personal expense accounts and state privileges. Legal
review of his case continues; the most recent step was a Supreme Court
hearing on September 15. Although the investigation continues, there
was little progress in the case in which 43 former high-level Communists
were indicted in 1994 for having given grant aid during the 1980's to
then-friendly governments in the developing world such as Cuba, Angola,
and Libya. Investigation also continues in a case begun in 1993
involving a charge of embezzlement for giving grant aid to Communist
parties in other countries (the "Moscow case"), with no tangible
progress. Some human rights observers criticized these and previous
indictments, asserting that the activities in question were political
and economic in nature, not criminal.
One of the primary figures in these cases, former Prime Minister and
once senior Communist official Andrei Lukanov, brought a complaint
against these proceedings to the European Commission of Human Rights.
Acting on his petition in January, the Commission ruled that Lukanov's
appeal of the procedure by which he was stripped of parliamentary
immunity was admissible before the Commission, but has not yet issued a
decision on the merits of the case. Lukanov's appeals under two other
articles of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms were not admitted.
There was no progress in a case begun in 1993 relating to the forced
assimilation and expulsion of ethnic Turks in 1984-85 and 1989, nor in a
trial relating to the notorious death camps set up by the Communists
after they came to power in 1944. Police authorities concluded their
investigation of the 1994 murder of a key witness in the latter case in
February without definite result.
In one of its first acts, the new Socialist-dominated Parliament
repealed a controversial 1992 lustration act ("Law for Additional
Requirements Toward Scientific Organizations and the Higher Certifying
Commission"), known as the "Panev Law."
The law had barred former secretaries and members of Communist party
committees from positions as academic council members, university
department heads, deans, rectors, and chief editors of science
magazines, applying a presumption of guilt that conflicts with
international human rights standards.
There were no reports of political prisoners.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home or
Correspondence
The Constitution provides for the inviolability of the home, for the
right to choose one's place of work and residence, and protects the
freedom and confidentiality of correspondence. Human rights observers
expressed concerns that illegal wiretaps may still persist but provided
no tangible evidence.
Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
The Constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press, and the
Government generally respects this right in practice, although there
were signs that it was seeking to increase editorial control over
government-owned electronic media. The variety of newspapers published
by political parties and other organizations represents the full
spectrum of political opinion, but a notable degree of self-censorship
exists in the press among journalists who must conform to what are often
heavily politicized editorial views of their respective newspapers.
National television and radio broadcasting both remain under
parliamentary supervision. A September Constitutional Court ruling
declared unconstitutional some portions of a "provisional" statute that
had placed the electronic media under parliamentary supervision since
1990. In October Parliament passed legislation restoring its right to
exercise control over the national electronic media; in December the
Constitutional Court again struck down this provision. In November 34
journalists from a national radio station issued a declaration accusing
radio management of censoring their work and threatening uncooperative
journalists with dismissal. A month later, seven of the journalists
were fired, provoking widespread public concern about freedom of speech
and the establishment of at least two NGO's to monitor the issue. This
ongoing dispute illustrates a growing concern about the lack of balance
in the state-controlled news media.
Some observers criticized changes in the senior leadership of the
national electronic media and editorial control by a newly established
board of directors of Bulgarian national radio, charging they were
politically motivated. In September the Constitutional Court overturned
a provision of the July Local Elections Act which prohibited journalists
working for state-owned media and local electronic media from expressing
opinions on parties, coalitions, and candidates in the October 29 local
elections.
There are two state-owned national television channels and a growing
number of privately owned regional stations. Two channels broadcast in
Bulgarian, while a third broadcasts Russian programming, and a fourth
carries a mixture of Cable News Network International and French
language programming. Bulgarian national television has been planning
Turkish- language programming for at least 2 years, but broadcasts have
not yet begun. Foreign government radio programs such as the British
Broadcasting Corporation and the Voice of America (VOA) had good access
to commercial Bulgarian radio frequencies, although in April the interim
council for radio frequencies and television channels turned down a
request by Radio Free Europe to add VOA programming on its frequency.
After initial government approval in the fall of 1994 of an application
to create a privately owned national broadcast television station,
further progress has floundered, with no action being taken by the
current Government. Television and radio news programs on the state-
owned media present opposition views but are generally seen as being
biased in favor of the Government. There are no formal restrictions on
programming. Some political groups complained that coverage was one-
sided, although they acknowledged that their representatives were
interviewed regularly. Both television and radio provide a variety of
news and public interest programming, including talk and public opinion
shows.
More than 30 independent radio stations are licensed. Some private
stations complained that their licenses unduly restricted the strength
of their transmissions in comparison to state-owned stations. Radio
transmitter facilities are owned by the Government.
Private book publishing remained lively, with hundreds of publishers in
business. Respect for academic freedom continued.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
The right to peaceful and unarmed assembly is provided for by the
Constitution, and the Government generally respected this right in
practice. The authorities require permits for rallies and assemblies
held outdoors, but most legally registered organizations were routinely
granted permission to assemble. However, one non-Orthodox religious
group reported difficulties obtaining a permit for an outdoor assembly,
and several other religious groups also had difficulty renting assembly
halls. In most cases, these religious groups had been denied
registration by the Council of Ministers (see Section 2.c.).
Vigorous political rallies and demonstrations were a common occurrence
and took place without government interference.
The Government has undertaken to respect the rights of individuals and
groups freely to establish their own political parties or other
political organizations. However, there are constitutional and
statutory restrictions that limit the right of association and
meaningful participation in the political process. For example, the
Constitution prohibits organizations that threaten the country's
territorial integrity or unity, or that incite racial, ethnic, or
religious hatred. Some observers considered the Government's refusal
since 1990 to register a Macedonian rights group, Umo-Ilinden, on the
grounds that it is separatist, to be a restriction of the constitutional
rights to express opinions and to associate. The group, which is
seeking registration as a Bulgarian-Macedonian friendship society, was
allowed to hold an outdoor public meeting in April, but police broke up
attempts to hold a second public meeting in July.
The Constitution forbids the formation of political parties along
religious, ethnic, or racial lines, and prohibits "citizens'
associations" from engaging in political activity. Although these
restrictions were used in 1991 to challenge the legitimacy of the mainly
ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), that party is
currently represented in Parliament, and its right to compete in the
October 29 local elections was not questioned.
c. Freedom of Religion
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the
Government restricts this right in practice. The ability of a number of
religious groups to operate freely continued to come under attack, both
as a result of government action and because of public intolerance. The
Government requirement that groups whose activities have a religious
element register with the Council of Ministers remained an obstacle to
the activity of many religious groups. Dozens of articles in a broad
range of newspapers depicted lurid and inaccurate pictures of the
activities of non-Orthodox religious groups, attributing suicides of
teenagers and the breakup of families to their activities.
The Government refused visas and residence permits for foreign
missionaries, and some came under physical attack in the street and in
their homes. Members of the Mormon church reported continued acts of
harassment and assault, including some perpetrated by the police
themselves. The police response was indifferent despite the expressed
concern of the Government about such cases.
In February the Supreme Court ruled that a mother and supporter of the
nonregistered community of Christ's Warriors be denied parental custody
of her 4-year-old son because she had taken the boy to religious
meetings of the community. The court grounded its decision on
"educational qualities" claiming that "it is obvious that the child's
presence at such a public place is harmful to his mind and his health as
a whole."
At the Department of Theology of Sofia University, all students have
been required to present a certificate of baptism from the Orthodox
Church, and married couples to provide a marriage certificate from the
Orthodox Church, in order to enroll in the Department's classes.
Authorities initiated an investigation of the case of the April 1994
shooting death of Yordan Tsolov, an Orthodox priest in Surnitsa, about
which charges of police complicity were raised by a human rights
organization and the press in 1994.
Several religious groups appealed the denials of their registration by
the Council of Ministers under a 1994 amendment to the Families and
Persons Act. Most of the appeals were denied by the Council of
Ministers. Following the Supreme Court's April decision to affirm the
Council's denial of registration to the "Word of Life" group, the press
reported that the group was banned and that the police would seek out
and stop religious gatherings of the group, even if held in private
homes. Some observers made credible charges that the police sought to
break up meetings of non-Eastern Orthodox religious groups which were
denied registration.
The Constitution designates Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the
"traditional" religion. A number of major religious bodies, including
the Muslim and Jewish communities, receive government financial support.
There was no evidence that the Government discriminated against members
of any religious group in restituting to previous owners properties that
were nationalized during the Communist regime. For most religious
groups which were able to maintain their registration, there were no
restrictions on attendance at religious services or on private religious
instruction. A school for imams, a Muslim cultural center, university
theological faculties, and religious primary schools operated freely.
Bibles and other religious materials in the Bulgarian language were
freely imported and printed, and Muslim, Catholic, and Jewish
publications were published on a regular basis. However, during
compulsory military service most Muslims are placed into labor units
where they often perform commercial, military, or maintenance work
rather than serve in normal military units. The mainly ethnic-Turkish
Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) protested this practice (see
Section 5).
A significant proportion of Muslims considered the current Government's
approval of the statutes of the Muslim faith and its registration of a
new Chief Mufti and new head of the Supreme Theological Council, all
developed at a November 1994 Islamic conference, to be government
interference in the affairs of the community. A rival Chief Mufti,
elected at an alternative Islamic conference in March, appealed the
Government's actions unsuccessfully to the Supreme Court.
The schism which opened in the Orthodox church in 1992 persisted.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel,
Emigration, and Repatriation
The Constitution provides for freedom of movement within the country and
the right to leave it, and these rights are not limited in practice,
with the exception of limited border zones off limits both to foreigners
and Bulgarians not resident therein. Every citizen has the right to
return to Bulgaria, may not be forcibly expatriated, and may not be
deprived of citizenship acquired by birth. A number of former political
emigrants were granted passports and returned to visit or live.
As provided under law, the Chief Prosecutor restricted foreign travel by
Lukanov (see Section 1.e.) and also by Ivan Slavkov, son-in-law of Todor
Zhivkov, due to outstanding investigations of them. Observers
criticized the lack of time limits on such inactive investigations and
questioned whether the travel restrictions were not being used
punitively.
The Government has provisions for granting asylum or refugee status in
accordance with the standards of the 1951 U.N. Convention and its 1967
Protocol relating to the status of refugees. Domestic and international
human rights organizations expressed concerns over the Government's
handling of asylum claims and reported that there may be cases in which
bona fide refugees are forced to return to countries where they fear
persecution. The Bureau for Territorial Asylum and Refugees asserts
that it gives a fair hearing to all persons seeking asylum or refugee
status but admits that there may be cases which do not come to its
attention before the applicant is returned to the country from which he
or she entered Bulgaria. The Bureau is still seeking to establish
registration and reception centers blocked in 1994 by skinheads and
local citizens groups and has identified some new sites for the centers.
Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to
Change Their Government
Citizens have the right to change their government and head of state
through the election of the President and of the members of the National
Assembly, although the constitutional prohibition of parties formed on
ethnic, racial, or religious lines has the effect of circumscribing
access to the political process (see Section 2.b.). Suffrage is
universal at the age of 18. The most recent parliamentary elections
took place in December 1994. President Zhelev was elected in 1992 in
the first direct presidential elections.
Local elections were held in the fall. With the exception of the
mayoral election in Kurdjali, all major political parties accepted the
results and agreed that the elections were conducted in a free and
orderly manner. In the ethnically mixed city of Kurdjali, in a
politically charged atmosphere, the Socialist Party challenged in court
the narrow runoff victory of the MRF candidate, questioning the
registration of several hundred voters. After lengthy delays the court
took up the case, but it has not yet ruled, and the elected mayor has
not been allowed to take office.
There are no restrictions in law on the participation of women in
government. A number of women hold elective and appointive office at
high levels, including a cabinet-level post and several key positions in
the Parliament. However, women hold only about 14 percent of the seats
in the current Parliament.
Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and
Nongovernmental Investigations of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
Local and international human rights groups operate freely,
investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. At
the initiative of several groups concerned with children's rights, the
Government conducted a dialog with them on its compliance with the
Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Government was particularly
cooperative in allowing an NGO committee to survey prison conditions.
However, the Government is otherwise often reluctant to provide
information or active cooperation.
Section 5 Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Religion, Disability,
Language, or Social Status
The Constitution provides for individual rights, equality, and
protection against discrimination, but in practice discrimination still
exists, particularly against Roma and women.
Women
Domestic abuse is reportedly a serious problem, but there are no
figures, official or otherwise, on its occurrence. The courts prosecute
rape, although it remains an underreported crime because some stigma
still attaches to the victim. The maximum sentence for rape is 8 years;
convicted offenders often receive a lesser sentence or early parole.
Marital rape is a crime but rarely prosecuted. Courts and prosecutors
tend to view domestic abuse as a family rather than criminal problem,
and in most cases victims of domestic violence take refuge with family
or friends rather than approach the authorities. No government agencies
provide shelter or counseling for such persons, although there is a
private initiative to address the problem.
Many of the approximately 30 women's organizations in Bulgaria are
closely associated with political parties or have primarily professional
agendas. Of those which exist mainly to defend women's interests, the
two largest are the Women's Democratic Union in Bulgaria, heir to the
group which existed under the Zhivkov dictatorship, and the Bulgarian
Women's Association, which disappeared under communism but has now
reemerged and has chapters in a number of cities.
The Constitution forbids privileges or restrictions of rights on the
basis of sex. However, women face discrimination both in terms of
recruitment and the likelihood of layoffs. Official figures show the
rate of unemployment for women to be higher than that for men. Women
are much more likely than men to be employed in low-wage jobs requiring
little education, although statistics show women are equally likely to
attend university. Women, in the main, continue to have primary
responsibility for child-rearing and housekeeping even if they are
employed outside the home. The liberal provisions for paid maternity
leave may actually work against employers' willingness to hire and
retain women employees, especially in the private sector.
Children
The Government appears to be committed to protecting children's welfare.
It maintains, for example, a sizable network of orphanages throughout
the country. However, government efforts in education and health have
been constrained by serious budgetary limitations and by outmoded social
care structures. Groups that exist to defend the rights of children
charge that an increasing number of children are at serious risk as
social insurance payments fall further behind inflation and are often
disbursed as much as 6 months late.
The vast majority of children are free from societal abuse, although
skinhead groups have beaten some Romani children; the homeless or
abandoned were particularly vulnerable. Some Romani minors were forced
into prostitution by family or community members; there was little
police effort to address these problems.
People with Disabilities
Disabled persons receive a range of financial assistance, including free
public transportation, reduced prices on modified automobiles, and free
equipment such as wheel chairs. However, as in other areas, budgetary
constraints mean that such payments have fallen behind. Disabled
individuals have access to university training and to housing and
employment, although no special programs are in place to allow them to
live up to their full employment potential. To date little effort has
been made to change building or street layouts to help blind or
otherwise physically disabled persons. At the end of the year,
Parliament passed legislation requiring the relevant Ministry and local
governments to provide a suitable living and architectural environment
for the disabled within 3 years. Also, policies of the Communist regime
which separated mentally and physically disabled persons, including very
young children, from the rest of society have persisted.
Religious Minorities
Bulgarian Muslims or "Pomaks" constitute a sizable minority, comprising
2 to 3 percent of the population. Bulgarian Muslims are a distinct
group of Slavic descent whose ancestors converted from orthodox
Christianity to Islam. Most are Muslim, although a number have become
atheists or converted to Christianity.
Reports continued that some Muslim religious figures refused to perform
burial services for Muslims with Slavic names, a practice which some
observers saw as an encroachment on religious freedom.
There were a series of acts of vandalism directed at Jewish
institutions.
National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Ethnic Turks comprise about 10 percent of the population. Although
estimates of the Romani population vary widely, several experts put it
at about 6 percent. These are the country's two largest minorities.
There are no restrictions on the speaking of Turkish in public or the
use of non-Slavic names. A defense bill before Parliament renewed
controversy over the issue of language. The bill declared Bulgarian to
be the official language in the armed forces and the language in which
military duties were to be carried out. Members of Parliament of the
mainly ethnic-Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms tried
unsuccessfully to amend the bill to affirm the constitutional right to
use the "mother tongue," for example, in personal conversations and
correspondence. The motion was rejected, but use of the mother tongue
is not prohibited in the military, and Turkish is freely spoken in off-
duty situations.
Voluntary Turkish-language classes, funded by the Government, continued
in areas with significant Turkish-speaking populations, although some
observers complained that the Government was restricting the
availability of training for teachers and discouraging the optional
language classes in areas with large concentrations of Bulgarian
Muslims. Some ethnic Turkish leaders, mainly in the MRF, demanded that
Turkish-language schooling be made compulsory in ethnic Turkish areas,
but the Government resisted this.
In the 1992 census approximately 3.4 percent of the population
identified itself as Romani. The real figure is probably about twice
that high, since many persons of Romani descent tend to identify
themselves to the authorities as ethnic Turks or Bulgarians. Romani
groups continued to be divided among themselves, although several groups
had some success presenting Romani issues to the Government. As
individuals and as an ethnic group, Roma faced high levels of
discrimination.
Attacks by private citizens on Romani communities continued to occur in
1995. The most serious were a series of attacks in two Romani
neighborhoods of Stara Zagora in March and April. A group of young men
wielding bats and sticks reportedly damaged the property of 11 Romani
families in March, and a group of young people wearing masks allegedly
beat 2 Romani women on school grounds in April. Police have identified
the alleged perpetrators of the March incident, and an investigation is
underway. An arson investigation resulting from the February 1994
incident in Dolno Belotintsi was suspended later that year because of
the reluctance of the sole witness to testify. A human rights NGO was
able to gather new evidence implicating individuals in the crime and has
asked the Chief Prosecutor to resume the investigation; no action has
yet been taken. Authorities often fail to aggressively investigate
cases of assault or other crimes against Romani individuals, although
there was some improvement in their responsiveness to inquiries of human
rights organizations.
Roma encounter difficulties applying for social benefits, and rural Roma
are discouraged from claiming land to which they are entitled under the
law disbanding agricultural collectives. Many Roma and other observers
made credible allegations that the quality of education offered to
Romani children is inferior to that afforded most other Bulgarian
students.
The Government took some steps to address the problems faced by Roma.
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology convened a forum in
July to discuss the education of Romani children, during which
representatives of the President's office, concerned ministries, and
human rights organizations discussed pedagogical issues. The Council of
Ministers disbanded the interagency Ethnic Affairs Council established
in 1994, replacing it with a National Board on Social and Demographic
matters with broader responsibilities. Some observers expressed concern
over onerous requirements for admission of NGO's to the board. For
example, NGO's must have established branches in more than one-third of
Bulgarian municipalities.
The Ministry of Education continued its program to introduce Romani-
language schoolbooks into schools with Romani populations and issued
follow-on textbooks for the program. The program has had mixed success,
partly due to a lack of qualified teachers.
Workplace discrimination against minorities continued to be a problem,
especially for Roma. Employers justify such discrimination on the basis
that most Roma have relatively low training and education. Supervisory
jobs are generally given to ethnic Bulgarian employees, with ethnic
Turks, Bulgarian Muslims, and Roma among the first to be laid off.
During compulsory military service most Roma (and Muslims--see Section
2.c.) are shunted into labor units where they often perform commercial,
military construction, or maintenance work rather than serve in normal
military units. The MRF protested this practice, as did human rights
groups and labor observers who cited it as a violation of International
Labor Organization (ILO) accords. There are only a few ethnic Turkish
and Romani officers in the military.
Thousands of Bulgarians, mainly in the southwest, identify themselves as
Macedonians, most for historical and geographic reasons. Members of the
two organizations which purport to defend the interests of ethnic
Macedonians, Umo-Ilinden and Tmo-Ilinden, are believed to number in the
hundreds (see Section 2.b.).
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
The 1991 Constitution provides for the right of all workers to form or
join trade unions of their own choice, and this right was apparently
freely exercised. Estimates of the unionized share of the workforce
range from 30 to 50 percent. This share is shrinking as large firms lay
off workers, and most new positions appear in small, nonunionized
businesses.
Bulgaria has two large trade union confederations, the Confederation of
Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB), and Podkrepa. CITUB, the
successor to the trade union controlled by the former Communist regime,
operates as an independent entity. Podkrepa, an independent
confederation created in 1989, was one of the earliest opposition forces
but is no longer a member of the Union of Democratic Forces, the main
opposition party. In February a third trade union confederation, the
Community of Free Union Organizations in Bulgaria (CFUOB), was admitted
to the National Tripartite Coordination Council (NTCC), which includes
employers and the government (see Section 6.b.). CITUB and Podkrepa
filed a joint complaint to the International Labor Organization (ILO)
against the Government's selection of CFUOB as the labor delegate to the
1995 ILO conference. The ILO found that the Government had unilaterally
imposed rotation of the labor delegate among three trade union
organizations without consulting the other two.
The 1992 Labor Code recognizes the right to strike when other means of
conflict resolution have been exhausted, but "political strikes" are
forbidden. Workers in essential services are prohibited from striking.
There was no evidence that the Government interfered with the right to
strike, and several work stoppages took place. The Labor Code's
prohibitions against antiunion discrimination include a 6-month period
of protection against dismissal as a form of retribution. While these
provisions appear to be within international norms, there is no
mechanism other than the courts for resolving complaints, and the burden
of proof in such a case rests entirely on the employee.
The ILO in 1993 requested further information on lustration proceedings,
measures directed at compensating ethnic Turks for abuses under the
previous regime, efforts taken to improve the economic situation of
minorities, and measures to promote equality between men and women in
workplace opportunity. At year's end, the ILO was still reviewing the
information provided to it by the Government, including information
provided this year on efforts to improve the situation of minorities.
The ILO has not yet issued opinions or recommendations on these matters.
There are no restrictions on affiliation or contact with international
labor organizations, and unions actively exercise this right.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
The Labor Code institutes collective bargaining, which was practiced
nationally and on a local level. The legal prohibition against striking
for key public sector employees weakens their bargaining position;
however, these groups were able to influence negotiations by staging
protests and engaging in other pressure activities without going on
strike. Both CITUB and Podkrepa complained that while the legal
structure for collective bargaining was adequate, many employers failed
to bargain in good faith or to adhere to concluded agreements. Labor
observers viewed the Government's enforcement of labor contracts as
inadequate.
Only the three labor members of the National Tripartite Cooperation
Council are authorized to bargain collectively. This restriction led to
complaints by smaller unions, which may in individual workplaces have
more members than the NTCC members. Smaller unions also protested their
exclusion from the NTCC.
There were no instances in which an employer was found guilty of
antiunion discrimination and required to reinstate workers fired for
union activities. International labor organizations criticized the
"national representation" requirement for participation in the National
Tripartite Coordination Council as a violation of the right to organize.
The same obligation of collective bargaining and adherence to labor
standards prevails in the export processing zones, and unions may
organize workers in these areas.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
The Constitution prohibits forced or compulsory labor. Many observers
agreed that the practice of shunting minority and conscientious-objector
military draftees into work units which often carry out commercial
construction and maintenance projects is a form of forced labor (Section
5).
d. Minimum Age for Employment of Children
The Labor Code sets the minimum age for employment at 16; the minimum
for dangerous work is set at 18. Employers and the Ministry of Labor
and Social Welfare (MLSW) are responsible for enforcing these
provisions. Child labor laws are enforced well in the formal sector.
Underage employment in the informal and agricultural sectors is
increasing as collective farms are broken up and the private sector
continues to grow. In addition, children work on family-owned tobacco
plantations.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
The national monthly minimum wage was approximately $38 (2,555 leva) at
year's end. The minimum wage is not enough to provide a wage earner and
family with a decent standard of living. The Constitution stipulates
the right to social security and welfare aid assistance for the
temporarily unemployed, although in practice such assistance is often
either late or not disbursed.
The Labor Code provides for a standard workweek of 40 hours with at
least one 24-hour rest period per week. The MLSW is responsible for
enforcing both the minimum wage and the standard workweek. Enforcement
has been generally effective in the state sector, although there are
reports that state-run enterprises fall into arrears on salary payments
to their employees if the firms incur losses. Enforcement of work
conditions is weaker in the emerging private sector.
A national labor safety program exists, with standards established by
the Labor Code. The Constitution states that employees are entitled to
healthy and nonhazardous working conditions. The MLSW is responsible
for enforcing these provisions. Under the Labor Code, employees have
the right to remove themselves from work situations which present a
serious or immediate danger to life or health without jeopardizing their
continued employment. In practice, refusal to work in situations with
relatively high accident rates or associated chronic health problems
would result in loss of employment for many workers. Conditions in many
cases are worsening owing to budget stringencies and a growing private
sector which labor inspectors do not yet supervise effectively.
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2-8 Temperatures
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
Bulgaria offers a lot of sunshine. The climate is continental with four
seasons and a Mediterranean influence in its southern regions. Although
the Black Sea coast has mild winters, there is excellent snow for winter
sports in the mountains.
The winter temperature varies between -5 deg Celsius and +5 deg Celsius
(+20 deg F to +40 deg F). The average summer temperatures are between
+20 deg Celsius and +30 deg Celsius (+68 deg F to +86 deg F). Bring
warm clothing in winter (especially, if you go to the mountains) and
light clothing in summer.
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2-9 Bulgarian Clothing
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
Bulgarian folk clothes are very colorful and nice. Both women and
men wear white shirts with an embroidered bodice and skirts, richly
ornamented as well. The types of folk clothes vary according the region
and some times are very different, as though from different countries. The
clothes are so colorful and pretty that it seems they reflect all
the colors of nature. It is not possible to describe, it can only be
seen.
It is not possible to see people wearing traditional clothes in
the streets, as with kimonos in Japan. Bulgarians wear modern dress,
which are quite the same as anywhere in Europe. But there are a lot of
Folklore schools that study and preserve national traditions - dances,
clothes and folk music. When speaking about folklore clothes it is not
possible not to mention Bulgarian folk dances and music. Mountain
Rodopa, known as a birthplace of Orpheus, is one of the numerous regions
in which traditional folk music can be heard. On the "Voyager" satellite,
sent to another possible civilization, one of the messages included was
a song from this mountain. Maybe the variety of the Bulgarian folk is one
of the explanations of Bulgarian voice magic. A large number of world's
famous opera singers, instrumentalists and choirs have popularized
the power and beauty of Bulgarian performing art.
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2-10 Bulgarian Architecture
(by Rossen Zlatev), last updated: 31-Dec-1991
During the Ottoman rule the influence of European architecture was
weak. For this reason it is not possible to find big buildings
with architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. Instead of that there are a
lot of houses and small towns that keep the original beauty of
the Bulgarian National Revival (18-19 centuries). One of the most famous is
Plovdiv's Old Town. Behind stone walls and wrought iron gates along the
steep cobbled streets are lovely gardens with flowers and
symmetrical houses with colorful painted facades, bay and lattice
windows. Lovely carved ceilings, murals and exquisite furniture adorn
the interiors. Many of these houses are now museums, others are folk-style
restaurants, and the remainder are inhabited.
Monuments, buildings and archaeological excavations from different
times can be found all over the country. Here are some of them: Varna's
ancient necropolis which revealed proofs of the first European civilization
and the world's oldest gold dated to 4600-4200 B.C.; The Kazanluk Thracian
Cupol Tomb dated to the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century
B.C., containing unique murals - the only surviving monuments of Hellenic
painting, included in the List of World Cultural Heritage.; A Roman
Amphitheater from the 2nd century - the biggest one in the Balkan Peninsula
outside of Greece; The Rila Monastery founded in 9th century - the biggest
monum of Bulgarian Architecture from that time; Kotel and Zeravna - two
villages in the Balkan mountain that have saved their original architecture
from the National Revival. The spirit of these villages can not be
described, it can only be seen and experienced.
Apart from the old buildings, there are a large number of modern resorts
at the Black Sea's beach and mountains. They have a different modern
architecture that provide a good holiday time and refuge from the noise
of the 20th century.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-11 Who are the Slavs
(by Harry Tsamaidis), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
From: ht...@CFS02.cc.monash.edu.au (HARRY TSAMAIDIS)
SLAVS
are any of several groups of peoples, most of whom live in
Eastern Europe. There are about 275million Slavs. They
speak similar languages, called the Slavic or Slavonic
Languages.
The first Slavs lived over 5,000 years ago in a region
that now forms part of the northwestern Ukraine and
southeastern Poland. From A.D. 200 to 500, they migrated
to other parts of Europe. Some Slavs settled in what are
now the western Soviet Union and eastern and central Europe.
Other Slavs migrated to the region of southeastern Europe
known as the Balkans.
During the 800's, the Slavs established the Great Moravian
Empire, which united the peoples of central Europe for the
first time. In 906, the empire was conquered by the Magyars,
the ancestors of the Hungarians. Since then, the Slavs have
been ruled by many foreign powers, including the Byzantine
Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Germany.
In 1918, after World War I ended, the Slavs established such
independant states as Czechoslovakia, Poland, and the Former
Yugoslavia. Germany conquered these Slavic states during
World War II (1939-1945).
Today, the Soviet Union dominates most of the Slavic peoples.
In eastern Europe, only the Slavs of Former Yugoslavia; and
Greece are free of Soviet rule.
Historians classify the Slavs into three main groups-
(1) eastern, (2) western, and (3) southern - based on the
regions in which these people live.
Eastern Slavs
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
consist of the Byelorussions, or White Russians; the Russians,
or Great Russians; and the Ukrainians, or Little Russians.
The eastern Slavs were strongly influenced by the culture of the
Byzantine Empire. About A.D. 988, the ruler of the Russian Slavs,
Grand Prince Vladimir I, married a Byzantine princess and became
a Christian. As a result, most of the people under his rule also
turned to Christianity. Today, many eastern Slavs belong to
Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Western Slavs
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
form a group that includes the Czechs; the Slovaks; the Poles; and the
Wends, who also are known as Sorbs or Lusatians. The Wends live in
East Germany. During the 800's, two Greek monks, named Cyril
and Methodius, converted many western Slavs to Christianity.
At that time, church services were held in Greek or Latin, which
few people could understand. But Cyril and Methodius held services
in the language of the Slavs, called Old Church Slavonic.
As the western Slavs became involved in the affairs of western Europe,
they also became influenced by the Roman Catholic Church. Through the
Centuries, the Catholic Church has strongly influenced western
European Culture. Today, most western Slavs are Roman Catholics.
Southern Slavs
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
are a group composed of the Bulgarians, the Croats, the Macedonians,
the Serbs, and the Slovenes. During the 800's, a large number of
southern Slavs were converted to Christianity by followers of Cyril
and Methodius. However, these Slaves were also strongly influenced
by the Byzantine culture. Today, the majority of southern Slavs
belong to Eastern Orthodox Churches. Most members of the group
live in the Balkans.
SERBIA
is the largest of the six republics of Yugoslavia. Serbia covers
about 34,116 square miles (88,361 square kilometres) in eastern
Yugoslavia. It includes the independant provinces of Kosovo and
Vojvodina. Serbia has a population of about 9,306,000. Belgrade,
its largest city, is the capital of Yugoslavia.
Land.
^^^^^
A number of Rivers flow through Serbia. They include the Danube,
Yugoslavia's major waterway, which flows southeast to the Black Sea.
The Morava River flows north through the hills of southern and central
Serbia and then empties into the Danube. Mountains rise on Serbia's
eastern and western borders. Serbia has deposits of coal, copper,
lead, and zinc.
People
^^^^^^
More than 70 per cent of Serbia's people are Serbs. Other groups
include Albanians, Croats, Hungarians, and Slovenes. Most of the
people belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church or are Muslims.
Serbo-Croatian is the principal Language. But the Serbs use the
Cyrillic alphabet, and the Croats use the Roman alphabet.
Serbs frequently eat grilled meat, thick soups, goat cheese, and
spicy salads. They also like thick, sweet Turkish coffee and plum
brandy.
Economy
^^^^^^^
Serbia's best farmland lies in the northern province of Vojvodina
and in Sumadija, an area south of Belgrade. Farmers grow cereal
grains, fruits, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, and tobacco.
They raise cattle, hogs, and sheep. Industrialization has developed
rapidly in Serbia since the mid-1940's. Products made in Serbia
include chemicals, electrical products, and textiles.
History
^^^^^^^
During the A.D. 600's, various groups of Slavs, including the
ancestors of the Serbs, settled in the center of the Balkan Peninsula.
Each tribe had its own leader until the late 1100's, when Stephen
Nemanja, a warrior and chief, formed the first united Serbian state.
During the 1300's, King Stephen Dusan led the country in successful
wars against the Byzantine Empire. The Serbian kingdom began to
break up after his death in 1355. The Ottoman Turks conquered Serbia
in the battle of Kosovo in 1389.
The Ottoman Empire ruled Serbia for nearly 500 years, but the Serbs
never lost their national pride. George Petrovic, a Serbian peasant
who was nicknamed Black George, led an uprising against the Turks in
1804. Another Serbian peasant leader Milos Obrenovic, led a second
revolt in 1815. The Serbs won some liberties in these struggles.
Serbia regained independance in 1878, following the Ottoman Empire's
defeat by Russia. In the Balkan Wars (1912-13), Serbia and other
Balkan countries gained control of almost all of the empire's
possessions in Europe.
During the early 1900's, various economic and political conflicts
developed between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, the heir
to the throne of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, was
assassinated by Gavilro Princip, a Serbian patriot from the province
of Bosnia in Austria-Hungary. World War I began a month later when
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. After the war ended in
1918, Serbia helped form the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.
This kingdom became Yugoslavia in 1929. Following the end of
World War II in 1945, Serbia became one of the republics of the
Federal State of Yugoslavia.
During the 1960's and 1970's, regional pride led to quarrels
between Serbia and other Yugoslav republics.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-12 Who are the Pomaks
(by Roumi Radenska), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
WHO ARE THE POMAKS?
'Pomaks' is the name of pretty large group of people who live
mainly in Rhodopi mountains (southern Bulgaria, close to the
border with Greece). They have muslim names and speak very
ancient bulgarian language (bulgarian belongs to the group of
slavic languages). Their ancestors were slavic christian people
who accepted muslim religion. This fact took place in 16th and
17th centuries. There were several ways to become muslim that
time, when Bulgaria like all Balkan peninsula, was part of the
Ottoman empire. But most common paths to islamiztion were:
1. Through marriages. This way was valid for a number of
bulgarian women.
2. Voluntary islamization. Main reason for that was escaping a
lot of taxes.
3. Forced islamization. The largest amount of 'pomaks' became
muslims that way. There are well known several ottoman actions
for islamiztion of bulgarians living in Rhodopi mountain during
17th century. Here is coming the question: why ottomans forced
the people living in that region only to accept the muslim faith?
One of the explanations is: Rhodopi mountains were a huge hunting
field for the sultan, his family and large number of his people.
They needed to be served during their stay there (some times for
months). According to their believes they have to be served only
by muslims. That's why ottomans forced the large amount of
bulgarian population in Rhodops to accept the islam.
How we know about that fact? Ottoman empire had excellent
organized tax system. All taxpayers were registered in books,
their land or other property described in order to determine the
taxes. Naming the taxpayers ottomans used identification on first
name of the person and the name of his father. For example:
Khasan, son of Ivan. Khasan is muslim name, but Ivan is slavonic,
christian name. This is the way we know that 'pomaks' used to be
slavic christian people before they became muslims. A lot of
books from all 500 years of ottoman rule over Bulgaria containing
data about taxes and taxpayers are saved in archives in Sofia,
Burgas, Istanbul.
'Pomaks' were pretty isolated from the rest of the bulgarian
society for centuries. They saved that old bulgarian language and
some old customs which took place before 17th century. About 20
years ago, in the beginning of 1970s, the ethnography professor
Ivan Koev from Sofia University lead a student expedition to
pomak region called 'Chech'. They did research on language,
crafts and customs in that area. I visited the village of
Sarnitza entirely populated by pomaks in 1983. My impressions of
that visit are still fresh. All the houses were new two stories
brick buildings. Many families had cars. A lot of children were
playing in the yards dressed with snow white shirts. It was such
a peaceful picture and all the past seemed to be forgotten.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-13 Where to buy Bulgarian Flags
(by The Flag Guys), last updated: 17-Sep-1995
We have a 3x5 foot Bulgarian flag. If interested in getting one, email
vr...@teleport.com for the info.
The Flag Guys
5636 N Delaware, Portland, OR 97217-4206 USA
voice (503) 289-7158, fax (503) 286-0236, vr...@teleport.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-14 Salaries in 1995 (in Bulgarian)
(by Julian Dontchev), last updated: 04-Dec-1995
Sredni mesechni brutni rabotni zaplati v otrasli i deinosti,
finansirani ot obshtinskite bjudzheti (esen 1995):
1. Zdraveopazvane: 5462 BGL
2. Obrazovanie: 5127 BGL
3. Kultura: 4904 BGL
4. Sotsialni grizhi: 5342 BGL
5. Pravosadie: 9722 BGL
6. Tsentralno Upravlenie: 12305 BGL
7. Finansovo ministerstvo: 9122 BGL
8. Minist. na ikonomikata: 9428 BGL
9. Energetika: 5535 BGL
Iztochnik: v-k Kontinent
Dragomir R. Radev
Last-Modified: May 15, 1996
Posting-Frequency: Monthly
Version: 4.03
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 3: VISITING BULGARIA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1 Travel agencies dealing with Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Imat telefoni i FAX na letishte JFK :
(718) 656-8235
(718) 656-8370
(718) 656-0119
(mislja, poslednoto e FAX)
Adres`t e E. Wing, Building 51
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
1-800 - nomera imat dve ot agenciite, specializirani v bileti za BG.
Balkan Holidays - predstavljavat Balkan ot poveche vreme
(800) 852-0944 (obshto vzeto ne go reklamirat za p`tnici, idejata
e kato che li poveche da go polzvat travel agent-i)
(212) 573-5530
(212) 573-5538 (FAX)
Intervega - rabotjat sravnitelno ot skoro
(800) 677-9089
Sofia Travel - s`shto sa sravnitelno otskoro v NY
(212) 247-8091
(212) 247-3810 (FAX)
Poslednite dve agencii kato che li predlagat po-niski ceni
(makar che imat dop`lnitelni taksi za pokupka na bileti s kreditna
karta, v krajna smetka mozhe da izleze i s`shtata suma).
Ima e agencija s E-mail adres : Tra...@aol.com
Po princip, v njakoi sluchai agenciite mogat da predlozhat i cena
po-niska ot tazi, kojato Balkan shte dade direktno na p`tnika.
No p`k v njakoi sluchai chovek se nalaga da se obadi direktno
na Balkan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2 Telephones of Balkan Airlines
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3 How much does it cost to fly from the USA to Bulgaria and back
(by Plamen Bliznakov)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
Flights on Balkan Bulgarian Airlines
Effective Sep 01, 1993
Schedule : Eastbound Mon, Fri JFK-SOF LZ602 18:30 - 10:00+1
Westbound Mon, Fri SOF-JFK LZ601 11:00 - 13:45
Shoulder Season Low Season
9/01 - 10/31 11/01 - 12/10
12/10 - 1/04 1/05 - 3/31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From JFK - Economy class
Round-trip travel, Stay up to
1 month 669 640
2 months 734 691
4 months 840 798
6 months 924 882
1 year 1,300 1,300
One way 578 525
From JFK - Business class
Round-trip travel 1,300 1,300
One way 700 700
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sofia-JFK, tickets issued in the USA - Economy class
Round-trip travel, Stay up to
1 month 618 599
2 months 647 627
Pre-paid tickets Sofia-JFK, tickets issued in Bulgaria but paid in the USA
4 months 786 762
6 months 871 846
1 year 952 952
One way 537 537
Business class
Round-trip 952 952
One way 619 619
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
- New York City Airport tax : $ 21 for round-trips, $ 9 for one way EB,
$ 15 for one way WB
- Departures - JFK Airport-International Building - East wing terminal
(Air Lingus)
- Infants (no seat) pay 20 %, children pay 67 % of adult fare
- Tickets are restricted, cancelation penalties apply. Fare subject to change
- Pre-paid tickets from Sofia : add $ 20 per person
- Baggage allowance : 2 pieces, each max 70 lb. Extra piece : $ 81
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4 State Department Travel Advisory on Bulgaria
(by U.S. Department of State), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Bulgaria
Bulgaria - Consular Information Sheet
January 19, 1994
Registration: U.S. citizens who register in the Consular Section
of the U.S. Embassy can obtain updated information on travel and
security within Bulgaria.
Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, is located
at 1 Suborna (formerly 1 A. Stamboliski Boulevard); telephone
(359-2) 88-48-01 to -05. This is also the after hours number for
emergencies.
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located at 1 Kapitan
Andreev Street in Sofia; telephone (359-2) 65-94-59.
No. 94-007
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated April 29, 1993,
to provide updated information on entry requirements, currency
regulations and crime.
-----
How to get a new copy of the advisory:
1. subscribe for daily reports
Send message: SUB TRAVEL-ADVISORIES
To: travel-advis...@stolaf.edu
OR
2. use ftp to get the specific reports you need:
To: ftp ftp.stolaf.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-5 Where is the Travel Information Archive
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
Use anonymous FTP to site: ftp.cc.umanitoba.ca
file description: rec.travel archives
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-6 Visa info for foreigners
(by Plamen Bliznakov)
Visitors should have valid passports. No visa is required for Americans
visiting up to 30 days.
Entry or transit visas could be obtained at Bulgarian Embassies and
Consulates abroad.
Some Addresses :
In the USA
The Consular Office of the Bulgarian Embassy
1621 22nd Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 483-5885
In Canada
The Consular Office of the Bulgarian Embassy
100 Adelaide Street, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1S3
Phone (416) 363-7307
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-7 Tourist Information
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
Off-peak Europe in brief
[...]
During the winter, there's top skiing (Borovets has been the site of World
Cup competitions) plus a Christmas and New Year's Festival in the country's
5,000-year-old capital, Sofia. Come spring, Black Sea resorts are magnets
for vacationing Europeans.
Year-round, Bulgaria is on of the best bargains in Europe. In fact, a
seven-day air/land package (New York-Sofia) starts as low as $825 per person.
Ski Bulgaria packages - offered by Balkan Holidays - start as low as $1,000
per person, including roundtrip airfare to Sofia, six nights' first-class
accomodations, breakfast and dinner daily, equipment rental and lift passes,
and ski-school tuition.
Best shopping buys include antiques, leather goods, perfume, ceramics
and woordcrafts.
Bulgarian Tourist Information Center: 41 East 42nd St., Suite 508,
New York, NY 10017, (212) 573-5530
Source: NYT supplement "Your invitation to Europe", October 10, 1993
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-8 Useful Contacts in Bulgaria
(by Department of Commerce of the USA, Eastern Europe Business Bulletin)
American Embassy Sofia
John Fogarasi, Commercial Attache
No.1 Bulgaria Square
NDK Administration Building, 5th Floor
Sofia, Bulgaria
(APO NY 09213-5740)
Tel: 359-2-65-94-64 (or 359-2-88-48-01 ext. 307)
Fax: 359-2-80-38-50 (or 80-19-77)
Telex: 22690 BG
Ministry of Industry & Trade
Boris Nachev, International Trade Specialist
8, ul. Slavyanska
1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: 359-2-80-37-28
Fax: 359-2-89-76-05
Evgeni Kharalanov, U.S. Desk Officer
Tel: 359-2-87-24-20
Fax: 359-2-89-76-05
Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Vladimir Lambrev, President
11A, A.Stamboliiski Blvd.
1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: 359-2-87-26-31
Fax: 359-2-87-32-09
Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund
Ms. L. Searle Vetter, Managing Director
3 Shipka Street
Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: 359-2-44-18-62
Fax: 359-2-43-89-47
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-9 Visit to Bulgaria
(by Jan Terziyski)
The airport is 3km from the Sofia living areas (Druzhba, Iskyr, etc.).
The buses depart every 20min, but in the rush hours you can get on
for 5 min or so. Tickets ARE AVAILABLE on board, but one has to by a
bunch of ten or five to ease the driver who may not have change. For the
tourists who have reserved rooms in bigger hotels by travelling agency,
there are buses going directly to the hotel(I know about Varna, but such
a service should be available in Sofia).
There are 4 main international roads, used by tourists and cargo-trucks:
Kalotina-Sofia-Plovdiv-Svilengrad, Vidin-Sofia-Kulata,
Russe-Pleven-Sofia-Kulata and Russe-Sliven-(to Turkey and to Greece).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-10 Hotels in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
Bulgaria has some 400 international hotels with 100,000 beds, half of which
are located in the Black Sea resorts. In all major cities and tourist
places there is at least one good First Class hotel. Some of the hotels are
built with Western partners and are jointly managed. In Sofia you can stay
at Deluxe hotels like the Sheraton Balkan Hotel, the Vitosha Hotel or the
First class Novotel Evropa, Rodina or Grand Sofia Hotel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-11 Where to sleep in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
WHERE TO SLEEP
Stay in private accommodations whenever and wherever you can.
Whether it's a private room in a house or a private hotel (each
$5-$7 per night), you will be much better off than if you stay
in a state-run establishment, where prices vary according to your
nationality. In the latter, foreigners pay exorbitant prices -
as much as $100 - $150 per night, which is about 10-20 times
the amount a Bulgarian would pay. Even if you speak Bulgarian,
the mandatory display of your passport will give you away. If that
were not bad enough, the typical Balkantourist hotel is run-down
and dirty. Hot water is rarity; plumbing and electrical problems
are not.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-12 The Sheraton Hotel in Sofia
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 07-Jun-1995
Sheraton Sofia
5, Sveta Nedelya Sq.
$180 per night
359-2-876541
1-800-325-3535
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-13 Renting Cars
, last updated: 06-Sep-1995
CITY RENT - VARNA 10,Dragan Tsankov str.
tel: 359/52/256977
Lada (1 month) 640 $ (insurance and VAT included)
Price goes up respectively with the size of the vehicle
Hertz or Avis charge nearly double
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-14 Eating in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
The staple in most restaurants is meat - and don't expect a large selection.
The loud music at diner is meant to keep you occupied while you wait. It's
common to share tables if a place is crowded, which can be a plus or minus,
depending on whom you are stuck with. The "smetkata" (bill) won't be brought
to you until you ask for it. It's a good idea to request a menu and check
the addition - errors are common. Whether you are dining out or weighing
veggies at the marketplace, you will find that food is extremely cheap. The
major obstacles are finding it and waiting in line for it. ...
Many locals consider Sofia's restaurants overpriced and are wary of being
overcharged by money-hungry waiters, who tend to prey on foreigners but who
have recently begun pulling scams on locas as well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-15 Bringing electrical devices to Bulgaria
(by Dragomir R. Radev)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
Be careful when bringing electrical appliances from the U.S. to Bulgaria.
The voltage there (as in the rest of Europe) is 220 V. Don't lose your
equipment to the high voltage! In addition to this, note that the frequency
used in Bulgaria is 50 Hz, not 60 Hz.
In addition to this, please note that plugs (and outlets) in Bulgaria are
different than those in the U.S. So, even if your computer (VCR, or whatever)
can operate at 220 V, you will still need a special plug (it's better to
purchase it before coming to Bulgaria, since you might not be able to find
one there).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-16 Information for drivers
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
Bulgaria is connected with neighbouring countries by a broad network of
motorways. Motorists entering the country are required to provide
valid driver's license (a regular US driver's license is sufficient),
car registration, and an insurance policy covering third party liability
known as the "green card". The latter can be obtained at the border,
but buying it in advance typically costs less.
Gas stations in Bulgaria are located 25-30 kilometers (15-20 miles)
apart. Hours of operation in most cases are 6 a.m. (6:00) to 10 p.m.
(22:00). Few gas stations in big cities and key junctions are open 24
hours a day. Unleaded gasoline is available at the border checkpoints,
in Sofia and the large Black Sea and mountain resorts, and along the
major motorways.
Speed limits : for cars - 60 km/h (37 MPH) within city limits,
80 km/h (50 MPH) on roadways outside cities and 120 km/h (75 MPH)
on highways.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-17 Time, office hours (by Plamen Bliznakov)
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
Time
Local time: GMT+2 or EST+7. As in most European countries, summer
daylight saving time is being introduced from the last weekend of
March till the last weekend of September.
Business Hours
Shopping
Usually open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. (9:00) to 1 p.m. (13:00) and
from 2 p.m. (14:00) to 7 p.m. (19:00).
Banks
Typically work with customers Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. (8:00)
till noon (12:00).
Museums
From 9 a.m. (9:00) to 5 p.m. (17:00). Admission fees are $ 1 - $ 3.
Restaurants
Meals may be ordered until 11 p.m. (23:00).
Government offices
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. (9:00) to 6 p.m. (18:00) with a lunch break.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-18 Local Calls
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Public phones are plentiful but require 20-stotinki coin, which
you deposit at the top of the phone after dialing the number.
Stockpile a few of these coins, since they are rare, and venders
eschew dispensing change to foreigners. ...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-19 Sending Mail Home
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Unless you plan on staying in Bulgaria for quite a long time,
you will probably arrive home before your mail. Letters to other
parts of Europe can take as long as two weeks to arrive, and letters
to the US can take anywhere from two weeks to two months.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-20 Police Assistance
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
The police are not that helpful to their fellow Bulgarians,
let alone foreigners who do not speak the language, so do not
expect much.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-21 Medical care for foreigners
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 06-Apr-1994
Bulgaria has well-trained medical personnel.
No charge is made for consultations about, or treatment of, emergency
cases. There is a clinic for foreigners in Sofia. Its address is:
1 Evgeni Pavlovski Str., Mladost 1, Sofia; Phone (02) 75-361.
The prices for the medical treatment and medicines there are
reasonable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-22 Contraceptives and Safe Sex
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Sexual attitudes in Bulgaria are fairly liberal. Prostitution
is rampant, especially in resort towns and seaports. Casual
sex is definitely not a taboo, and condoms are readily available
in pharmacies. ...
You get what you pay if you buy 2 cents Bulgarian condoms (a.k.a.
Medbio Protex) - they have the annoying tendency of decomposing or
falling apart as they are unrolled. They don't ever work as balloons
or soap containers. Foreign-made condoms (mostly Chinese and Japanese)
exist, but they are hard to find. ...
Although public displays of affection among the same sex are common,
homosexuality is not openly accepted. As far as attitudes toward
homosexuality go, Bulgarians waver between denial and intolerance.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-23 Taxi
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
There are two types of taxis: state and private. Many do not
have meters, and the fares are calculated from the driver's
odometer. Agree on a rate ahead of time and note the distance
traveled, or negotiate a flat fee for the trip, since the
drivers have a tendency to overcharge.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-24 How to use credit cards in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov)
During my two-week stay in Bulgaria I tried to check how cash could be obtained
from a cradit card account or by cashing a traveller's cheque.
First, there was an office of American Express recently established in Sofia.
It is located at Batemberg square, at the former office of Yugoslavian airlines
JAT. One can obtaing emergency cash from his/her account in this office. I am
not sure what is the commission they take for that service. Almost $ 1000 were
available to me.
Second, Balkantourist is a travel representative of AMEX, offering many
services in their office on 1, Vitosha Blvd., including traveller's mail,
cashing traveller's cheques, getting cash from AMEX credit card account, etc.
They charge 1 % commission + 10 BGL per traveller's cheque for cashing the
latter. If you want to use your AMEX charge card, it will cost you 4.5 %
commission, and you can get cash only in Bulgarian leva, according to
Balkantourist rate.
Several other exchange bureaus also can give you Bulgarian leva charging
your credit card account (AMEX, Visa, Mastercard), but all I have seen
charge 8 % commission.
AMEX traveller's cheques can be cashed in some banks as well. One of them
is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which has
an office on the 3 floor of EuropaPalace Hotel (former Hotel Rila) in the
center of Sofia. First Private Bank also cashes AMEX as well as Mastercard
traveller's cheques. You can check with Balkan Air Tours (the office of
Balkan Airlines at Sofiyska Communa St.) for cashing AMEX and Eurocheques.
Credit cards are accepted for payments of airline tickets at offices of
Balkan Airlines, as well as by many travel agencies. Yoy can also use
major cards for purchases at CUM and some other stores (e.g., Boujour chain
of Stambouli brothers - Cypruss). You can certainly use a credit card at the
duty free shops (e.g., at Sofia airport). In a TV interview they also said that
a chain of private gas stations now under construction will also start
accepting credit cards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-25 Can Bulgarians exchange leva for hard currency
(by Vassil Peychev)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
You can buy any amount of dollars from a "Change" office, which are
everywhere in the bigger cities. However, to be able to get the currency out
of the country you need a document, certifying where you have it from - for
this, you need an international passport (no visa), and the limit is 10,000
lv. However, you can usually get away with a slightly higher amount, and in
my experience the customs officers don't care. If you bring currency in, you
can take it out with your entry customs form, so don't throw it away!
P.S. Some numbers look suspicious to me (e.g., prices for a round-trip
travel with a stay up to 1 year are the same for Economy class and for
Business class; also, two one-ways are cheaper than one 1-year round-trip
travel). However, this are the prices which the agency my wife works at
received officially. I might ask her to verify some specific figures if
there is interest.
Also, soon the limit will be 50,000 leva, and if you need the money for
medical care abroad or for education, there is no limit - but I guess this
would involve some unpleasant amount of paperwork.
Dragomir R. Radev
Last-Modified: May 15, 1996
Posting-Frequency: Monthly
Version: 4.03
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 4: TRAVELOGUES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-1 Some advice from an American who visited Bulgaria in 1991
(by Rick Speer)
REMARK (by Dragomir R. Radev): This letter was written in 1991
so please keep this in mind while reading it (many things have
changed since then). The reason it is included in the FAQ is
that it gives the impressions of a foreigner on Bulgaria.
Here is some free advice-
The following is all based on my experience in BG last summer. I
found the hotels, in Sofia at least, to be very expensive. You
could hardly get a room for less than $60 US / night. Some were
much more (more than $150). Perhaps they are less if you plan to
stay a long time, several weeks, e.g. Your best bet might be to
have some agency that organizes tours make the reservations for
you. They seem to get the best prices, perhaps because they reserve
many rooms at once. The worst plan is to walk in off the street in
Bulgaria with nothing arranged in advance; this will cost you a
lot.
The least I paid for a room anywhere in the country was 660 lv (about
$33 at the time) for one night. This was in the village of Pamporo-
vo, near Smolyan, in the far south-western part of the country. The
price scale is roughly linear for cities between this village and
Sofia in size.
One bargain possibility: in one small village I saw an Orthodox monas-
tery that allowed guests to rent rooms. One in fact was a German stu-
dent who was studying for some exams in the fall. All of the guests
seemed to be fairly long-term ones, staying for one or more weeks. I
don't know the price they charged but I imagine it was not very much.
Perhaps you could find such an arrangement.
Car rental. I found that it was expensive too, at least at the
Hertz and Avis places I checked. The odd thing, to me anyway, was
that there seemed to be a trick to it. Example- I went in one Fri-
day and asked to rent a car for that weekend (this was in Sofia).
I was told there were none available. They called out to the air-
port; 'none there either', they said. I went away and was fortune-
ately able to make other arrangements. Later though I was told by
some locals that it was very unlikely all the cars in fact were rent-
ed; why and how would there happen to be so many rich people in BG
that day, they asked? Instead they suggested that what in fact was
going on was that a bribe was expected... They said this is what hap-
pens if you don't call on Wednesday or so to make weekend arrange-
ments...
I have no way to know what the truth was. I can only say, based on my
experience, it's far better to plan ahead.
I had a short interaction with the Lufthansa office in Sofia and
found them to be very professional and helpful. In general though
I think you are much better off buying your tickets, etc. in your
home country. Unless you are pretty fluent in Bulgarski.
Some other advice-
1. Take lots of film, more than you think you will need. The
quality of any film you can find in BG is dubious.
2. Likewise for any other such supplies- audio- or video-tapes,
batteries, toilet paper.
3. Bring your own maps just in case; I could hardly find any
there. I found that Nagel's Guide to BG (published in Swit-
zerland? and available in several languages) was an excel-
lent book to have along. The maps were very good and there
was something in the book about almost every city I went to.
4. The people in the villages tend not to accept foreign currency.
Change your money before you get out into the country.
5. The more Bulgarian you can speak and read, the better.
6. Bring thoughtful gifts- extra blank audio cassettes, chocolate,
etc. The people tend to be very kind and you will want to thank
them. Some candy for children can be helpful. A camera that takes
instant pictures could be useful too. I learned that country-west-
ern American music (Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, etc.) was very pop-
ular among city people last year. Such cassettes might also be ap-
preciated this year.
7. I found that a 'pit stop' out of Bulgaria and back to it, in the
middle of my month-long visit, was very helpful (I went to Frank-
furt). At the airport there I was able to buy more film and gifts
like the above to bring back for friends who had been very helpful.
8. A portable radio might be useful, depending on your plans. Ask
the net whether AM, FM or shortwave is best.
9. I found a portable audio cassette player to be very helpful.
My friends took me around the country in a rented Lada that the
radio have been taken out of. My cassette player became a nice
way to relieve the boredom.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-2 Visit to Varna
(by Austin Kelly)
Some advice from an American who lived in Bulgaria in 1992-1993 (by
Austin Kelly)
The following is based on 9 months of teaching at the Technical and
Economics Universities of Varna, and a limited amount of traveling
throughout Bulgaria in the 1992-93 academic year. While I can relate
my experiences, bear in mind that there is an enormous amount of
diversity in Bulgaria - take all advice with big grains of salt.
First piece of advice - go there, and travel around. The Black Sea
Coast is beautiful year round, and has excellent swimming from July
through September (June or October if you are really lucky). The
mountains are beautiful for hiking, hunting, or skiing in the Winter.
And the art and architecture of the monasteries is not to be missed.
Most of the large state-owned hotels charge rip-off prices ($100-$200) to
foreigners. In Sofia the Sheraton, the New Otani, and to a lesser
extent, the Grand Hotel and Park Hotel Moskva provide high standards
at high prices. The other big hotels provide the high prices, but don't
bother with the service. Private hotels provide a much better
correlation between price and service. In Turnovo the Hotel Veliko
Turnovo charges stiff prices ($80 dbl) but gives good service in return, as
does the Grand Hotel Varna in Sveti Konstantin. The other big hotels
in Sveti Konstantin and Golden Sands are badly overpriced. There are
alternatives to consider. In Sofia there is a very small hotel between
the airport and downtown attached to the Archeological Institute, called
the Hotel Kedar (Cedar, as in Cedars of Lebanon). The rooms are small
but clean, the prices are cheap, the staff speaks French or German,
and its on a main tram line. Another alternative are private accomodation
bureaus. BG Tours in Varna booked me into a wonderful room near Sveti
Konstantin for $8.00 US a night - it was a short walk downhill (a LONGER
walk back uphill) to the beaches, and the balcony looked out on the
Black Sea. The owners spoke no foreign language that I recognized but
we got along great. If you're really on the cheap universities will rent
out any available dorm rooms at around $2 or $3 a night - the trick is
connecting with the right person. If you speak Bulgarian or Russian ask
a cab driver, etc. the way to the nearest obshezhitie (dormitory) and
negotiate with the front desk. If not, try any coffee shop at the
university for an English speaker and start asking around.
Car rentals are not cheap ($30-$40 a day for a Lada with a manual) but
are plentiful. They will advise you to remove your windshield wipers
when parked, leave no valuables or packages in the car, and always set
the alarm. TAKE THEIR ADVICE. Long-distance buses are fast, comfortable
and inexpensive. In Sofia long-distance buses congregate around the
Novotel Europa, in Varna they are either at the Cherno More Hotel or near
the Cathedral. Trains are slow but generally not too bad (if you ignore
the odor in the restrooms). You can probably get around pretty well without
a car.
Balkan flights between Varna and Sofia are frequent, several a day,
more or less on time, and cost $65.00 one-way last time I checked.
Balkan's Sofia JFK flights are extremely comfortable. Lufthansa,
Swiss Air, Air France, CSA (Czech Slovak), Malev (Hungarian), LOT
(Polish) all fly to Sofia. Lufthansa and Balkan treated me fairly
well in Sofia, the staff at Air France were obnoxious, and CSA put
me through hell like you wouldn't believe. Malev offers discounts
to students under 26 for flights throughout E. Europe. In general,
flights within E. Europe are much cheaper than to W. Europe. Balkan
charged about $200 less r/t Sofia Bratislava than Sofia Vienna, for
instance.
In general, supplies for tourists are plentiful. If you have a
favorite American brand of deodorant or shampoo, bring it. Most of
the imports are Turkish, Italian, or German. There are plenty of
places selling Kodak and Fuji film, Sony cassettes, etc. Outside of
the expensive parts of Sofia fluffy white toilet paper is rare - always
keep some with you.
Money changing places are ubiquitous - most charge no commission for
cash and deal in cash only. Banks charge commissions - some take
traveler's checks - a few do credit card cash advances. The commission
for these services can be stiff (5%- 8% for traveler's checks). Shop
around a little for rates and commissions - there's not a lot of variability
but a few places will try to rip you off. NEVER deal with the "change
money?" boys, unless you want a handful of Yugoslav dinars, the most
worthless currency on earth.
Maps in German or English can be found in the touristy areas. The
guide to E. Europe published in Berkeley has a pretty good section
on Bulgaria. Many people in Sofia and on the Black Sea speak a little
English or German - a few know French or Italian. If you know Russian
you're all set. Try to at least learn the Cyrillic alphabet - it won't
take long and it will make reading train and bus schedules a hell of a lot
easier.
Crime against persons is rare by the standard of someone living in
Washington D.C. (me). I walked around late at night in Varna for 9
months and never felt threatened. The only "crime hotspot" that I know
of is near the Hotel Pliska in Sofia. Don't be stupid - don't flash
money or jewelry around, etc., and you should be OK. Property crime is
more common, and thefts of or from autos seems to be a Bulgarian specialty.
VOA and BBC are on FM in Sofia - VOA is on 89.3 FM in Varna, at least for a
few hours a day. A small pocket short-wave radio is a good idea, but
FM will get you the news in English in at least a few places. The
International Herald Tribune is 1 day behind in Sofia, 2 in Varna. There
are weekly business newspapers in English published in Sofia.
The scarcity of goods in Bulgaria is pretty much over (although a
scarcity of money remains!). The most appreciated gifts that I found
were books in English (literature, travel, culture, and, especially,
business), booze with official US or British tax stamps attached (so
the recipient knew it wasn't adulterated swill), and cassettes or
CD's of "uncommon" music, ie Blues or Bluegrass anthologies, rare
Rock cuts, etc. Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, R.E.M. and Jesus and
Mary Chain are available for $1.50 on cassette all over Bulgaria.
In downtown Sofia, Veliko Turnovo, Nessebur, or Golden Sands people
are pretty much jaded towards visiting foreigners. Many are quite
friendly, a few are rude or hostile, and a lot are indifferent. If
you go anywhere smaller, especially the places that Bulgarians think
tourists should see, like the ruins at Pliska, the Madara horseman, or
hiking the Rodope mountains, or if you ride the 2nd class train
compartment to Varna you'll find a lot of people who are still fascinated
that an American is kicking around in their country. They'll do all
they can to help. Its worth the trip.
By the way, to continue with a couple of threads that I read
today:
In June in Varna matchbooks were being used by shops in place of
50 stotinki pieces - a tram ride in Sofia was 2 lv, and jeans
were around 500 Lev.
Bulgarian folk music is alive and well. The Restaurant Liverpool
on Ul. Dubrovnik in Varna has a live band on Fri. and Sat.,
the private radio station I worked for in Varna (Kannal Komm)
played Bulgarian folk on week-ends and holidays, and in May
and June every restaurant in Varna was booked on Saturday and
Sunday afternoons for weddings, and every wedding had a band
playing folk music. Country-western and Speed Metal haven't
completely displaced Bulgarian folk.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-3 A Journey Through Romania and Bulgaria
(by Melissa Harris)
Portico, The College of Architecture and Urban Planning Newsletter
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Spring/Summer 1993
A JOURNEY THROUGH ROMANIA AND BULGARIA
by Melissa Harris
While teaching for a semester at the Technical University of Vienna,
Melissa Harris, an assistant professor of architecture, and three
graduate students from the College took a two-week trip to Romania and
Bulgaria.
(...)
So why go? Adventure. Yes. I was also interested in seeing the
vernacular architecture of these countries. But most intriguing was a
strong urge to be inside cultures which have been historically oppressed
and yet remained beautifully productive. Being immersed in extremes
often generates interesting revelations. Extreme contrast, engaging the
edges and touching, even briefly, opposite ends of various spectra are
the essential characteristics of this trip.
First a quick introduction to my three companions on this adventure -
all graduate students at Michigan studying architecture for a semester
at the Technical University in Vienna. Ted, the forward man, confident
and charismatic. Susan, a blossoming talent, thoughtful and analytical.
And Dave, whose wisdom seemed to comfort us, like a blanket of security,
at all the right times. It wasn't long before each of us realized that a
larger group could take risks far too dangerous for someone traveling
alone.
(Part related to travel through Romania is posted on s.c.r.)
Bulgaria welcomed us back to lands of negotiable travel. Everything was
impressive about our introduction to Sofia. We got right to our
destination by tram and within a half hour had secured two double rooms
for the night, rented a car for the next morning and changed money. On
the way to our great rooms in a family's apartment we picked up
wonderful fruit. How very thankful we were for a shower and a bed. After
showers and some fresh fruit, we set out to explore downtown Sofia.
The city seemed to be prospering, with streets full of cafes, vendors
and color. Though l am sure it is prevalent, hardship was not nearly so
obvious as it was in Romania. What was prevalent were former monuments
to fallen Communist leaders. Many of these buildings are being put to
other uses or house new governments, but some remain empty. A specific
monument, the former mausoleum which housed the embalmed body of Georgi
Dimitrov (Bulgaria's first Communist leader) has now become an outdoor
toilet. When protests mounted in 1990, his body was removed and
cremated. The mausoleum sits on an elevated base with a surrounding
arcade. Between the columns and the building, feces has accumulated.
There isn't much trash, only human waste. Questions about the
relationship between form and a building's successive uses resurfaced.
Walking around the building, the new use seemed quite logical. The
columns are wide enough to provide privacy and the width between them
and the building just wide enough for passage while someone might be
relieving themselves. It is slated to become a museum.
After we had walked around in the rain seeing former monuments, the
Alexander Nevsky church, more Roman ruins, and basically getting a sense
of the downtown, we decided to eat in a fancy restaurant in the Grand
Hotel Bulgaria built in the `30s. The circular dining space had a dated
but somehow trendy feel with balcony seating around a two story space
which opened to a great skylight. As the meal progressed and we became
buddies with our waiter, he treated us to the main feature of the space.
The huge circular skylight actually opened mechanically to the sky.
Though it was still rainingabit, he opened it partially so we could get
the idea. Must be glorious in the summer.
The next morning we picked up our car and were reassured that it would
be no problem that our only road map for Bulgaria was in the Latin
alphabet not Cyrillic,which Bulgaria uses. Other maps and street signs
we had seen were only in Cyrillic, an alphabet which at first glance to
an uninformed Westerner looks like the swearing from a cartoon
character's mouth. No, no problem, signs will have both.
Rila Monastery was our first destination. We beat all the tourist buses
by an hour and therefore had it to ourselves initially. Situated on a
mountain cliff, the views were spectacular. Essentially a wall of rooms
rings the church in the middle, forming a protected exterior court. The
most impressive space was the kitchen. It was as though you walked into
an oven, sized to cook whole humans. The ceiling scalloped as it rose
nearly 45 feet into a chimney. The pans sat on large fire places and
were more than eight feet in diameter.
Before departure I got a bus driver to write out all the cities we would
be passing through in Cyrillic. The car rental agency was quite wrong.
We saw few Latin letters once we left Sofia. Despite the fact that we
now had critical translations, we had to stop at the base of every major
road sign so we could hold up our printed destination and compare it
with the sign.
>From Rila we headed to Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest but perhaps
most beautiful city. Cobblestone streets twisted to accommodate the
grade. An interesting attitude toward architectural history pervades the
city. There are literally layers of time incorporated in the buildings.
When a ruin is uncovered, they weave it into the current life of the
city - assigning new functions like a cafe or a stair.
Next stop was the Black Sea. We had no reservations, so it became a race
to get to Nessebar before the Balkan tourist office closed. Ted was
driving. We almost flew through the stunning countryside, traveling
first through mountains and then rolling farm lands, ultimately ending
in flat fields close to the sea. As in Plovdiv the night before, we
convinced the hotel woman in Nessebar that we could fit four people in a
double room despite the rules. She finally agreed as long as we were out
before eight in the morning when her shift changed. She wanted no part
of the story if we were caught.
The actual sea coast was forgettable, but both Nessebar and Sozopol had
hundreds of beautiful wooden seaside houses which sat on stone bases.
The overhangs were large enough to protect the rooms from sun and wind,
The wood frame was filled with tiny wood slats and overlaid once more
with thin battens every two feet or so. These elegant structures
represented at one time very progressive ideas about living, containing
unprecedented spaces for women who had just given birth. We ate
wonderful fresh fish that night. Our waiter took great care of us, even
running out to a cafe to get us chocolate cake for dessert.
Bulgaria rekindled my interest in vernacular architecture. In fact, it
reminded me of what I love about the mountains of North Carolina. The
buildings have a direct, clear relationship with the land and with the
function they house. As we drove through the Valley of the Roses (near
Veiliko Tarnovo), we stopped in many small towns - Arbanassi, Zeravna,
Gabrovo. Each seemed to have a subtle and specific architectural
response to its location.
Our last night in Bulgaria was the best. It provided us a beautiful
place to rest, to reflect, and to cook ourselves a meal. Now that the
trip was almost over, we had learned to call ahead for accommodations.
When the woman in Nessebar heard that we were traveling by car, she
said, "I have a place for you." A small town she likened to a museum
because of its houses, Bozenci was just a few miles outside Veiliko
Tarnovo, our destination for the final day. Bring your own food, she
advised, because there is nothing there. A man named Stephan will be
waiting for you in the square. We tried to tell her we were not sure
when we would arrive, but she insisted. He would be waiting.
We stopped at a big roadside market near Gabrovo and bought eight pork
chops, three loaves of bread, olives, and fruit. That was the entire
choice. We had no idea if we could cook them at our place or not.
Spring had exploded on the hills of Bozenci and the smell of white
blossoms filled the air. We followed the map the Nessebar woman had
scratched out for us. It didn't show much: a road, a center square with
a well, a nother road and the house. We got out and walked up the hill
which seemed to be the road of Stephan's house. Wonderful view from the
top, but no Stephan and no house which looked like the photos she had
shown us. We split up, with assigned territories to cover. My job was to
understand the woman worKing in the post office, who had begun helping
us. I was trying to decide if she was connected to Stephan. I began to
draw as I spoke, illustrating each part of my narrative: calling from
Nessebar, securing a house from Stephan, what the agreed price was, its
location, etc. When she finally shook her head and led me out of the
lobby, I heard Sue yelling from the top of a hill, "I found Stephan."
And so she had, and with him our little two-bedroom house with a porch
overlooking the mountain side.
We moved in quicily, reveling in the luxury of our own place, the view,
the cleanliness, and its intimacy. Dinner was started immediately.
Cooking for ourselves was an indescribable pleasure. Dave's ingenuity
with rice rewarded us with a terrific dinner overlooking the mountains,
now dotted with perfumed flowers. We toasted our collective spirit of
adventure and the amazing luck with which we had been blessed.
You don't hear or read much about Bulgaria. But city after city, street
after street, we uncovered stunning views and wonderful architecture
preserved through layers of time and movements. We rarely saw other
tourists. Bulgaria is a country where one can still afford to eat five
course meals, have coffee in an outdoor cafe overlooking a Roman
amphitheater and the entire city below, tour castles and museums, and
dance all night for 50 cents. I will see Bulgaria again in my lifetime,
Back in Vienna I saw this city in a new way, imagining it as home.
Thinking back over our experiences in both countries, Bulgaria pales
against Romania - not because of what either had to offer, but because,
for me, people transcend place, architecture, and accommodation. Our
personal experiences with people were all Romanian. It just turned out
that way this time. Perhaps this addresses the question of how issues of
the human spirit relate to architecture. The power of people to impart
significant meaning, memory and experience far surpasses the ability of
architecture to do the same. One is merely a stage for the other. But
both possess a spirit which affects everyday life. The Arad waiting room
will haunt my visions and inform my conceptions of public spaces for
years.
I relearned a valuable lesson for someone committed to visual education.
Drawing not only connects people to their own thoughts and sights, but
also to other people. Those people then frame the experience and
experience structures the story. After all, as John Barth said, "The
story of your life is not your life. It is your story."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-4 Visit to Bulgaria by Balkan airlines - 1
(by r...@doc.cc.utexas.edu), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
We took a group of 15 to Bulgaria in 1993. Most flew
Balkan Air. Balkan Air lost 2 reservations, denied
boarding to one woman, lost 1 set of luggage, found it
and sat on it until the woman was ready to leave, causing
her to have to buy new clothes and stuff for the trip,
and very rudely denied all compensation.
Needless to say, we will never fly Balkan again. If you
do, we wish you luck.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-5 Visit to Bulgaria by Balkan airlines - 2
(by Ernie Scatton), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
In Feb, 1994, my son and I flew roundtrip JFK NY to Sofia on Balkan
Air. The flights were on schedule, the service was good. On return
we were diverted to Toronto because US East Coast was snowed in.
Balkan personnel were very helpful in getting us alternative flights
back to States, and we arrived home one hour later than we'd been
scheduled to through NY. I wouldn't mind flying them again at all...
particularly since the non-stop direct flight is so much better than
connecting in West Europe.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-6 Food in Bulgaria
(by Rolf Henze), last updated: 01-Jan-1995
The food supply is OK. Nothing to complain from my point of view. One
bread costs around 12 Leva. The transport in Sofia is easily done by tram
or bus or taxi, if you like. Don't expect the tram to have western standard,
they are very loud, but they are working. The administration is busy to
install a subway system, but it's not yet working. Travelling in the country
can be done by bus or train. Busses are going very frequently and to almost
everywhere. What I don't like that much is that as a foreigner you have to
register 48 hours after your arrival at the local administration, if you're
living in a hotel it can be done there. If you like southern kitchen and
vegetables, you will probably appreciate bulgarian food. The wine is
comparable to french wine (Bordeaux type).
Best wishes for your trip
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-7 Travel to Burgas - travelogue
(by Vesselin Velikov), last updated: 23-Jul-1995
Most of the information is as of end of '93 - summer of '94.
I wrote quite an "essay" so finally I decided to list all telefone
numbers and addresses related to the info I provide at the end.
>You may remember me from a few months ago when my daughter,
>who is attending a dance festival in Bulgaria, needed help
>with the value of the Lev. Now she has an urgent
>transportation problem and I am hoping someone will be able to
>help again.
>
>Problem:
>1. She will be in Burgas on the Black Sea until evening on
>Sunday, 20 August 1995 and has to be in Sofia to catch her
>plane back to the U.S. by 0900 Monday, 21 August.
BG Airport Service times for International flights are no better than
your average US intn'l flight check-in. She will probably be required
to show for check-in anywhere between 120 to 60 min in advance. Given
that it is Monday morning she will have to plan also to have to meet
rush hour trafic in Sofia in the morning if she arrives by train or
bus.
>
>2. Does anyone know how she can obtain schedules for and
>possibly make reservations on an overnight bus or train trip
>from Burgas to Sofia on Sunday, 20 August? As an even better
>alternative, is there any way to get a paid car and driver for
>that same trip?
>
There are always night trains labeled "Express", "Inter-city",
"Fast"("Burz vlak") which leave from the corners of Bulgaria at
somewhat convenient times in order to arrive in Sofia at approximately
two time slots: 1) between 6:00 and 7:30; 2) between 8:00 and 9:30.
I am almost sure there will be a train from Burgas, which will leave
approximately at about 10:30-11:30 p.m. from Burgas and arrive at Sofia
(last stop) about 6:00-7:00 a.m. If there haven't been a major cut in
public transport (I doubt it on this route as it's the major tourist
route for Bulgarians in the summer) there will be 2 trains - an
"Express" one (approx. 4-5 stops till Sofia) and a "Fast"/"Inter-city"
one (approx. 8-12 stops). She can buy on either of those:
1) a "sleeping car"/"couchet car" ticket;
- recommended not that much for the "convenience", but rather for the
fact that those cars are "less trashed"; there is a good chance of
getting into a "not so good" compartment in other types of cars;
- she will be able to secure the compartment she'll share with 2-3
more female travelers with a dead-bolt/chain-lock (I felt quite
insecure last summer traveling overnight in a "regular class"/"second
class" compartment with brocken locks, brocken doors, 90 % brocken
lights in an almost empty train carrying my international passport, US
visa documents, $100 cash, $300 travelers checks and my credit cards.
I didn't know what would have been better - to go into a compartment
with a lot of people and fall asleep or go into a dark compartment
alone);
- those compartments are kind of tight (always remind me of my army
boot-camp - 3-story bunk-beds, climbing to your bed on a ladder... :)
but they are clean at least) but she'll get at least some sleep so that
she can manage the rush next morning till she gets on the plane;
- no other people are allowed in these cars but only those who carry
tickets for them, in general you can't even pass from the rest of the
train to these cars after about 30 min after the train has left the
initial station;
- those tickets are hard to buy at the last moment!!! Especially at
the end of August when a lot of people return from their holiday at the
black Sea resorts; It is highly recommended that you arrange with
somebody to get that ticket bought at least 2 weeks in advance! If
she'll be staying in Bourgas or Sofia for a day or two any time between
a month to 2 weeks before August 21, she can go to a
"Travel Bureau"/Railway-Station-Advance-Purchase-Counter and buy the
ticket herself.
I have read already, taht chavdar popov (from UK) will be in Burgas
during that time and offered his help so I suggest you ask him for that
favour. I assume he will not mind it.
2) first class ticket - in the absense of "sleeping car" tickets this
is your next best alternative:
- 6 seats per compartment; wider seats, wider compartments, somewhat
adjustable seats as compared to "second class" cars where there are 8
seats in a smaller compartment and very often the seats are so worn and
uncomfortable you start to hurt after 2-3 hours.
- in general - cleaner cars,
- as the price of this ticket is much higher than "second class" and
people with second class tickets are not allowed to "stand" (see below)
in first class car - it is less crowded ergo - safer, less noise etc.
- due to the higher price of the ticket in general in these
compartments there is a better chance to travel in "more comfortable"
environment (educated people, people knowing some English, people who
wouldn't be "interested in changeing money" etc.). Your worst scenario
in this case is a family with a "crying baby" but even that is better
than what you might come upon sometimes in other cars.
General comments:
- I do not recommend "second class" car in her situation - you don't
want to play your chances: often during that time of the year and
especially on Sunday night trains there are so many people who want to
travel, that the entire train (excluding the sleeping cars) is full
(the coridors included, with standing people!!!) - It is a nightmare in
such a situation even if you are "experienced" in such a travel;
- despite what you might hear, trains are fairly on time! Last summer
I never had a case to be on a "late" train. Especially if it is an
"Express" - the railways always try to make those arrive at the
destination on time, usually about 10 min in advance;
- I would suggest she exercises some caution at Sofia Railway station,
especially when picking the taxi!!! On a Monday morning it is very,
very crowded place. I myself, despite being a Bulgarian, got "busted"
last summer arriving on a busy Monday morning with a friend-foreigner
and being in a hurry - a guy "caught" me at the main exit, asked me if
I need a taxi and I said "Yes" after which he lead me to an UNMARKED
car, which gave me a 20 mile trip to a place 7 miles away and charged
me on a tripple rate. All in all, we paid $7.00 (in BG Leva) and
that's nothing for anyone used to Boston, NY and Chicago cab-fares.
But... given that kind of "special treatment" you never know where
you'll end. I kept silent all the way despite seeing that I was lead
not through the shortest way - I didn't want to invite something worse
than the waisting of few bucks.
>3. She is currently weight listed for a plane trip from
>Varnato Sofia at 0700 Monday, 21 August. Assuming she has to
>take that flight (if she can get on) does anyone know of, or
>know how to obtain, schedules and reservations for a bus or
>train trip from Burgas to Varna to catch that flight?
Do not do this!!! Varna and Burgas are close, but:
- transport between the two cities is convenient only if you own a car
- it will be more difficult to get a reliable transportation
Burgas-Varna, than Burgas-Sofia;
- A 7:00 a.m. flight Varna-Sofia is almost a guarantee she will miss
her 9:00 a.m. flight from Sofia: domestic flights are considered rather
as an "optional" fast and comfortable transportation, they have a
higher chance though of getting delayed than a train
- the international and domestic arrival/departure areas at Sofia
Airport are two separate buildings. Although they are very close (2-3
min. walk) that means she will have to wait for her luggage to clear
>from the domestic line, take it and cross that distance to the
international arrivals. I don't thing Balkan does "final destination
baggage check" the way it is done in the West. I'm almost sure she'll
be late for her 9:00 a.m. flight check-in if she leaves on a 7:00 a.m.
flight from Varna (and we are even not talking about early morning fog
at Varna and possible delays because of it).
Unless your Balkan (BG Airlines) travel agent (I assume she is flying
BALKAN) guarantees that a 7:00 flight from Varna will connect to her
other BALKAN flight - just forget it! You don't want to risk even if
they promise! It's not your Western airline guarantee, unfortunately!
>The basic problems revolve around the approaching date and the
>fact thet nobody locally (Boston area) can provide any
>information, much less actually make reservations.
>If there are Internet/Web sources for this kind of inquiry
>please point me towards them and I will follow them up. Can
>anyone out there help??
One last possibility:
There are domestic bus lines between the major cities and Sofia, run by
private companies. One of them is "GROUP". They are preffered by
business travellers on a day trip, from what I've heard and many people
recommended them to me when I traveled between my hometown and Sofia
last summer. The buses are comfortable, Western made, have minimal
conveniences like buying a soda and coffee on board, make stops on the
way. (the draw back on an overnight trip is that you have a very
uncomfortable sleep, but otherwise they seem to be very reliable).
My schedule (from last year) shows a trip leaving from Burgas at 16:00
(is that too early?) and arriving in Sofia 23:00 (there might be new
scheduled trips, including overnight ones, as this company seems to be
expanding really fast on the marlet). It might seem to you that it
arrives late in Sofia, but(!) the "Bus-Station" at Sofia, despite
looking more like a run down parking lot, is right behind (about 100
meters) one of the respectable hotels in Sofia - "Novotel Evropa". If
this works - she will be sure that she arrives in Sofia well in
advance, slips in the hotel right away, has a decent sleep and is
awaken in the morning, have a reliable taxi-cab called and taken on
time at the airport.
I have all the necessary phones of the offices of this Bus company both
in Sofia and Burgas. In Sofia they have even FAX number. If you can
have someone who speaks decent Bulgarian you could even arrange this by
calling and checking the options from Boston and leave to your daughter
just to arrive on time at the departure place in Burgas (Some place
outside the railway station, where every taxi will be able to take her
I guess) and pay her ticket upon boarding the bus. Or have her walk-in
at the Sofia office or drop by at the Burgas office at her convenience
to pay and receive the ticket.
Of course - if she can leave Burgas around that time - between 16:00
and 18:00 one could as well check about a train, which will arrive in
Sofia even faster and at approximatelly the same time and she could
stay at the same hotel as it is 500m from the railway station (<$1.00
taxi trip to its doors once she "clears" the walk through Sofia railway
station)
You/she will need to reserve a room at the hotel
One more thing - I just found the brochure of the Bulgarian franchise
of "EuropCar" - "InterBalkan Rent A Car", a rental car agency having
offices in Sofia and Burgas. Rates (compacts Nissan, Fiat, Reno) are
HIGH, higher than USA $23-$39 per day plus $0.23-$0.39 per km plus
$10-$15 CDW plus $3 medical/accident insurance - at 392 km listed
distance Burgas-Sofia total will be I guess $120-$180 (PLUS 18% VAT
taxes). There is no additional fee if she drops the car at EuroCar's
office at Sofia Airport. BUT the main problem is that highways in
Bulgaria are not for an unexperienced driver!!! I could compare night
driving there with driving through the Adirondacks (or US-419 through
the WV Appalachian Mountains - something I have done... :)). Unless
she is an experienced driver or has a reliable BG driver - I do not
recommend this!!!
"Balkan Holidays" - US representative of the (formerly) state tourist
organisation BalkanTourist claims in a broshure that cars can be rented
>from "Hertz-BalkanTourist" '...WITH OR WITHOUT A DRIVER...'. Whether
that claim is "real" and how much that costs can be checked probably by
calling "Balkan Holidays" at their USA office.
Phones and FAXes:
All BG phone numbers require Intnl code -359-; the code for the city I
list here is preceded by a -0- when calling long distance within
Bulgaria.
(car rental, w/ w/out driver)
*************************************
"Balkan Holidays" - "Hertz-BalkanTourist"
USA:
New York: (212)-573-5530
Bulgaria:
Sofia-Airport: (2)-7-12-01
"Novotel Evropa" - (I don't have it, see the hotel's number)
*****************************
"EuropCar":
Sofia-Central Office: 8 Positano Str., Sofia,
phone (2)-83-50-49,
FAX: (2)-88-35-93, (2)-83-11-35
Sofia-Airport (Mon-Sun 8:00 am - 9:00 pm)
phone: (2)-72-01-57
Burgas - Hotel "Bulgaria" (Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 7:00 pm, Sat 8:30 am -
1:00 pm)
phone: (56)-4-21-47
************************************
(bus company)
"Group" - 85 Rakovski Str., Sofia
phones: (2)-83-14-54, (2)-83-12-15, (2)-83-24-69
FAX: (2)-83-24-26
"Group" - Burgas (outside railway station/at city bus station?!)
phone: (56)-3-25-88
(Railway ticket advance purchase)
- At special counter at the railway station of departure
Also:
Sofia: Central Ticket Office at the lower level of National Palace of
Culture ("NDK")
phones: (2)-59-31-06 (tickets for any line, any direction)
(2)-59-71-24 (tickets plus sleeping car tickets, any line,
any direction)
Burgas: there should be a ticket office in the center of the city but
I do not have info on it.
(Hotels)
"Novotel Evropa"(4-star, 597 rooms) - close to Central Railway
Station and "Group"-company Bus Station
131 Knyaginya Maria-Louisa Boulevard, Sofia
phone: (2)-3-12-61
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 5: EDUCATION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-1 The Bulgarian Educational System
(by Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission)
Education in Bulgaria is free at all levels and is supported by the state
through the Ministry of Education and Science. It is compulsory for children
from seven to sixteen years of age.
The Bulgarian educational system falls within the continental European
tradition. The main types of secondary schools in the country are: general
educational, vocational, language schools, and foreign schools. Private schools
are also being established and they are beginning to compete with the state
schools.
There are over forty Higher Education institutions in Bulgaria offering
degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level.
The academic year for Bulgarian universities begins on October 1 and consists
of fall and spring semesters. Full-time study programme takes 5 years, or 10
semesters. The academic year covers 30 calendar weeks.
University teaching is usually formally divided into lectures, seminars, and
practical training, but flexibility is increasing. Attendance of seminars and
practical training sessions is obligatory.
The teaching load, depending on academic rank, averages twelve hours per week
. Classes usually meet once a week for 75 minutes; some are double 45- minute
periods.
Bulgarian students are admitted after taking qualifying written exams for a
number of state-commissioned places. Each exam is highly competitive and ensures
a tuition waiver. Those who are not admitted in this way compete for an
additional number of places, but are expected to finance their studies, either
individually or by finding scholarships or grants.
The qualifying written exams are held each year on previously announced dates
.
After each semester students take exams (in accordance with the curriculum of
the respective program) in the course of the regular examination period. The
exam period is 3-4 weeks.
Many of the university students are a joy to teach. Bulgaria's specialized
secondary schools produce some very well educated 18- and 19-year olds.
Depending on the study program, students will be expected to take a graded
exam (written or oral), a pass/fail exam (p/f), to defend a term project or
paper. A six-grade system of marking is used, six being the highest and
two- the lowest score.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-2 Major cities and universities in Bulgaria
(by Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Sofia, the capital, is the largest city with a population of 1.3 million and
a dominant position in the country's economic, political, and cultural life.
The St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia is the oldest university in
Bulgaria, having been granted its charter in 1909, and is the largest and most
advanced educational and research center in the country. Students can select
among fifty programs in the Humanities and Sciences, Social Sciences, and
Business Administration. More than 20,000 students were enrolled in the sixteen
faculties of the university during the 1992/1993 academic year.
The main building of the University, which is architecturally one of the most
remarkable buildings in Sofia, was designed by the French architect Breanson.
The University Library plays an important part in the history of the St.
Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. The Library stock of books exceeds 1.5 mln
volumes.
Among the other higher educational institutions of Sofia are: The University
of National and World Economics, The Higher Institute of Architecture and Civil
Engineering, The Medical Academy, The Academy of Fine Arts, The Higher School of
Drama and many more.
Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, is located in the Thracian
Plain in Southern Bulgaria. Plovdiv was built on seven hills along the Maritsa
River, and its ancient history and especially its picturesque old town, lend the
city a characteristic charm.
The University of Plovdiv was established in 1961. During the 30-year period
of its existence, the University of Plovdiv has grown into a presti- gious
institution of higher education offering a variety of majors combined with
teacher training.
Varna (ancient Odessos), is the third largest city and is often referred to
as the sea capital of Bulgaria. It is internationally famous for its seaside
resorts of Zlatni Pyassatsi (Golden Sands) and St. Constantine.
Varna is a university city as well, with the following major higher institu-
tions: The Higher Institute of Economics and The Varna Polytechnic.
Veliko Turnovo, the former medieval capital of Bulgaria, is a university town
in North-Central Bulgaria, also famous for its archaeological and architectural
heritage. The Sts. Cyril and Methodius University is the second well-established
University in Bulgaria with over 10,000 students.
Blagoevgrad, about 100 km south of Sofia, is known for the American Univer-
sity in Bulgaria (AUBG), founded there in 1990 and the Bulgarian South- Western
University. At AUBG English is the language of instruction and eva- luation
procedures follow the US academic system. Most of the faculty are American
scholars.
The other higher educational institution in Blagoevgrad is the Southwestern
University where the emphasis is on the humanities and teacher training.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-3 Bulgarian University Degree Equivalency
(by gopher://rodent.cis.umn.edu:11131/00/Country_Sheets/Bulgaria)
BULGARIA
RECOMMENDATION
Look for an average of 5 or "very good" for admission. Class rank, if
available, would also be of assistance.
GRADING SYSTEM
6 = Excellent (otlichen)
5 = Very good (mnogo dob'r)
4 = Good (dob'r)
3 = Average (sreden)
2 = Poor (slab)
1 = Very Poor (losh)
OTHER INFORMATION
Requirement for Admission:
University degree (diploma of specialist) or professional title based on
curricula of four years or longer. The duration of the primary-secondary
program of education is usually 11 years.
Exceptional Institutions:
University of Sofia
Higher Medical Institute of Sofia
Higher Institute of Architecture and Construction in Sofia
Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Sofia
Diplomas from the above institutions are considered exceptionally good. There
are many other higher educational institutions, including mechanical,
electrical, civil and chemical engineering institutes, and institutes of
mining, forestry, economics, and education, as well as the University of
Plodiv and the University of "Cyril and Methodius."
Graduate Degrees:
Candidate of Science (kandidat na naukite) granted on basis of research and
thesis, usually requires three years beyond the undergraduate degree. Doctor
of Science (doktor na naukite) granted on basis of original and significant
scholarship. Both degrees are awarded by the Higher Commission for Diplomas.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-4 Educational Opportunities in Bulgaria
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
BULGARIA [5 Sites]
American University in Bulgaria
AUBG Campus
2700 Blagoevgrad
TEL: (359) 7 320 951
FAX: (359) 7 320 603
E-MAIL:
DATE FOUNDED: 1991
DIRECTOR: Dr. Julia Watkins
The American University in Bulgaria's academic partner in the USA
is the University of Maine, which provides accreditation,
curriculum development, and initial recruitment of faculty. 25 of
the 29 faculty members are American, and the university began
admitting American study abroad students in 1993. Courses of
study are offered in a wide range of disciplines. The university
radio station, opened in 1991, was the first privately licensed
radio station in Bulgaria.
Fulbright, IREX and USIS Information:
Fulbright Office
Ministry of Culture
17 Stambolisky Blvd.
1000 Sofia
TEL: (359) 2 884 517
FAX: (359) 2 884 517
E-MAIL:
USIS Office
18 Vitosha St.
Sofia
TEL: (359) 2 880 005 or 876 821
FAX: (359) 2 800 646
E-MAIL:
Sabre Partner Organizations:
Center for the Study of Democracy
1 Lazar Stanev St.
1113 Sofia
TEL: (359) 2 706 165
FAX: (359) 2 720 509
E-MAIL: cs...@bgcict.bitnet
DIRECTOR: Ognian Shentov
Open Society Fund
1 Bulgaria Square
NDK Office Bldg., 11th fl.
1463 Sofia
TEL: (359) 2 658 177 or 801 780
FAX: (359) 2 658 276
E-MAIL: os...@bgcict.bitnet
DIRECTOR: Boryana Savova
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-5 Schools in Bulgaria offering admission for foreigners
(by WorldWide Classroom), last updated: 10-Jun-1995
An incomplete list:
American Univ. in Bulgaria, Director Int'l Programs Lydia Grim
Blagoevgrad, 2700
Bourgas Free Univ., Director Int'l Programs
10 Alexandrovska Street, Bourgas, 8000
Foreign Students Faculty of the Technical University of Rousse, Chr. Foreign
Lang. Dept. Rada Karshakova
8 Stoudentska Str., Rousse, 7017
Higher Technical School Angel Kunchev Open Faculty, Director Int'l Programs
Tsonka Inanova
8 Studentska Street, Rousse, 7017
New Bulgarian Univ., Director Int'l Programs Mr. Julian Popov
22 Parchevich Street, Sofia, 1000
Plovdiv University PAISIY HILENDARSKY, Rector Prof. Ognyan Saparev
24 Tzar Assen Street, Plovdiv, 4000
Sofia University SAINT CLIMENT OHRIDSKY, Rector Prof. Ivan Lalov
15 Rusky Blv., Sofia, 1000
The Foreign Students Institute, Director Int'l Programs
27 Kosta Lulchev Street, Sofia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-6 Scholarship sources
(by Dennis McDonnell, Austin Kelly)
The following suggestions are in response to the
inquiry from Austin Kelly regarding
scholarships/fellowships for students from Eastern
Europe. For those of you affiliated with a univers-
ity, the Office of International Programs is usually
the best source of information. In addition to
scholarships and fellowships, tuition waivers are
often available for foreign students. Three inter-
esting programs are the Alexander Hamilton Fellow-
ship Program, the John Marshall Fellowship Program,
and the Edmund Muskie Fellowship Program. The
Hamilton and Marshall programs are exchange programs
for graduate students, young faculty and profession-
als from selected Eastern European Countries and the
Baltics to come to the U.S. for research and train-
ing. The program is administered by the Council for
International Exchanges of Scholars in Washington.
Ms. Katie Tremper is the contact at [202] 686-4016.
The Muskie program provides graduate scholarships
for study in the U.S. in business administration,
economics, law and public administration. Targeted
countries include the Baltics, Transcaucasia, the
Central Asian Republics, Belarus, Moldova, and
Russia. The program is administered by the American
Council of Teachers of Russian [ACTR] and the con-
tact is Pam Snyder at [202] 833-7522. An excellent
continuing source of information is Funding Alert,
published by the American Assembly of Collegiate
Schools of Business every month. Most accredited
business schools probably subscribe to the publica-
tion [$425 per year].
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-7 Transferring degrees
(by John Bell), last updated: 12-Aug-1994
The comparison between US and BG higher education
began with a question of how BG educational records are
evaluated by US institutions. In my original answer I said
that there are private organizations that will prepare an
evaluation for a fee. Since that posting an intimate friend
gave me an advertisement for one such service. It is called
"World Educational Service" with an address at P.O. Box 745,
Old Chelsea Station, New York, N. Y. 10113-0745. It offers
to provide an evaluation of non-US educational credentials -
diplomas, certificates, transcripts - on an overall or
course by course basis for fees ranging from $75 to $125.
I don't know anything more about the organization
beyond what its ad says. I am not endorsing it, but passing
on the information for anyone who might be interested.
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 6: INFORMATION FOR BULGARIANS ABROAD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-1 Voice/fax numbers of the bulgarian embassy in US
(by Alex Haralampiev)<DEFINE FORMAT PLAIN>
phone (202) 387-7969
fax (202) 234-7973
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-2 Bulgarian Embassy in DC
(by Civic Education Project), last updated: 25-Jan-1995
Embassy of Bulgaria
HE Snezhana Botusharova, Ambassadress/Mr. Boris Ratchev, Economicf Counselor
1621 22nd. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 387-7969; Fax: 462-8051
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-3 Bulgarian Embassy in Sweden
(by Daniel Belovarsky), last updated: 07-Aug-1995
The Embassy has usually open Monday through Friday 10.00-12.00.
Tel: 08/ 790-59-42, 08/ 723-09-38
Fax: 08/ 21-45-03
Address:
Bulgariska ambassaden
Karlavägen 29
114 31 STOCKHOLM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-4 Archive for Bulgarians living abroad
(by the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, DC), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
An Archive Center for the Bulgarians abroad has been founded with
the Sofia City Library at 4, Slaveykov Square. Being sponsored by
the Association for Promotion of the Bulgarian Culture (An United
States based organization) and OPEN SOCIETY FUND Sofia the
Archive Center is collecting books, documents, brochures ,
articles, photographs, film footage and posters which reflect all
aspects of the accomplishments of Bulgarians living abroad in the
sciences, in the arts and in public life.
The Sofia City Library hopes the Archive Center which functions
since 1992 might be a good opportunity for the Bulgarians abroad
to donate important archival books and materials as well as to
sponsor its numerous and broadening activities.
For additional information, please, contact:
Tatyana Kmetova
Sofia City Library
4, Slaveykov Square
1000 Sofia
Phones: (359 2) 864 239
(359 2) 874 854
Or:
EMBASSY OF THE
REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
1621 22nd Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 387-7969
Fax: (202) 234-7973
Boyan Papazov
Cultural Attache
E-mail (INTERNET): Bulg...@access.digex.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-5 Which telephone company offers best deals for calling Bulgaria from the USA
(by Plamen Bliznakov)
There are several programs for getting discounts on international calls
available with the three major long-distance carriers. You can select one or a
combination of them depending on the amount for your calls, and preferred
carrier and time of day to call.
The basic rate is pretty much the same for all carriers (with a possible
minor difference). For example, as of August 11, 1993 the rates of MCI
were (please, note they have gone up around 10 % during the recent months):
Rate Time of day Cost of the Cost of each
(your local first minute additional
time in USA) minute
Lowest 2 am - 7 am $ 1.32 $ 0.83
Medium 7 am - 1 pm $ 1.67 $ 1.04
Highest 1 pm - 2 am $ 2.23 $ 1.34
Carrier Program Monthly Fee Rates to Bulgaria (BR = Basic Rate)
AT&T Special Country None 15 % off BR (must specify in advance)
Sprint The Most None 20 % off the number you call the most
minutes (must be careful to have the
most minutes to an international number)
World-wide $ 3 $ 0.82 / min. (1 pm to 1 am Mon-Fri
and all day on weekends)
$ 1.39 / min. (1 am to 1 pm Mon-Fri);
in addition brings low flat rate to
many countries around the world +
20 % discount on the 2 international
numbers you call the most minutes
during the month (no need to set in
advance), besides the 20 % discount
to one domestic (USA) number
MCI Friend & Family None 20 % off BR to two international
numbers (must specify in advance)
Around-the-world $ 3 15 % off BR (must specify in advance);
in addition brings low flat rate to
countries of Western Europe, Australia,
and some in Asia
(F&F and ATW could be combined to a total savings of
35 % on calls to 2 numbers in Bulgaria)
You might want to look at that possibility of a paid plan if you regularly
make enough calls to Bulgaria (and/or other countries as well) to justify
the $ 3 fee each month.
Another useful tip : you can use all three long distance carriers through
the so called ACCESS CODES, no matter what is your (default) long distance
carrier. Just dial 10222, and then the usual digits (say, for Bulgaria
011-359-...), and your call will go through MCI. The analogous code for
AT&T is 10288, and for Sprint is 10333. So you can make use of all the
free programs of all three long distance carriers, without switching from
one carrier to another. For example, you can get 20 % discount for 2 numbers
in Bulgaria from MCI (Friends & Family), one other number from Sprint (The
Most), and place all the rest of your calls through AT&T and get 15 %
discount from them (Special Country).
Also, as you can see, it really doesn't matter what your long distance
carrier is. So, if you are offered free calls, or money to switch to
another carrier, don't hasitate to take them. You still will be able
to use your old carrier (and, possibly, they even would not notice
that you have switched).
Plamen
Disclaimer : I and my family members are not associated with US any long
distance carrier. This posting doesn't represent an approval, nor is it a
disapproval of any program for long distance calls. Use the information on
your own risk !
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-6 Calling the USA from Bulgaria using the AT&T Calling Card
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 22-Feb-1979
Dial 00-1-800-0010 from any long-distance phone in Bulgaria and you will
be connected to an English-speaking operator. You can then use your calling
card number (or other credit card number) to call outside of Bulgaria.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-7 Sprint in Bulgaria
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
After AT&T already did so, Sprint now is also offering calling card calls
from Bulgaria. The number to call _in Bulgaria_ is 00-800-1010, after
which one can either follow the voice prompts or talk to an English-speaking
operator.
For more information in USA call Sprint @ 800-877-4646.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-8 Bulgarian Cafe in San Francisco
(by Dimitqr Bojanchev)
There is this restaurant in San Francisco called "Stoyanoff's
Cafe" on 9-th ave. and Linkoln. The owner speaks as clear Bulgarian
as one would do. I assumed that he is Bulgarian -- but than at
some point he interrupted me to tell me politely that he is
not Bulgarian, but a Macedonian from Tzarigrad (Istanbul). OK,
I accepted it but I must admit that I was confused ever after
about how to judge the local nationalities.
There is this barber named Dimitar Vulkanoff on Columbus
Street,right on the edge of the Financial district, a block
from China Town. Passing by his little barbershop that looks
not any less shabby than one back in the rural areas of the
homeland I hear him playing clarinet (actually, this is the
fifth barber/clarinetist I know from the Balkans!). To make
things even more extravagant it is a shabby little room just
with a picture of his family and grandfamily (circa 1920) on
the scratched wall and his business license. The barber chair
is vintage 1935 and the primary clientelle consists of
Chinese, several local Greeks, and other Balkan individuals.
Every once in a while an executive type will stop by and get a
haircut. This is all about 50 meters from the TransAmerica
pyramid (the symbol of SF) amidst ritzy looking boutiques and
vanity stores. I see him often entertaining native ChinaTown
residents whileplaying Daichovo horo on his clarinet in the
trademark Balkan 9/8 beat and they seem to nod in appreciation
(a lot of them don't even speak English). The surrealistic
picture gets even more when the executive types enter while he
stops and starts lecturing them with great excitement that
they shouldn't be listening to black rap music anymore (as if
anyone of them ever does??) but listen to Bulgarian music
instead. In the area of the political correctness he is
lagging behind as he doesn't hold back his views on women
(although that he has three daughters) -- but besides that
you feel that the guy has got a heart. Then he takes off
blowing the clarinet inPaidushko horo with its 5/8 beat.
Every time I stop by to get a haircut I feel that I
miraculously re-emerge back into the old world that I am so
familiar with in my guts. Although that he is Macedonian from
Bitola he has a great fondness towards Bulgaria and its music
and avoids ever making a statement about his nationality (I've
tried to trick him into it several times). He absolutely
refuses to venture into discussing Balkan politics and makes a
painfulgesture with his head when I bring up some of the
issues the Balkans face today. He holds no grudge against the
Greeks and told me that makes a lot of money playing at Greek
weddings. Of course, he plays everywhere cause I've seen him
at the Bulgarian gatherings and the Macedonian too. He also
likes to brag that he can read notes and even play Weber's
concerto's on a better day...
Dragomir R. Radev
Last-Modified: May 15, 1996
Posting-Frequency: Monthly
Version: 4.03
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 7: NEWS SOURCES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-1 How to receive Bulgarian news by e-mail.
(by Jivko Kolchev), last updated: 05-Apr-1996
Ima tri nachina za abonirane kqm ves...@bulgaria.com
1. e-mail
Izprashtate e-mail do ves...@bulgaria.com, kato za Subject: triabva
da napishete 'subscribe'. Niama nujda ot text v tialoto na sqobshtenieto.
2. http://www.bulgaria.com/vestnik-digest/
S pomosha na liubimia vi WWW browser popqlnete tazi blanka i s tova
vqprosa shte se prikliuchi. Samo vnimavaite, kogato popqlvate poleto
'e-mail'! Ako do niakolko chaas ne poluchite e-mail ot ves...@bulgaria.com
v uverenie na tova, che ste abonirani za lista - veroiatno ste dopusnali
greshka pri popqlvane na poleto 'E-mail'.
3. http://www.bulgaria.com/whoiswho.html
Tova e edna elektronna blanka, s popqlvaneto na koiato shte se dobavite kqm
'Who Is Who' spisqka, koeto moje da zaradva niakoi, koito tqrsi niakoia
srodna dusha po jicite ...
V tazi blanka ima opcia, koiato vi pozvoliava zaedno da izberete da se
abonirate za ves...@bulgaria.com.
I tuk, kakto i v (2) - ne pravete greshki v e-mail addressa si.
*. Ima i edin rezerven nachin
Prashtate e-mail do ji...@ijs.com i toi pravi, kakvoto e neobhodimo, no
ako opitate predi tova niakoi ot goreizbroenite nachini shte vi bqda
mnogo blagodaren :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-2 How to read Bulgarian newspapers in NYC
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
Columbia University Lehman Library receives regularly the
following newspapers: Demokraciya, Duma, (Zeleno) Zemedelsko Zname,
Svoboden Narod, and Vek 21.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-3 Bulgarian Language Radiostation in New York City
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
There is a Bulgarian Radio station in New York City.
It broadcasts at 91.5 MHz FM Mondays from 5:30 to 6:00 PM.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-4 Bulgarskata Radio Progama ALEKO
(by Silvana Dimitrov), last updated: 20-Mar-1996
Bulgarskata Radio Progama "ALEKO" se izluchva veche 33 poredni sedmici,
vsiaka nedelia ot 16.00 do 17.00 po radiostancia WKTA 1330 AM v Chicago.
Priema se dobre dori v blizkite chasti na Indiana i Wisconsin, a
liubopitnoto e che poradi tehnicheskite osobennosti na izlqchvaneto,
signala e mnogo iasen chak ot drugata strana na ezeroto Michigan, t.e. v
shtata Michigan.
Programata sqdqrja novini, sport i muzika samo ot Bulgaria. Malko
reklami ot nashite US sponsori koito ni pomagat "to break even". Vsiako
sudeistvie i pomosht e dobre doshlo. Imame jelanie da vkliuchvame novini,
avtorski materiali i drugi ot bulgarite zad granica, ot nasheto
ejednevie tuka i izobshto neshta, koito sa actualni i zaintriguvashti.
Pristrastni sme kqm SDS.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-5 Bulgarian Radiostations
(by Alexander Kostadinov), last updated: 02-Apr-1996
To UTC Freq KHz Remarks
BULGARIAN
South America 0000-0100 9425 11660
North America 0000-0300 7480 9700
Balkans 0300-0400 1224
Russia 0300-0400 6035 7115
Balkans 1200-1500 1224 5890 6195
Middle East 1500-1600 11660
Central Asia 1500-1600 15635
Russia 1500-1800 7425 9775
Europe 1700-2000 9850 250 kW
Balkans 1800-1900 1224 5860 5890
Middle East 1800-1900 7375
ENGLISH
North America 0400-0500 9700 11720
Japan 1130-1230 13790
Asia 1230-1330 15620
Europe 1900-2000 9700 11720
Europe 2100-2200 9700 11720
North America 2300-2400 7480 9700
HORIZONT
Europe 0300-1700 9850 Bad reception (250 kW)
Europe 0600-0900 1224
Europe 0900-1200 1224
Listeners in Europe are advised to turn into 11720 KHz in the 25 m band or
9700 KHz in the 31 m band. They are regulary in use and have usually a good
reception. Also broadcasts targeting N.A can be heard at above frequencies.
An other interesting frequency is 7670 KHz (not officially in the
schedule).
It relays Horizont. The transmitter is in Stolnik with 15 kW intended for
the
home service.
If you are in Europe and have a car radio with you, you could also try
reaching
the following stations at medium waves: 828 KHz (Christo Botev), 1161 KHz
(Horizont) with 500 kW transmitter in Stara Zagora and 1224 KHz (foreign
servic
e)
with 500 kW from Vidin.
Radio Varna has also started its own broadcastings abroad. A possible
frequency
is 7230 KHz on fridays only but is likely to be too weak for reception.
Address:
Radio Bulgaria
4 Dragan Tsankov Blvd.
Sofia 1040
Bulgaria
Fax: 650 560; 871 061
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-6 BBC schedule in Bulgarian (April 1996- September 1996)
(by Rosa Hays), last updated: 06-Apr-1996
BBC IN BULGARIAN from London (April - September 1996)
SOFIA VHF/FM 91 mhz - BBC World Service (in Eng and Bulg)
on SHORTWAVE (see below) and local FM rebroadcasters
Time = local in Bulgaria (GMT plus 3 hours in Summer)
Programmes / FREQUENCIES
____
0630-0700 London Start
(M-F)
41 m 7325 khz
49 m 6050 khz
____
0900-0910 European Press Review
(M-F) 5 Minutes English
FM only
____
1100-1105 News
(M-F)
FM only
____
1300-1315 News; 5 Minutes English (M-F)
News; Weekend Programme Preview (Sat)
News; Religion and Faith (Sun)
25 m 12040 khz
31 m 9750 khz
____
1315-1330 Learn Business English (M-F)
Shortwave only
25 m 12040 khz
31 m 9750 khz
____
1315-1330 Feature (repeat of previous day 2000-2015)
(M-F)
m. Cultural Antenna
t. Life in Britain
w. History and Politics
th.Questions and Answers
f. Science, Business, Medicine
FM only
____
1500-1530 News; Press Review;
(Sat-Sun) Economics & Business; Pop-English (Sat)
News; Press Review;
The Week That Was; Learn English (Sun)
25 m 11680 khz
31 m 9750 khz
____
1700-1705 News
(M-F)
FM only
____
1900-1930 World in Action (current affairs) (M-F)
News; Weekly Sport Review (Sat)
News; Petar Uvaliev; Choice of the Week (Sun)
25 m 11905 khz
49 m 6015 khz
____
2200-2215 Feature: (repeated next day 1315-1330 FM only)
(M-F) m. Life in Britain
t. History and Politics
w. Questions and Answers
th.Science, Business, Medicine
f. Cultural Antenna
25 m 11780 khz
49 m 6050 khz
____
2200-2300 Pop Show (Sat)
(Sat-Sun) Mega-hour Youth Programme (Sun)
25 m 11780 khz
49 m 6050 khz
____
2400-0015 Midnight News; Sport
(M-F)
41 m 7275 khz
49 m 6125 khz
=======================================
BBC WORLD SERVICE - 24 hours in English and BULGARIAN from
London by satellite - in SOFIA on 91 mhz VHF/FM
BBC news & features in Bulgarian can be heard on FM also
>from a dozen LOCAL REBROADCASTER STATIONS in Bulgaria.
=======================================
BBC World Service - Bulgarian Section
Bush House, Strand, London WC2B 4PH
Voice mail: +44-171- 257 2727
Fax: +44-171-379 7408
Send e-mail to: r.h...@bbcnc.org.uk (Mira Martin)
The BBC URL is: http://www.bbcnc.org.uk
BBC Centre in Sofia (books, audio, video, club & courses)
67, Knyaz Boris I str.
Tel: (02) 87 71 30
Fax: (02) 80 62 32
=======================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-7 Magazine for Bulgarians abroad
<DEFINE FORMAT PLAIN>
<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
NOVO IZDANIE ZA BQLGARITE V CHUZHBINA
Moja poznata, raboteshta v Agencijata za bqlgarite v chuzhbina, mi izprati
pqrvija za 1994 g. broj na spisanie "Ek" - izdanie za bqlgarite v chuzhbi-
na. Po nejna molba postvam sqdqrzhanieto na tozi broj, kakto i koordinatite
na Agencijata - v sluchaj, che njakoi pozhelae da se abonira. Spisanieto e
bogato iljustrirano i pokriva raznoobrazni vqprosi - kultura, politika, is-
torija. Pqrvijat broj mozhete da poluchite bezplatno, ako pishete do Agenci-
jata.
Eto tekstqt na obrqshtenieto na redakcijata kqm bqlgarite v chuzhbina:
Skqpi sqnarodnici,
Spisanie "Ek" e nasheto novo izdanie, prednaznacheno za bqlgarite
v chuzhbina i za vsichki prijateli na Bqlgarija, poznavachi na nejnata is-
torija i kulturni tradicii.
Vremeto, koeto otmina, ne mozha da zacherkne cennostite v nasheto
minalo; tjah "Ek" shte izdirva i podnasja na svoite chitateli bez premql-
chavane i bez retush. Nared s budnija pogled kqm staroto, kqm vsichki onezi
sqbitija i imena, napravili vqzmozhna sqprotivata na duhovnostta sreshtu
bezduhovnoto v godinite na totalitarnata dqrzhava, spisanieto shte osvedo-
mjava za aktualnite javlenija v obshtestvenija zhivot na Bqlgarija, v sfera-
ta na naukata, kulturata, socialnite otnoshenija, politikata, ikonomikata,
biznesa, religijata i t.n. Sqshtevremenno namerenieto na spisvashtite e da
predostavi tribuna na zaselnicite v chuzhbina i na vidni bqlgaristi za cho-
veshki i profesionalni kontakti, za tvorcheska izjava. Shte se radvame, ako
projavite interes kqm spisanieto. Tozi digest shte izliza v shest knizhki
godishno, bogato iljustriran. Zhelaeshtite da go poluchavat redovno mogat
da se abonirat za 1994. Cenata na abonamenta v US$ e: Severna i Juzhna Ame-
rika - $52, Afrika i Azija - $48, Evropa - $45, Avstralija - $58, kato ce-
nata vkljuchva i poshtenskite razhodi. Nomerqt na nashata bankova smetka e
621 422 060 300-1, BVTB (Bqlgarska vqnshnotqrgovska banka).
Adresqt na izdatelite:
Agency for Bulgarians Abroad
bul. Dondukov 2, Sofia 1000
BULGARIA
tel. (359 2) 800 955, 819 011
fax (359 2) 819 177
Dokolkoto uspjah da razbera, Agencijata polzva i E-mail, no ne razpolagam s
adresa; znam samo, che sa vqrzani za @sprint.com; ako njakoj mozhe da im
izdiri tochnija adres, njama da e zle.
Eto i sqdqrzhanieto na pqrvija broj:
Boris Hristov: spodeleni otkrovenija. (statija ot Georgi Danailov i
intervju s golemija bqlgarski operen pevec malko predi
smqrtta mu).
Milcho Leviev: dvuposochen bilet do Los Angeles. Avtor: Vladimir
Gadzhev. Statija za naj-izvestnija ni jazz-pianist.
Konstantin Shtqrkelov - carjat na akvarela. Avtor: Maksimilijan
Kirov.
Boris Dimovski: Svobodata se meri po dqlzhinata na usmivkata.
Izvestnijat nash karikaturist B. Dimovski pishe za sebe si
i za smeshnite aspekti na vremeto, v koeto zhiveem.
Ilinden v nacionalnata istorija na bqlgarite. Avtor: Hristo Siljanov
Solunskite sqzakljatnici. Avtor: Georgi Danailov
Misli na edin stoletnik - Hristo Obbov.
Bojan Penev - nezabravenijat. (Za literaturnija kritik ot 20-te B.
Penev.)
Djavolska karuca (razkaz) - Ljubomir Kanov (USA)
Apolonija '93. Avtor: Hristo Bucev. Pregled na festivala na iskust-
vata "Apolonija".
Intelektualecqt i politikata - interview s Vera Mutafchieva.
Rilskijat manastir prijuti cqrceto na Car Boris III. - snimki i
tekst ot okonchatelnoto pogrebenie na sqrceto na poslednija
bqlgarski monarh v Svetata Rilska obitel prez 1993.
Po sledite na stara Sofija. Avtor: Georgi Kanazirski. Spomeni ot
zhivota na sofijanci prez 30-te i 40-te.
Ako zazhalish njakoj den... (Stari gradski pesni).
Za slona, boata, i oshte neshto. (Statija za njakoi bqlgarski
obichai). Avtor: Cenka Jordanova.
Tanc s letva (za Stefka Kostadinova, svetovna shampionka na visok
skok)
Kulturni vesti.
Pravna konsultacija (Nedvizhima sobstvenost v Bqlgarija pri sto-
panska dejnost na bqlgari ot chuzhbina)
Politicheski pregled.
List za zapoznavane s chitatelite. (neshto kato anketa - dosta inte-
resna).
Sqshtestvuva oshte edno specializirano izdanie za bqlgarite v chuzhbina -
naricha se "Pismo ot Bqlgarija", izdava se ot fondacija "Otvoreno obshte-
stvo" (Open Society Fund - Sofia) i mozhete da go poluchite chrez e-mailski
request. Pishete do:
os...@bgcict.bitnet
Subject: "Pismo ot Bqlgarija"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-8 Voice of America News Service
(by Plamen Bliznakov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Voice of America news are available by gopher.
News in files with .voa extension are taken from Gopher subdirectories
available by gopher://ftp.voa.gov/11/newswire.
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 8: BULGARIAN INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-1 How to reach the Americal University in Bulgaria.
(by Karen Colburn and Gregory Gouzev)
These two addresses are taken from a brochure on the
American University in Bulgaria, established 1991.
( copied here without permission )
4 year Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Administration,
Applied Economics, Computer Science, History, English,
Political Science/International Relations,
Journalism/Mass Communications.
Accredited through the University of Maine,
TOEFL and SAT or ACT required.
American University in Bulgaria
Blagoevgrad 2700, Bulgaria
Tel.: (359) 73-23 652
(359) 73-20 968
Fax: (359) 73-25 218
American University in Bulgaria
Office of Development
3243 Sutton Place N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
Tel.: (202) 686-9890
Fax: (202) 686-4538
e-mail domain name : aubg.bg
For e-mail:
There are two variants to try first:
NA...@aubg.bg and NA...@nws.aubg.bg
Yet the American University in Bulgaria is NOT connected to Internet via
an TCP/IP link, therefore, there is no way you can find aliases, or an
IP address for it. Sometimes local mailers reject 'aubg.bg' as a valid
domain for this reason. What I found to work is:
NAME%aub...@Bulgaria.eu.net
Here are some names to use in case you have specific questions:
valentin@... Mr. Valentin Shopov, Office of Communications and Computing
danche@... Iordanka Melnikliyska, Admissions Officer
watkins@... Ms. Watkins, the President of the University
pstmaster@... Gets forwarded to Mr. Shopov.
Thanks to: vo...@cogsci.edinburgh.ac.uk, dan...@digsys.bg, Wiktor Gonet
(GO...@klio.umcs.lublin.pl), and Jeffrey Goldberg (gold...@nytud.hu) for
their invaluable help.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-2 Bulgarian Banks
(by U.S. Department of Commerce), last updated: 01-Aug-1995
List of Banks with Full License for Activity in Bulgaria and
their Primary Corresponding U.S. Bank;
(Code: S=State; P=Private; CB=Corresponding U.S. Bank)
Balkan Bank (S)
18 Vitosha Blvd., Sofia
Chairman Mr. Ivan Mironov 80-22-33
Vice-Chairman Ms. Nadezhda Apostolova 80-05-40
CB= Bankers Trust, New York
Bank for Agricultural Credit (P)
55, Khristo Botev Blvd., Sofia
Chairman Mr. Planem Tilev 51-06-87
First Vice-Chairman Mr. Janko Janev 51-89-56
CB= American Express Bank, N.Y.
Credit Lyonnais, New York
Biochim (S)
1, Ivan Vazov Str., Sofia
Manager Mr. Boris Mitev 54-46-04
Vice-Manager Ms. Anna Subeva
CB= American Express Bank, New York
Bulgarian Foreign Trade Bank (S)
7, Sveta Nedelia Sq., Sofia
Executive Directors
Mr. Chavdar K. Kunchev 88-17-03, 84-91
Mr. Dimitur N. Atanasov 88-17-03, 84-91
CB= Credit Lyonnais, New York
Bulgarian Post Bank (S)
1, Bulgaria Square, Sofia
Executive Directors
Mr. Vladimir Vladimirov 65-67-80
Mr. Milcho Gurov 65-91-06
Ms. Vania Vasileva 65-92-14
CB= American Express Bank, New York
Express Bank (S)
6, Shipka Str., Varna
Chairman, Mr. Ivan Konstantinov (052) 23-18-64
Vice-Chairman, Ms. Maria Dobreva (052) 24-50-79
Chief Accountant, Ms. Rositsa Kamburova (052) 24-51-87
CB= American Express Bank, New York
First East International Bank (P)
15, Lege Str., Sofia
Executive Directors
Mr. Goran Goranov 87-31-22
Mr. Stanislav Derlipansky 54-24-81
CB= Bankers' Trust, New York
Swiss Bank Corp., New York
First Private Bank (P)
2A, Suborna Str., Sofia
Executive Directors
Mr. Ventsislav Josifov 65-93-88
Mr. Michael Stefanov 65-93-88
Mr. Milian Krumov Dimitrov 65-71-10
CB= American Express Bank, New York
Hebros Bank (S)
37 Vazrazdhane, Plovdiv
Chairman, Juli Popov (032) 23-18-76
Executive Director, Alexander Grozdanov (032) 22-88-70
Executive Director, Stoyan Markov
CB= American Express Bank, New York
Credit Lyonnais, New York
International Bank for Investment and Development (P)
10, Graf Ignatiev Str., Sofia
Executive Vice-President, Mr. Lew Staples 66-59-24
Managing Director, Mr. Bozhidar Bozhinov 88-34-82
CB= Schroeder Bank, New York
Mineral Bank (S)
17, Lege Str., Sofia
Executive Directors
Mr. Vladimir Tashkov 80-20-80
Mr. Asen Zapranov 80-20-70
Mr. Rumen Kasabov 80-27-27
CB= American Express Bank, N.Y.
Sofia Bank (S)
25, Janko Sukozov Blvd., Sofia
Executive Directors
Ms. Maria Koteva 44-18-18
Ms. Zhivko Stoimenov 44-18-15
Mr. Katya Ivanova 44-18-18
CB= Bankers' Trust
Swiss Bank Corp., New York
Banco Commercial Italiana, New York
Stopanska Banka (Economic Bank) (S)
8, Slavianska Str., Sofia
Executive Directors
Mr. Tsvetan Petkov 80-35-24
Mr. Alexandur Novakov 88-53-06
Mr. Radko Radovsky 52-20-39
CB= American Express Bank, New York
United Bulgarian Bank (S)
70, Maria Luiza Blvd., Sofia
Executive Directors
Mr. Dimitur Dimitrov 31-92-90
Mr. Oleg Nedialkov 31-81-20
CB= American Express Bank, New York
CitiBank, New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-3 Info on the Bulgarian Medical Association, USA
(by Simeon Boyadjiev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Bulgarian Medical Association
in USA
March 20,1994, Indianapolis
MONTHLY BULLETIN:
In the last month since the BMA/USA was publisized in s.c.b there were
considerable interest and inquires expressed by both bulgarian professionals
and people from other newsgroups. To my knowledge there are about 200
bulgarians involved in the area of a biomedical research in the US
universities. Significant number of bulgarian doctors already took
the USMLE exams and are in process of residency. Still we do not
have access to most of them. I expect Mrs Didi Arissian, who is the
coordinator -secretary of the BMA/USA to get in touch with the
bulgarian community via Internet and to inform us about the number
of the actual members and the recent activitiies of BMA/USA. I learned
also that there is a membership fee of $40 collected from some members.
It would be appropriate to provide an iformation of how the budget is
managed and who takes the legal responsibilities for this. We are seeking
contacts with the bulgarian autorities from the Embassy who can assist us
and help to establish contacts with US partners and officials in Bulgaria.
Dr. Boev from McGill University asked about the membership of the collegues
from Canada. At this stage I think it would be better to establish BMA/Canada
and there after to proceed toward BMA/ North America. In my opinion it will
be easier even for BMA/USA to have representatives and coordinators based of
regional principle -for example : West coast, Midwest and Southeast. All
this details are still to be worked out.
We hope to hear from people interested in scientific exchange with Bulgarian
Medical Institutions. BMA/USA postings will also appear in other newsgroups.
There is a sharp need of subscriptions for scientific journals for the
librarires of the Bulgarian Medical Research Institutes . Those are relatively
inexpensive and small contributions from both the bulgarian community and the
friends of Bulgaria will be well appreciated. All interested can contact me.
I am establishing CONTRIBUTOR'S LIST with initial donation of $50. All funds
will be spend according to the contributor's will or when needed most, mainly
for journal subscriptions. The names of the contributors will appear publicly,
unless stated otherwise. I appeal to all bulgarian patriots and to the friends
of Bulgaria who understand this urgent need for providing better medical care
in Bulgaria.
Dr Simeon Boyadjiev,
SBO...@indyvax.iupui.edu
Dept. of Medical Genetics -IUSM
975 W. Walnut St. IB-247,
Indianapolis, IN 45202 ,USA
(All oppinions are mine-SB)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-4 Info on the Bulgarian Medical Association, USA - part II
(by Simeon Boyadjiev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
It is my plesure to announce the establishment of a new professional
organization - BULGARIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN THE USA (BMA/USA).
This idea of ours and the initial work done by Dr Yanko Yankov
and Dr Simeon Boyadjiev resulted in the first meeting in New York on
April 28,93. For current chairman was elected Dr Lubomir Kanov and
for assistant-coordinator Mrs. Didi Arissian.
The organization is open to everyone in the field of the medicine,
biological sciences and medical technology, regardless of origin, sex,
political or religious believes. No fees, no obligations. Our goals are:
1. To establish contacts among the bulgarian professionals in the USA
for easier communications, mitual help and better professional realization .
2. Exchange of information in order to assist the accomplishment of the
scientific projects with benefit for Bulgarian Health Care.
3. To establish contacts with the universities, organizations, companies
and representatives of US health care system that would provide educational,
technological and financial help for better health care in Bulgaria.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO JOIN BMA/USA. For more information and
suggestions contact Dr Simeon Boyadjiev (SBO...@INDYVAX.IUPUI.EDU),Dept. of
Medical Genetics, IUSM, Indianapolis, IN 46202 or Mrs. Didi Arissian, Box 298,
1230 York Ave, Rockefeller University New York, NY 10021, Fax: (212) 327-8343.
3/5/1994, Indianapolis , Dr S. Boyadjiev
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-5 Bulgarian Studies Association
(by John Bell), last updated: 21-Nov-1995
The Bulgarian Studies Association of North America was
founded in 1971 by a group of American and Canadian scholars
concerned with Bulgarian subjects. Its purpose is to encourage
academic investigation of Bulgaria, exchange information, and
develop relations with Bulgarian scholars. The BSA organized the
first joint meeting of North American and Bulgarian scholars at
Madison, Wisconsin in 1973. This was followed by meetings in
Varna, Boston, Smolyan and, most recently, Pittsburgh (May,
1994.) The Association also holds an annual meeting in
conjunction with the convention of the American Association
for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS).
The BSA publishes a newsletter, appearing about four times
each year, with information on the activities of the organization
and its individual members. Membership is open to anyone with an
interest in Bulgarian studies. Dues are $15.00 per year.
Requests for membership should be sent to its secretary: Martha
Forsyth, 51 Davis Avenue, West Newton, MA 02165-1925.
The current president of the BSA is Prof. Katia McClain
e-mail: kmcc...@humanitas.ucsb.edu
Its vice-president is Prof. Grace Fielder
e-mail: gfie...@ccit.arizona.edu
For further information by email, contact^?
be...@umbc2.umbc.edu (John Bell)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-6 What is the address of the Bulgarian chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery
(by Dragomir R. Radev)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
The e-mail address for the Bulgarian chapter is:
postm...@acmbul.bg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-7 How to reach the AAPBC (American Association for the Promotion of Bulgarian Culture)
(by Mincho Tsankov)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
A A P B C
American Association for the Promotion of BULGARIAN CULTURE
The American Association for the promotion of Bulgarian Culture (AAPBC)
is an American non-profit organization, founded in Washington, D.C., with
international membership, which shall foster the culture of Bulgaria to take
a deserved place among the cultures of the world. It shall be guided by the
following principles:
1. AAPBC shall invariably serve as a reliable source of information
concerning the culture of Bulgaria.
2. AAPBC shall facilitate the explanation and interpretation of the
evolution of the culture of Bulgaria.
3. AAPBC shall support the creation of valuable works of culture and the
advancement and dissemination of the culture of Bulgaria in all its aspects.
4. AAPBC shall make impartial efforts toward the preservation of all
Bulgarian cultural treasures.
* * *
The AAPBC is incorporated under the IRS code and has tax-exempt status
(IRS 501-C-3). All contributions to AAPBC are tax deductable.
Address:
AAPBC
1229 "O" Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel. Petrov (202) 232-4072
G O A L S
- AAPBC endeavors to be a catalyst for promoting long-range projects (e.g.
sending books to the library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the City
Library of Sofia, regional libraries in the provinces) and ad hoc projects
(e.g. co-sponsoring an exhibit of modern Bulgaria art at the prestigious
Corcoran Gallery in Washington, publishing of the anthology of translations
of Bulgarian poets by Richard Harteis and William Meredith).
- AAPBC seeks the cooperation of all persons interested in Bulgarian culture
regardless of origin, citizenship, or political persuation, for long-range or
ad hoc initiatives they wish to propose.
- AAPBC serves as a data bank in that regard and as a point of contact with
the appropriate institutions and persons in Sofia through its representatives
there.
- AAPBC solicits participation in its existing committees and working groups
(as well as members wishing to propose and form new ones).
C O M M I T T E E S
The AAPBC Committees are:
1. Fund-raising
a. Solocitation of membership at $10 annual dues.
b. Large donations (AAPBC is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization (IRS-
501-C-3). Current range up to $500.
2. Subscriptions of U.S. periodicals for Bulgarian libraries (members can
submit their choice of periodical(s) and library(ies) for coordination by the
committee.
3. Donations of books for Bulgarian libraries in books or funds for purchasing what is needed. Most needed are American reference tools, such as encyclopedias
dictionaries, who's whos, bibliographies by subject, etc.
4. Publication of the Newsletter at least every six months, with functions to
collect news items and assist in editing it.
5. Membership solicitation. All current members (according to mailing list)
are asked to submit names and addresses of persons interested in Bulgarian
culture and the goals of the AAPBC.
6. Relations with other Bulgarian-oriented organizations with the aim of
establishing a Federation of such organizations for coordination of efforts
and activities.
7. Support of Bulgarian cultural events in and out of Bulgaria (art exhibits,
performances, poetry readings, Western cultural initiatives in Bulgaria, etc.).
8. Support of Bulgarian students outside Bulgaria by soliciting members to
"adopt" a student for the duration of his or her studies.
A A P B C
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Founding Chairman:
Marin Pundeff
Professor, California State University
Honorary Chairmen:
Raymond Garthoff
Ambassador, Brooking Institution
Eric Hemp
Professor, University of Chicago
Irwin T. Sanders
Professor Emeritus, Boston University
Honorary members:
Robert Conquest
Historian
Simeon Saks-Koburg-Gotski
Businessman
Executive Bureau:
Marshall L. Miller, Co-Chairman
Attorney
Christo M. Popoff, Co-chairman
Artist
Atanas Slavov, Co-chairman
Writer
Ilya Talev
Newsletter Editor
Vassil Petrov
Secretary
Pamela Perry Mitova
Treasurer
M E M B E R S
O F T H E B O A R D
Milka T. Bliznakov
Professor, Virginia Tech
Krustan Diankov
Translator
James S. Dimitroff
Businessman
Micaela S. Iovine
Fulbright Program
Edward Kasinec
New York Public Library
Milcho Leviev
Composer Musician
Jack R. Perry, Ambassador
Professor, Davidson College
Sol Polansky, Ambassador
Citizens Democracy Corps
Errest A. Scatton
Professor, SUNY
Philip A. Shellhaas
Corporate Director, IBM
Mihail Simeonov
Sculptor
Heinrich A. Stammler
Professor, University of Kansas
Blagoy P. Trenev
Professor, University of Wisconsin
Ted Zang
Attorney
* * *
Legal Counsel:
Mihail V. Pundeff, Esq.
Laura B. Sherman, Esq.
J O I N A A P B C
and be part of an international network of people dedicated to the promotion
and advancement of Bulgaria culture in all its aspects, wherever it exists in
the world.
You can work through the existing working groups and committees
listed here, or propose new projects. You will receive AAPBC Newsletter issued
periodically to report on projects completed or underway, new initiatives,
organizations in and out of Bulgaria concerned with Bulgarian culture, and
AAPBC relations with them.
* * *
AAPBC representation in Bulgaria
Krustan Diankov
noted translator of American Literature
and president of the society of
Friends of USA in Bulgaria
Office:
Stolichna Biblioteka
Pl. Slaveikov, 4; Room 113
1557 Sofia, Bulgaria
..............................................................................
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
(Please print) Date:...................
Name:.................................................................
Address:..............................................................
Telephones: Residence:...................Office:.....................
Please make check payable to AAPBC in the amount of US $10 as annual dues and
sent to
Pamela Perry Mitova, 1229 "O" Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005
Please indicate here the aspects of Bulgarian culture you are interested in and the way in which you wish to be active in AAPBC ...............................
...............................................................................
Signature.........................
*******************************************************************************
Best regards:
Mincho Tsankov (min...@lamar.ColoState.EDU)
Department of Physics
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
phone (303) 491-5033
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-8 Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce
(by Vasko Delev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
Here is the address of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce:
Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce
Saborna Str. 11 A
Sofia 1000
Bulgaria
Tel: +359 2 87-26-31
Fax: +359 2 87-32-09
Cable: 22374
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-9 Bulgarian Foundations
(by Yulian Donchev), last updated: 09-Oct-1995
Sajuz na balgarskite fondatsii,
ul. Oborishte 44
Sofia 1505
Mezhdunarodna fondatsija "Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodii",
ul. Oborishte 19
Sofia 1504
Fondatsija "Otvoreno obshtestvo"-Sofia
pl. Slaveikov 4
Stolichna biblioteka
Sofia 1000
Blagoevgrad 2700
Studentski klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
Amerikanski Universitet v Bulgaria
Burgas 8000
Klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
Burgaski svoboden universitet,
st. 125
Varna 9000
Klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
bul. L. Karavelov 19A, 65, et.4, ap.8
Velingrad 4600
Klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
tel. (0390) 2-31-70
Pleven 5800
Klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
bul. Skobelev 20, bl.2, vh.B
Plovdiv 4000
Klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
Narodna biblioteka "Ivan Vazov"
ul. Avksentii Velishki 17
Ruse 7000
Klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
Gradska biblioteka "Ljuben Karavelov"
ul Dondukov-Korsakov 1
Sliven 8800
Klub "Otvoreno obshtestvo"
pl. Al. Stamboliiski 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-10 What is the address of the Fulbright Commission in Sofia
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
17, Alexander Stamboliyski Blvd.
1000 Sofia
(The Commission's office is centrally located at the above address in the
building of the Ministry of Culture, 3rd floor. It is opposite the Ministry
of Education and Science and within walking distance of the American Embassy
and the American Cultural Center).
Office hours - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Phone and Fax of the Fulbright Commission: 88-45-17
The Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange was
established in February 1993 following the signing of a binational agreement
between the United States of America and the Republic of Bulgaria in
November 1992. Although the youngest in Europe, the Commission will base
its policy regarding planning, selection, and administration of the Ful-
bright program on the experience of educational exchange between the U.S.
and Bulgaria accumulated during the last 25 years and the needs of the
dynamic present. The principles we have adopted are fully in tune with the
spirit of the Fulbright initiative.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-11 Mensa in Bulgaria
<DEFINE FORMAT PLAIN>
<DEFINE UPDATED 082395>
<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
MENSA BULGARIA
George Chavdarov, Chairman, Blvd Tsar Osvoboditel 29a, 1504 Sofia,
Bulgaria, 359 2 437 448
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-12 E-mail of "Standart News"
(by Dimitar Chankov), last updated: 11-Jul-1995
westnik Standard obiawi swoj e-mail adres
stan...@sf.cit.bg
s molba da im se pishe. Pishete im, moze i da se saglasiat da podawat
nowini ot Bulgaria za s.c.b.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-13 E-mail address of Kapital Press
(by Veni Markovski), last updated: 21-Jul-1995
Maj trqbwa da probwate s cap...@sf.cit.bg - te pishat wseki den e-mails do
mnogo hora po sweta, predpolagam, che shte wi otgoworqt po-byrzo.... pyk i w
nqkoi otnosheniq sa dosta dobri zhurnalisti. i si izdawat daily news na
anglijski - mozhe syshto da wi byde interesno da go widite.
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 9: BUSINESS CONTACTS AND FUNDING SOURCES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9-1 BULGARIA: U.S. and Country Contacts
(by U.S. Department of Commerce), last updated: 01-Aug-1995
Washington, D.C. Based USG Country Contacts
Brian Toohey, Bulgaria Desk Officer
International Trade Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th & Constitution Aves.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel: (202) 482-4915
Fax: (202) 482-4505
East European Business Information Center
address same as above
Tel: (202) 482-2645
Fax: (202) 482-4473
Mr. Gordon Nicks
Acting Area Officer for Eastern Europe
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service, Room 5080s
US Department of Agriculture
14th and Independence Avenue S.W.
Washington D.C. 20250
Tel: (202) 720-3080
Fax: (202) 720-6063
U.S.-Based Multipliers Relevant for Country
Michaela D. Platzer
Director
International Division
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20062-2000
Tel: (202) 463-5480
Fax: (202) 463-3114
Commercial Attache
Embassy of Bulgaria
1621 22nd St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 387-7969
Fax: (202) 462-8051
Bulgariain Government Agencies
Country Telephone Code is (359)
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Prime Minister Ljuben Berov 88-56-20
Dep. Prime Minister Evgeni Matinchev 887-27-50/88-30-65
Dep. Prime Minister Kiril Tsochev 887-20-86
Advisors Valentin Georgiev 887-20-69/87-43-94
World Bank Advisor Gerhard Reis 87-08-80
Trandafil Dimitrov 80-22-45
Special Advisor Evgeni Milchev 80-22-40
Special Advisor Atanas Kupribashiev 87-44-11/887-27-48
MINISTRIES
Ministry of Agriculture
55 Khristo Botev Blvd.
1000 Sofia
Minister Georgy Tanev 88-55-57
Head of Min.Office Maria Lazarova 88-17-90
Protocol Deninska 51-89-45
Deputy Minister Juri Petrov 87-75-64
Deputy Minister Ventseslav Stoyanov 88-36-39
Deputy Minister Roumen Hristov 88-31-88
Land Priv. Office Dimitur Dinkov 51-06-74
Ministry of Environment
67 William Gladstone Str.
1000 Sofia
Minister Valentin Bosevsky 88-25-77
Deputy Minister Branimir Natov 88-14-46
Deputy Minister Venko Beshkov 54-30-84
Chief Secretary Ivan Filipov 83-23-89
Water Resources Georgi Karagjozov 87-89-51
Int'l Relations Kliment Dilianov 81-00-87
Protocol 87-61-51
Int'l Dept Office Zheko Spiridonov 87-61-51
Ministry of Finance
102 Rakovsky Str.
1000 Sofia
Minister Stoyan Alexandrov 869-211/870-622
Deputy Minister Svetoslav Gavriisky 869-335
Deputy Minister Dimitur Radev 869-295/867-848
Deputy Minister Dimitur Kostov 869-381
Head of Tax Dept. Biser Slavkov 803-247
General Secretary Stamen Tassev 869-317/803-498
Protocol 869-574
Director Int'l Rel. Plamen Gogov 869-219/870-945
Expert Int'l Rel Mariana Touhchieva 869-395/869-223
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2 Al. Zhendov Str.
1000 Sofia
Minister Stanislav Daskalov
Minister's Office 7143-217
Protocol 87-09-36
First Dep. Minister Valentin Gatzinsky 80-37-37
Deputy Minister Todor Churov 7143-244/80-38-07
Desk Officer for
USA, Canada Ivan Danchev 70-32-68
Counsellor Vesselin Petrov 70-34-94
Chief of Protocol Dimitur Dimitrov 7143-353
Ministry of Health
2 Sveta Nedelia Square
1000 Sofia
Minister Tancho Gugalov 87-50-51
Chief Dep. Minister Semerdjiev 88-40-64
Deputy Minister Gerginsky 87-50-53
Deputy Minister Kumanov 87-83-79
Head Int'l Rel. Dr. Kurtev 88-08-01
Int'l Rel. Expert Petur Stoyanov 87-53-19
Ministry of Housing & Construction
17 Kiril and Methodius Str.
1000 Sofia
Minister Khristo Totev 80-39-69
Deputy Minister Petko Evrev 88-20-20
Deputy Minister Daniel Leviev 88-18-49
Int'l Relations Stoyanov 83-53-29
Privatizations Mollov 87-69-61
Ministry of Industry
8 Slavianska Str.
1000 Sofia
Minister Plamen Bikov 80-10-06
Deputy Minister Racho Petrov 88-32-20
Deputy Minister 88-52-46
Deputy Minister Matei Mateev 87-20-27
Deputy Minister Grigorii Vazov 88-01-62
Privatization Office 87-80-26
Head Int'l Rel. Titorenko 89-99-23
Int'l Relations Buzov 87-88-85
Protocol 88-55-33
Head Privat. Dept. Emil Vanchev 87-25-37
Int'l Integration &
Coordination Dept. Vera Khristova 87-88-85
Ministry of Justice
2 Dondukov Str.
1000 Sofia
Minister Petur Kornadjev
87-55-20/87-40-58
Deputy Minister Petur Stoyanov 88-33-69
Int'l Law Coop. Dept. Vasil Velev 867-32-09
Ministry of Labor
2 Triaditsa St.
1000 Sofia
Minister Evgeni Matinchev 87-65-08
Deputy Minister Jordan Hristoskov 80-35-78
Deputy Minister Dimitur Shopov 867-24-59
Deputy Minister Dukhomir Minev 87-65-67
Int'l Relations Stoimen Velev 83-37-12
Int'l Relations Ilian Ignatov 89-78-54
Protocol 867-27-37
Ministry of Trade
12 Battenberg str.
1000 Sofia
Minister Kiril Tsochev 87-03-87
Deputy Minister Ivan Kolev 88-41-90
Deputy Minister Stanimir Burzashky 87-12-87
Deputy Minister Kiril Velev 87-45-82
Chief Secretary Ivan Dochev 87-42-62
Advisor on Ext. Rel. Marin Todorov 88-20-11
Head of Priv Dept. Assen Petrov 88-06-45
Country Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce:
Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Bojidar Bojinov, President
Maria Petrunova, U.S. Desk Officer
11-a, Al. Stamboliiski Blvd.
Sofia 1000
Tel: (359 2) 872-528
Fax: (359 2) 873-209
Bulgarian Industrial Association
Bojidar Danev , Chairmam
16-20 Alabin Str.
Sofia 1000
Tel: (359 2) 545-066
Fax: (359 2) 872 604
Union for Private Economic Enterprise
Petjo Bluskov, Chairman
2a Suborna Str.
Sofia 1000
Tel: (359 2) 659-371
Fax: (359 2) 659-411
Country Market Research Firms
Advertising International Network Ltd.
36, Dragan Tzankov Blvd., suite 613 B
Tel:(359 2) 703-328
Fax: (359 2) 704-577
Continental Information
Mr. Philip Bay
32 Skobelev Blvd.
Tel: (359 2) 511-84
Fax: (359 2) 541-284
Expocenter
37, Ekzarch Jossif
1000 Sofia
Tel: (359 2) 803-603
Fax: (359 3) 801 201
Institute for Marketing and Research MBMD
26 A, Sabi Dimitrov St.
Sofia 1111
Tel/Fax: (359 2) 739-919
Trade Institute
165 3A Street
Liv. Quarter "Izgreva"
1797 Sofia
Tel: (359 2) 700-100
Fax: (359 2) 700-346
Snelling & Snelling
Amy Gorin
23 V, San Stefano Str. Suite 34
Tel: (359 2) 466-057
Fax: (359 2) 443-404
4. U.S. Embassy Trade Personnel:
U.S. Embassy Sofia
No. 1 Suborna St.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: (359) (2) 88-48-01
Fax : (359) (2) 80-19-77
Commercial Attache
U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service
U.S. Embassy Sofia
Tel: (359) (2) 65-94-64, 65-02-64
Fax: (359) (2) 80-38-50, or Embassy Fax
APO Mailing Address:
U.S. Embassy Sofia
Unit 1335, APO AE 09213-1335
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9-2 U.S. Information Sources On Bulgaria
(by Department of Commerce of the USA, Eastern Europe Business Bulletin, and Dennis McConnell)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
Bulgarian Embassy Commercial Office
Boris Ratchev, Commercial Attache
1621 22nd Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-332-6609
Fax: 202-462-8051
Telex: 21-15-61
Eastern Europe Business Information Center
Room 7412
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th St. and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 202-482-2645
Fax: 202-482-4473
U.S. Department of Commerce
Jeremy Keller, Lynn Fabrizio
Bulgaria Desk Officers
Room 3413
14th St. and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 202-482-4915
Fax: 202-482-4505
Bulgaria-U.S. Trade & Economic Council
Kay Larcom, Executive Director
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20062
Tel: 202-463-5482
Fax: 202-463-3114
Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund
333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 2080
Chicago, Illinois 60606
President and CEO: Frank L. Bauer
Tel: 312.629.2500 Fax 312.629.2929
Address in Bulgaria:
3 Shipka Street
1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: [359-2] 44.18.62 Fax: [359-2] 44.30.18
Managing Director, Bulgaria: L. Searl Vetter
For Consular Services Only (visas, consular law, etc.)
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Georgi Peychinov, Consular Officer
1621 22nd Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-483-5885
Fax: 202-234-7973
Consular Office hours:
10:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m.
Monday-Friday
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9-3 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(by Holger Zscheyge), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Try to contact the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
They are probably the best address for jobs with a focus on
FSU/Eastern Europe. Even if they cannot offer you a job they know
thousands of companies in the respective countries.
The EBRD can be reached by mail:
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2EH
England
Tel.: +4471-3386435
Fax: +44713386486
As far as I know the US have an liason officer there. Hope this helps.
Holger Zscheyge n65...@ns1.rz.fhtw-berlin.de
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9-4 Finding Sources
(by Jim Cashel), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
From: Jim Cashel "jca...@eurasia.org"
SOURCES FOR FUNDING COMPILED BY WORLD LEARNING INC.
Drago's note: these sources are primarily intended for the NIS (Newly
Independent States - xUSSR). I have kept these addresses which I thought
might be relevant to Bulgaria as well.
The PVO/NIS Project realizes there are a lot of worthy projects still unfunded.
Therefore, we would like to present a partial list of alternative funding
sources. It is important to keep in mind that such data is meant to serve as a
point of departure for your own research and is evolving and always subject to
change.
The sources of funding for activities in the NIS are many and varied. Unless
you know where to look and precisely what you are looking for it can be
confusing. In fact, in an ever-changing NIS environment, it is hard to know
where funding is with any precision. There are many PVOs looking to tap into
funds in the sectors of health, the private sector, democratic reform, exchanges
and training, and women's health. INTERACTION, an association of U.S. PVOs, is
seeking to coordinate and concentrate funding priorities for the NGO community
in these sectors. The following provides an overview of some of these groups,
their activities, and where available the $ amount of grants they may be
distributing.
PRIVATE
The National Endowment for Democracy
1101 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 293-9072 phone
(202) 223-6042 fax
Cross-Sectoral
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Public Information Office
5520 N. Magnolia Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640-1307
(312) 728-6996 phone
(312) 728-6886 fax
Soros Foundation
888 7th Avenue, Ste 1901
New York, NY 10106
(212) 757-2323 phone
(212) 974-0367 fax
and education
The Ford Foundation
320 E. 43rd Street
New York, NY 10017
(212) 573-5000 phone
(212) 599-4584 fax
Rockefeller Foundation
1133 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
(212) 869-8500 phone
Civil Society Building
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
1200 Mott
Foundation Bldg.
Flint, MI 48502-1851
(313) 238-5651 phone
Rockefeller Bros. Fund
1290 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10104
(212) 373-4200 phone
(212) 315-0996 fax
Small Business Development
The Fund for Democracy and Development
2033 M St., NW Ste. 506
Washington, DC 20036
Human Rights
Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation
218 East 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 475-1137 phone
Advocacy
Smith Richardson Foundation
60 Jessup Street
Westport, CT 06880
(203) 222-6222 phone
(203) 222-6282 fax
John Merck Fund
11 Beacon Street
Suite 1230
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 723-2932 phone
Environment
ISAR (formerly the Institute for Soviet-American Relations)
1601 Connecticut, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 387-3034 phone
(202) 667-3291 fax
Women's Rights
Global Fund for Women
2480 Sand Hill Rd.,
Suite 100
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(415) 854-0420 phone
(415) 854-8050 fax
Economy Building
The World Bank Group
Room H 2007
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
(202) 473-8261 phone
Attn: Mr. Westen
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
(44) 71-338-6569 phone
(44) 71-338-6487 fax
US Government
Privatization
U.S. Dept. of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT)
Room 3413
Washington, DC 20230
(202) 482-0073 phone
(202) 482-2443 fax
ALSO Consortia of American Businesses in the NIS (CABNIS)
200 Daingerfield Road
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 684-1080 phone
(301) 652-0141 phone
U.S. Small Business Administration
Office of International Trade, Room 6114
409 3rd Street, SW
Washington, DC 20416
800 827-5722 phone
(202) 205-7064 fax
Economy Building
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
1100 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20527 (202) 336-8799 phone
800-424-6742 phone
(202) 408-9589 fax
Export Import Bank
ExImbank of the US
811 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20571
(202) 535-9664 phone
(202) 566-7524 fax (Insurance)
(202) 566-8208 phone
(202) 566-7524 fax (Guarantees and loans)
U.S. Trade and Development Agency
SA-16, Rm. 309
Washington, DC 20523 (703) 875-4357 phone
(703) 875-4009 fax
Civil Society/ Democracy/ Media Relations
U.S. Information Agency
USIA, Rm. 751
301 4th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20547
(202) 619-5057 phone
(202) 619-5958 fax
National Endowment for the Arts, International Activities Office
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Rm 528
Washington, DC 20506
(202) 682-5422 phone
(202) 682-5602 fax
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Rm 4079 SUSDA/FAS/EC
Washington, DC 20250
(202) 720-4274 phone
(202) 690-0727 fax
U.S. Dept. of Defense
(202) 783-3238 (CBD for contracts announcements)
U.S. Agency for International Development
A.I.D./NIS Task Force
320 21st Street NW
Washington, DC 20523
(202) 647-9950 phone
USAID NIS TASK FORCE PROJECTS/ OFFICES FOR 1994
Office of Emergency and Humanitarian Assistance (A.I.D.)
Don Eller (202) 736-6481
Alan Silva (202) 647-7614
Office of Energy, Environment, and Technology (A.I.D.)
Energy $254 million Contact: Edvard Markset (202) 736-4405
Environment $73 million Contact: James Bever (202) 736-4407, Energy-
Environment, Commodity Import Program $125 million
Office of Economic Restructuring (A.I.D.)
Economic Restructuring $50 million, Contact: Jane Barden (202)
647-2808
Housing $190 million
Trade and Investment $365 million, Contact: Raghawendra Dwivdey (202)
647-2809
Office of Private Sector Initiatives (A.I.D.)
Private Sector $425 million Contact: Greg Huger (202) 736-4410
Privatization $125 million Hans Shrader (202) 736-4806
Enterprise Fund $250 million, Contact: Jean Hacken (202) 736-4414
Office of Democratic Initiatives, Health, and Human Resources(A.I.D.)
Special Initiatives $151 million, Contacts: Regina Coleman, (202)
647-5876 Bryant George (202)736-4264
Health $109 million
Women's Health Initiative $10 million, Contact: Lee Hougen (202)
736-7760
Democratic Reform $82 million, Contact: Kris Loken (202) 736-4267
Exchanges and Training (A.I.D.) $225 million Contact: Thomas Chapman
(202) 647-7751
Food Systems (A.I.D.) $48 million Contact: Loretta Williams (202)
736-4418
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For foundations contact: the Citizens Democracy Corps (CDC), (202)
872-0933 or 1-800-394-1945; or The Foundation Center, (202) 331-1400
(DC), (212) 620-4230 (NY)
The BISNIS hot line for those interested in area business developments
(202) 482-4655. Bids and contracts advertised in Commerce Business
Daily (CBD) (202) 783-3238
This information was compiled by Scott Altmann and Margot Mininni who
drew on many resources, among them: The CDC Compendium, the Business
Information Service for the NIS (BISNIS) of the U.S. Department of
Commerce, USAID, and information sent to World Learning's NIS office.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9-5 How to get information about Eastern Europe (including Bulgaria) by fax
(by James Reese)
The US Commerce Department's Eastern European Business Information Center
(EEBIC) provides a wealth of Eastern Europe business information by a fax
delivery system. However, if you do not have a fax or if you live outside
of the
USA, this information is unobtainable. I have converted several of their
documents to GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) files and have made them
available for FTP downloading. Consult your computer center for the best way of
viewing/printing GIF files on your system.
Of particular import is the World Bank's International Business Opportunities
Service "Monthly Operational Summary - June 15 1993," (13 pages = 13 GIF files,
E2003A to E2003M)
EEBIC faxes are sent in "fine" mode, the file size will usually
exceed 110K, even when converted to the compressed GIF file format.
INFORMATION DETAILS:
Fax documents are provided by
EEBIC Fax Delivery System
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Eastern Europe Business Information Center
Room H-7412
Washington, DC 20230
From within the USA (and only the USA), you may have these documents
faxed directly to you. Dial 202-482-5745 from your desk touch-tone
phone, follow the instructions, and the information you request will
be automatically faxed to you at no charge about five minutes later.
You may order up to five documents per call. On your first call,
request documents 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000. These will give you a
listing of all EEBIC documents available.
You can get those files via anonymous FTP from
univscvs.csd.scarolina.edu
in the directory: reeseji
The two ZIP files and the VUIMAG.EXE file are MS-DOS shareware
programs for viewing/editing/printing GIF files.
Here's a brief description of the file contents:
FILENAME LETTERS PAGES
E2003x.GIF A-M 13 World Bank Monthly Operational Summary
E1000.GIF 1 Exporting and Financing Document Menu
E2000x.GIF A-D 4 Export & Investment Opportunities &
Upcoming Trade Events Documents Menu
E3000x.GIF A-C 3 Eastern European Country Information
Document Menu
E4000.GIF 1 Eastern Europe Business Bulletin Document Menu
E1031.GIF 1 Partnership Posts in the Baltic Nations
E1030x.GIF A-B 2 U.S. Commercial Officers in Central &
Eastern Europe
E1035x.GIF A-B 2 Commercial Officers for Eastern Europe
in the United States
EEBIC.GIF 1 Cover Page for EEBICFLASH Fax Delivery System
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9-6 Fax to Internet
(by James Reese), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
FAX to INTERNET
The IntlTrade Network now uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
software to convert faxes to e-mail text. This allows ads to be faxed
from any ordinary fax telephone. After OCR conversion of the fax,
the ad is uploaded to the IntlTrade BBS and distributed worldwide by
e-mail on the Internet. You do not need even a pc and modem to take
advantage of this feature, just a fax telephone.
To reduce recognition errors, please follow the following guidelines:
* Send documents at FINE resolution (200 x 200 dpi)
* Send documents in portrait rather than landscape
* Make sure the print is clean and crisp, and without any
freehand notes, lines or doodles. When possible, send
originals instead of photocopies
* Avoid underlining text
* Use plain, san serif fonts (for example, Helvetica, Univers
or Arial)
* Use type of 12 points or larger
* Avoid company letterheads. Simple, plain white paper with
laser or typewritten characters is best.
Fax your ad to 803-472-4527. Please limit each ad to one page.
IntlTrade Network information documents may be retrieved by e-mail
and/or fax. Send an e-mail message to majo...@world.std.com with
the following in the body of the text: info intltrade
To retrieve by fax, set your fax machine to POLL RECEIVE and call
803-472-4527. If your fax does not have POLL RECEIVE, call and
press ENTER, START, or COPY at the fax tone.
James Reese, Owner
U...@WORLD.STD.COM
International Trade Network: An Internet Electronic Mailing List
Intl...@WORLD.STD.COM
IntlTrade BBS 803-472-3754
Fax: 803-472-4527
Voice: 803-472-8524
Dragomir R. Radev
Last-Modified: May 15, 1996
Posting-Frequency: Monthly
Version: 4.03
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 10: ELECTRONIC CONNECTIVITY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-1 Major World-Wide Web Sites about Bulgaria
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
1. The Bulgarian Home Page (at Rockefeller University)
http://pisa.rockefeller.edu:8080/Bulgaria
The first home page about Bulgaria. Maintained by Penyo Penev. Contains
pointers to a variety of other sites. Also contains the USTOI on-line
newspaper.
2. All About Bulgaria (at Columbia University)
http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~radev/bulgaria
Includes a hypertext version of the FAQ, an archive of
soc.culture.bulgaria and a hierarchical directory of all pointers on the
Web related to Bulgaria. Maintained by Dragomir R. Radev.
3. Bulgaria-related Electronic Resources (at Arizona State University)
http://enws121.eas.asu.edu/places/Bulgaria/
Pretty well designed and maintained site with miscellaneous
pointers. Contains a map-based interface to Internet servers in
Bulgaria. The site contains also a news archive. Maintained by Plamen
Bliznakov.
4. Bulgarian page (at bulgaria.com)
A startup page with a few pointers. Maintained by Jivko Kolchev.
5. Pointers on Bulgaria (at yahoo.com)
http://www.yahoo.com/Regional_Information/Countries/Bulgaria
A short and incomplete listing of pointers related to Bulgaria.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-2 Magdanoz
(by Jivko Kolchev), last updated: 12-Apr-1996
Magdanoz is a Bulgarian chat server that also offers news and other
informations.
Use one of the following commands to connect:
telnet 205.149.188.10
telnet magdanoz.ijs.com
telnet magdanoz.bulgaria.com
Login = "vestnik", Password = "vestnik"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-3 World Wide Web resources and Bulgaria
(by Alex Haralampiev)
Okaza se che i moyata minimalna kraina konfiguraciya, vyrshi rabota (sort-of..)
ili dori s tova podolu opisanoto moje da se dobie predstava ot WWW
Hardware:
1. terminal Televideo 970, koito e pone na 10-15 godini i razbira samo ot
emulaciya na vt100 i ANSI;
2. IBM-XT w/Hercules video card, 40 Meg HD (godinite mu edva li sa po-malko).
3. Hayes 2400 Smartmodem;
Software:
1. MS-DOS Kermit ver 3.13
Kakto se vijda ot po-gornoto, edva li moje da ima po-mizerna konfiguraciya
(shte se radvam ako nyakoi se pohvali s po-losha 8-) no vse pak ima edno
osnovno preimushtestvo - sybrana e ottuk-ottam bez da se vloji $1.00 i si mi
vyrshi rabota.
Vsichko tova me svyrzva kym VAX-ovete na campusa kydeto moga da izbiram mejdu
VMS i ULTRIX kato operacionni sistemi. Az nyamam vreme za gubene zatova
predpochitam VMS i realizaciyata za koyato stava duma, se nujdae ot VAX/VMS sys
MULTINET. Predi vreme nyakoi spomena che moje da se izpolzva programata LYNX za
vryzka s bulgarskata stranica na WWW, no az ne ya namerih po obshto dostypnite
directorii na tukasniya VAX. Ako imate jelanie da povtorite moya pyt iz World
Wide Web pravete slednoto:
(Ako ima po dobyr nachin, koito ne iziskva da si kupya RISC6000, nadyavam se
nyakoi da me popravi...)
1. Napravete search s VERONICA (tova e edna ot opciite na GOPHER) za directorii
sydyrjashti dumata 'lynx'. Az tyrsih v NYSERN (edna ot chesto sreshtanite opcii
na VERONICA) i byaha okolo 70 hita (popadeniya?). Izberete si directoriya
koyato se namira na myasto pone na syshtiya kontinent i download-nete faila
lynx2-1-1.zip (tozi fail vyrshi rabota za VAX/VMS, no ima i kup drugi failove
za drugi platformi). Faila e okolo 450K, taka che si proverete disk quota-ta
predi da zapochnete prehvyrlyaneto.
2. Ako imate mnogo svobodno myasto na accounta, zapochnete da UNZIP-vate: shte
se syzdade poddirektoriya [.LYNX2-1] plus mnogo, mnogo drugi pod-pod-dir...
3. V [.LYNX2-1] se namira faila BUILD.COM, koito sled kato go startirate i mu
otgovorite na vyprosite shte vi syzdade LYNX.EXE (razbira se ako karmata Vi e
dobra..)
4. Za da popadnete v BG stranicata na WWW, dobavete kym LOGIN.COM faila si
naprimer slednite dva reda:
$lynx :== "$DISK:[DIR.SUBDIR]lynx.exe "
$bg_www :== "http://pisa.rockefeller.edu:8080/Bulgaria/"
kydeto shte tryabva da zamenite DISK, DIR i SUBDIR s tova koeto otgovarya na
vashiya account. Sled restartirane na LOGIN.COM komandata ot $ prompt-a
LYNX BG_WWW
bi traybvalo da vi svyrje s stranicata za BG. Ako zamenite BG_WWW s nykoi drug
script s extension .html (ima dosta ot tezi v pod-direktoriite koito shte se
unzip-nat) shte se svyrjete s druga stranica na WWW.
Kakto se razbra tova rabota za moyata konfiguraciya taka che bi tryabvalo da
raboti i za vsichko po-smart ot moite karuci. Razbira se na vt100 nyama
da vidite kartinki i snimkite na chlenovete na s.c.b., a pyk ekranite koito sa
podredeni nod Mosaic izglejdat dosta razhvyrlyano, no neka da ne bydem
pretenciozni 8-)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-4 World Wide Web resources and Bulgaria
(by Bojidar Dimitrov)
If you wish to get the source code or the executables for either www or mosaic:
ftp ftp.sunet.se
login: anonymous
password: _your_e_mail_address_here
cd /pub/www
binary
dir
look at the filenames and decide which ones you want
get any_filename_here
get if_you_want_any_more_type_the_filenames
quit
ftp ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu
login: anonymous
password: your_e_mail_address
cd /Web
now depending on whether you need files for X, Win, or Mac,
change to the appropriate directories.
get ...
quit
NOTE: To be able to run Mosaic or www on a Mac or a PC, you should be able
(before installing the new software) to telnet and ftp to any machine by name.
For example, if the following command fails, then you probably have no
network privileges (there is no name server, etc. == talk to your systems
administrator).
telnet magdanoz.bulgaria.com
should open a connection to our loved Magdanoz. If you cannot do this on
your PC or Mac, neither www nor mosaic will run successfully or without any
modifications at least.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-5 World Wide Web resources and Bulgaria
(by Penyo Penev)
This is a first attempt at a _very consice_ pointer to the WWW
brousers. A step by step instruction follows:
1. Get your hands at a WWW bowser
2. Read the FAQ, Help, Demos and whatever is available
3. Happy WWW surfing!
1a. The most desirable thing is NCSA Mosaic. A blurb follows.
General Information
What is Mosaic?
Where can I get NCSA Mosaic?
Who developed NCSA Mosaic?
Where's the documentation?
Where can I find technical information?
Is NCSA Mosaic supported?
What is NCSA Mosaic?
NCSA Mosaic is a networked information discovery, retrieval, and
collaboration tool and
World Wide Web browser developed at the National Center for Supercomputing
Applications. In other words, Mosaic is an interface to the Internet.
You are currently reading the FAQ list for the X Window System version of
Mosaic.
Other supported platforms are:
Apple Macintosh
Microsoft Windows
Where can I get NCSA Mosaic?
NCSA Mosaic for the X Window System is available at ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu in
/Mosaic.
Both source code and binaries (for Sun, SGI, IBM RS/6000, DEC Alpha OSF/1, DEC
Ultrix, and HP-UX) are available. For more information, see the summary of
availability
and features of NCSA-supplied Mosaic 2.0 binaries
(You don't need to have Motif installed on your system to run NCSA Mosaic,
if you pick
up a precompiled binary. You do need Motif 1.1 to compile NCSA Mosaic,
though.)
Who developed NCSA Mosaic?
Eric Bina and Marc Andreessen at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications
developed most of NCSA Mosaic.
The CERN World Wide Web project (in particular, Tim Berners-Lee) developed the
client library and communications code that NCSA Mosaic uses and created the
conceptual framework within which large parts of Mosaic reside. Many other
people have
contributed to NCSA Mosaic's development by sending us bug reports and
comments.
Where's the documentation?
NOTE: The documentation for version 2.0 is not yet complete. For now,
please refer to the following links:
Introduction to NCSA Mosaic for X 2.0 (with helpful tutorials)
The Mosaic 1.2 documentation
Details on the X resources NCSA Mosaic uses are here.
Where can I find technical information?
Here is technical information on NCSA Mosaic for X and the World Wide Web
Project.
Is NCSA Mosaic supported?
Yes. For NCSA Mosaic for X support, please send email to
mosa...@ncsa.uiuc.edu;
we will respond to the best of our ability. Macintosh-related questions
should be directed
to mosai...@ncsa.uiuc.edu, and Microsoft Windows questions to
mosai...@ncsa.uiuc.edu.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-6 How to join the #bulgaria channel on IRC
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
There is a possibility to talk to other Bulgarians in the channel
#bulgaria on irc. If you don't know what irc is, read below:
1. It is possible that you have the irc software already installed on
your system. Then type "irc" from your prompt and go to step 5.
2. If you don't have irc installed, there are two alternatives for you:
a) install your own irc client software (it takes some memory though)
- read step 3.
b) telnet to some publicly accessible irc server - read step 4.
3. Two possibilities: ftp or automatic.
a) ftp should work for many different computers (IBM-PC, Macintosh, VAX, IBM
3270, Unix, etc.). You have to do anonymous ftp to csa.bu.edu and look for
the directory irc. Copy the README file in the directory clients/... where
... is the type of computer you have (e.g. VAX). Then follow the instructions
in that README file.
b) automatic (works only if you have a UNIX system). Type the following:
telnet sci.dixie.edu 1 | sh
(be careful to type all characters on the previous line including the "| sh"
This should install an irc client in your directory. Note that it will be
configured in a way to directly connect you to the undernet (you don't need
to know what that is - simply proceed with this algorithm).
if either a) or b) worked, then go to step 5.
4. To telnet to some publicly accessible irc server, read this:
Scott Yanoff's "Special Internet Connections" (aka internet-services list)
lists the following telnetable IRC clients:
----------------------------- begin quoted text -----------------------------
-IRC telnet server telnet wbrt.wb.psu.edu or 146.186.78.131
telnet irc.demon.co.uk or 158.152.1.74
+telnet sci.dixie.edu 6668 or telnet 144.38.16.2 6668
offers: Internet Relay Chat via telnet. (Login: irc)
------------------------------ end quoted text ------------------------------
5. Now you shold already be on some irc/undernet server. If you are on
the undernet (i.e. you followed step 3b) you must type the following:
/server irc.netsys.com
At this point, you should be on a genuine irc server. go to step 6.
6. type the following:
/join #bulgaria
and if there is someone else you will be able to talk. For more info about
how to use irc, read the FAQ list on irc in the news.answers newsgroup.
Have fun!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-7 Internet providers in Bulgaria
(by mi...@cit.bg), last updated: 09-Aug-1995
CIT Ltd. - postm...@cit.bg
EUnet Bulgaria / Digital Systems - in...@Bulgaria.EU.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-8 How to subscribe to the Eastern European Listserv bulletin
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
Send e-mail to:
LIST...@PUCC.BITNET
or
LIST...@PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU
Your message should contain a single line:
SUB E-EUROPE :your name here:
To unsubscribe, send the following message:
UNSUB E-EUROPE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-9 How to subscribe to the OMRI daily on-line news bulletin
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
To subscribe:
Send e-mail to:
LIST...@UBVM.BITNET
or
LIST...@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU
Your message should contain a single line:
SUB OMRI :your name here:
To unsubscribe, send the following message:
UNSUB OMRI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-10 Bulgarian Electronic Archive accessible by e-mail
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
There is now a way to get files from the Bulgarian FTP archive by mail.
This message contains:
1. Instructions
2. A (partial) list of the files, included in the archive for now
3. A list of the POETRY directory
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Instructions
Send mail to:
bit...@pucc.bitnet or
bit...@pucc.princeton.edu
In the body of the message, write:
FTP shiva.cs.columbia.edu
USER anonymous
cd "directory"
get "file name"
QUIT
example 1:
----------
you want the file FAQ-0-0.TXT,
send the following:
FTP shiva.cs.columbia.edu
USER anonymous
cd BULGARIA
get FAQ-0-0.TXT
QUIT
example 2:
---------
you want the file BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB001.TXT,
send the following:
FTP shiva.cs.columbia.edu
USER anonymous
cd BULGARIA/POETRY
get DDEB001.TXT
QUIT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-11 How to get HTML files by e-mail
(by Peter Flynn), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Here is another interesting Internet service available. It allows
you to request World-Wide Web documents by mail.
You can send mail to:
and put "go http://....." in the body of the message. To retrieve
the home page for Bulgaria, you can send:
"go http://pisa.rockefeller.edu:8080/Bulgaria/"
Only one request per message is allowed. In response, the automated
service will return both the source HTML file and its ASCII approximation.
Info: from: Peter Flynn (pfl...@curia.ucc.ie)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-12 How to play 'tabla' (backgammon) against human players on the Internet
(by Dragomir R. Radev), last updated: 30-Oct-1995
Telnet to 129.16.235.165 4321
and then follow the instructions
Note: If you are on a VAX, you might have to type:
telnet/port=4321 129.16.235.90 instead of the command above
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 11: SOFTWARE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11-1 The Bulgarian and Soviet (Computer) Virus Factories
(by Vesselin Bontchev)
The Bulgarian and Soviet Virus Factories
========================================
Vesselin Bontchev, Director
Laboratory of Computer Virology
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
0) Abstract
===========
It is now well known that Bulgaria is leader in computer virus
production and the USSR is following closely. This paper tries to
answer the main questions: Who makes viruses there, What viruses are
made, and Why this is done. It also underlines the impact of this
process on the West, as well as on the national software industry.
1) How the story began
======================
Just three years ago there were no computer viruses in Bulgaria.
After all, these were things that can happen only in the capitalist
countries. They were first mentioned in the April issue of the
Bulgarian computer magazine "Komputar za vas" ("Computer for you")
[KV88] in a paper, translated from the German magazine "Chip" [Chip].
Soon after that, the same Bulgarian magazine published an article
[KV89]], explaining why computer viruses cannot be dangerous. The
arguments presented were, in general, correct, but the author had
completely missed the fact that the majority of PC users are not
experienced programmers.
A few months later, in the fall of the same year, two men came in the
editor's office of the magazine and claimed that they have found a
computer virus. Careful examination showed that it was the VIENNA
virus.
At that time the computer virus was a completely new idea for us. To
make a computer program, whose performance resembles a live being, is
able to replicate and to move from computer to computer even against
the will of the user, seemed extremely exciting.
The fact that "it can be done" and that even "it had been done"
spread in our country like wildfire. Soon hackers obtained a copy of
the virus and began to hack it. It was noticed that the program
contains no "black magic" and that it was even quite sloppily
written. Soon new, home--made and improved versions appeared. Some of
them were produced just by assembling the disassembly of the virus
using a better optimizing assembler. Some were optimized by hand. As
a result, now there are several versions of this virus, that were
created in Bulgaria --- versions with infective lengths of 627, 623,
622, 435, 367, 353 and even 348 bytes. The virus has been made almost
two times shorter (its original infective length is 648 bytes)
without any loss of functionality.
This virus was the first case. Soon after that, we were "visited" by
the CASCADE and the PING PONG viruses. The later was the first
boot--sector virus and proved that this special area, present on
every diskette can be used as a virus carrier, too. All these three
viruses were probably imported with illegal copies of pirated
programs.
2) Who, What & Why.
===================
2.1) The first Bulgarian virus.
-------------------------------
At that time both known viruses that infected files ( VIENNA and
CASCADE) infected only COM files. This made me believe that the
infection of EXE files was much more difficult. Unfortunately, I made
the mistake by telling my opinion to a friend of mine. Let's call him
"V.B." for privacy reasons.(1)
...................................................................
[(1) These are the initials of his true name. It
will be the same with the other virus writers that I shall mention.
Please note, that while I have the same initials (and even his full
name resembles mine), we are two different persons.]
...................................................................
The challenge was taken immediately and soon after that I received a
simple virus that was able to infect only EXE files. It is now known
to the world under the name of OLD YANKEE. The reason for this is
that when the virus infects a new file, it plays the "Yankee Doodle"
melody.
The virus itself was quite trivial. Its only feature was its ability
to infect EXE files. The author of this virus even distributed its
source code (or, more exactly, the source code of the program that
releases it). Nevertheless, the virus did not spread very widely and
even had not been modified a lot. Only a few sites reported to be
infected by it. Probably the reason for this was the fact, that the
virus was non--resident and that it infected files only on the
current drive. So the only possibility to get infected by it was to
copy an infected file from one computer to another.
When the puzzle of creating a virus which is able to infect EXE files
was solved, V.B. lost his interest in this field and didn't write any
other viruses. As far as I know, he currently works in real--time
signal processing.
2.2) The T.P. case.
-------------------
The second Bulgarian virus--writer, T.P., caused much more trouble.
When he first heard the idea about aself--replicating program, he was
very interested, decided to writehis own virus, and he succeeded.
Then he tried to implement a virus protection scheme and succeeded
again. The next move was to improve his virus to bypass his own virus
protection, then to improve the virus protection and so on. That is
why there are currently about 50 different versions of his viruses.
Unfortunately, several of them (about a dozen) were quite
"successful." They spread world--wide. There are reports about them
from all countries of the former Eastern block, as well as from the
USA and West Europe.
Earlier versions of these TP viruses are known under the name
VACSINA, because they contain such a string. In fact, this is the
name of the virus author's virus protection program. It is
implemented as a device driver with this name. The virus merely tries
to open a file with this name, which means "Hey, it's me, let me
pass."
The latest versions of the virus are best known under the name YANKEE
DOODLE, because they play this tune. The conditions on which the tune
is played are different with the different versions of the virus ---
for instance when the user tries to reboot the system, or when the
system timer reaches 5 p.m.
All TP viruses are strictly non--destructive. Their author payed
particular attention not to destroy any data. For instance, the virus
does not infect EXE files for which the true file length and the
length of the loadable part as it is present in the EXE header, are
not equal. As far as I know, no other virus that is able to infect
EXE files works this way.
Also, the virus does not try to bypass the resident programs that
have intercepted INT 13h, therefore it takes the risk to be detected
by most virus activities monitoring software. The author of the virus
obviously could circumvent it --- for instance it uses a clever
technique, now known as "interrupt tracing" to bypass all programs
that have hooked INT 21h. The only reason for not bypassing INT 13h
as well, is that this would also bypass all disk casheing programs,
thus it could cause damage.
Of course, the fact that the virus is not intentionally destructive
does not mean that it does not cause any damage. There are several
reports of incompatibilities with other software; or of panicking
users, that have formatted their disks; or, at least, damage caused
by time loss, denial of computer services, or expenses removing the
virus. It is well known, that "there ain't no such thing as a good
virus."
The TP viruses were not spread intentionally; the cause could be
called "criminal negligence." The computer used by T.P. to develope
his viruses was also shared by several other people. This is common
practice in Bulgaria, where not everyone can have a really "personal"
computer to work with. T.P. warned the other users that he is writing
viruses, but at this time computer viruses were a completely new
idea, so nobody took the warning seriously. Since T.P. didn't bother
to clean up after himself, these users got, of course, infected.
Unintentionally, they spread the infection further.
When asked about the reason of writing viruses, T.P. replied that he
did this in order to try several new ideas; to better learn the
operating system and several programming tricks. He is not interested
in this field any more --- he has stopped writing viruses about two
years ago.
2.3) The Dark Avenger.
----------------------
In the spring of 1989 a new virus appeared in Bulgaria. It was
obviously "home--made" and just to remove any doubts about it, there
was a string in it, saying "This program was written in the city of
Sofia (C) 1988-89 Dark Avenger."
The virus was incredibly infectious --- when it was in memory, it was
sufficient to copy or just to open a file to get it infected. When
the user felt that there is a virus in his/her system and, without
booting from a non--infected write--protected system diskette, ran an
anti--virus program which wasn't aware of this new virus, he usually
got all his/her executable files infected.
The idea of infecting a file when it is opened was new and really
"successful." Now such viruses are called "fast infectors." This
strategy helped the virus to spread world-- wide. There are reports
from all European countries, from the USA, the USSR, even from
Thailand and Mongolia.
On the top of this, the virus was very dangerously destructive. On
each 16th run of an infected program, it overwrote a sector on a
random place of the disk, thus possibly destroying the file or
directory that contained this sector. The contents of the overwritten
sector was the first 512 bytes of the virus body, so even after the
system has been cleaned up, there were files, containing a string
"Eddie lives...somewhere in time!" This was causing much more damage
than if the virus was just formatting the hard disk, since the
destruction was very unnoticable and when the user eventually
discovered it, his backups probably already contained corrupted data.
Soon after that, other clever viruses began to appear. Almost all of
them were very destructive. Several contained completely new ideas.
Now this person (we still cannot identify him exactly) is believed to
be the author of the following viruses:
DARK AVENGER, V2000 (two variants), V2100 (two variants), 651,
DIAMOND (two variants), NOMENKLATURA, 512 (six variants), 800, 1226,
PROUD, EVIL, PHOENIX, ANTHRAX, LEECH...
Dark Avenger has several times attacked some anti--virus researchers
personally. The V2000/V2100 viruses claim to be written by "Vesselin
Bontchev" and in fact hang the computer when any program, containing
this string is run. A slightly modified variant of V2100 (V2100-B)
has been used to trojanize version 66 of John McAfee's package
VIRUSCAN.
There are reports that Dark Avenger has called several bulletin board
systems in Europe and has uploaded there viruses. The reports come
from the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Greece... Sometimes the viruses
uploaded there are unknown in Bulgaria (NOMENKLATURA,ANTHRAX). But
they are obviously made in our country --- they contain messages in
Cyrillic. Sometimes Dark Avenger uploads a Trojan program that
spreads the virus --- not just an infected program. This makes the
detection of the source of infection more difficult.
One particular case is when he has uploaded a file called UScan,
which, when run, claims to be the "universal virus scanner," written
by Vesselin Bontchev. Even the person who has uploaded it, has logged
under the name "Vesselin Bontchev." In fact, the program just
infected all scanned files with the ANTHRAX virus.
While the other Bulgarian virus writers seem to be just irresponsible
or with childish mentality, the Dark Avenger can be classified as a
"technopath." He is a regular user of several Bulgarian bulletin
board systems, so one can easily exchange e-mail messages with him.
When asked why his viruses are destructive, he replied that
"destroying data is a pleasure" and that he "just loves to destroy
other people's work."
Unfortunately, no measures can be taken against him in Bulgaria.
Since there is no law for information protection, his activities are
not illegal there. He can be easily caught by tapping the phones of
the BBSes that he uses, but the law enforcement authorities cannot
take such measures, since there is no evidence of illegal activities.
Alas, he knows this perfectly.
2.4) Lubo & Ian.
----------------
Some of the Dark Avenger's viruses proved to be very "successful" and
caused real epidemics. That is why they were often imitated by other
virus writers, that had no imagination to design their own virus, but
were jealous of Dark Avenger's fame. So they just disassembled his
viruses (usually the first one) and used parts of it --- sometimes
without even understanding their purpose. Such is the case with the
MURPHY viruses.
According to a string in them, they are written by "Lubo & Ian, USM
Laboratory, Sofia." These people do exist and they have used their
real names. "Lubo" has even been several times interviewed by
newspaper's reporters.
They claim that the virus was written for vengeance. They have done
some important work for their boss and the latter refused to pay
them. That is why they developed te virus in one night and released
it. The fact that the virus will spread outside the laboratory just
didn't come to their minds. However, this does not explain the
developing of the other versions of the same virus (there are at
least four variants). Nevertheless, it proves one more time that it
is better (and safer, too) to pay the good programmers well...
Besides MURPHY, these two virus writers have created another virus,
called SENTINEL (5 variants). The only unusual thing with this virus
is that it is written in a high--level programming language (Turbo
PASCAL), but is not an overwriting or a companion virus as most HLL
viruses are. It is able to infect COM and EXE files by appending
itself to them and by preserving their full functionality. It is also
memory resident, hides the file length increase when the user issues
the DIR command, and even mutates.
2.5) The virus writer from Plovdiv.
-----------------------------------
This man, P.D., claimed that he has written viruses "for fun" and
only "for himself" and that he "never releases them." Unfortunately,
at least two of them have "escaped" by accident. These are the ANTI-
PASCAL605 and the TERROR viruses. Especially the latter is extremely
virulent and caused a large epidemic in Bulgaria.
P.D. was very sorry for that and submitted examples of all his
viruses to the anti--virus researchers so that the respective
anti--virus programs be developed --- just in case some of these
viruses escapes too. These viruses turned out to be quite a few,
ranging from extremely stupid to very sophisticated. Here are some of
them:
XBOOT, ANTIPASCAL (5 variants), TINY (11 variants), MINIMAL-45,
TERROR, DARK LORD, NINA, GERGANA, HAPPY NEW YEAR (2 variants), INT
13.
P.D. claims that the DARK LORD virus (a minor TERROR variant) is not
written by him. The TINY family has nothing to do with the Danish
TINY virus (the 163--byte variant of the KENNEDY virus), and, as well
as the MINIMAL-45 virus, are written with the only purpose to make
the shortest virus in the world.
Now P.D. is not writing viruses any more --- because "it is so easy,
that it is not interesting," according to his own words. He is
currently writing anti--virus programs --- and rather good ones.
2.6) The two guys from Varna.
-----------------------------
They are two pupils (V.P. and S.K.) from the Mathematical High School
in Varna (a town on the Black Sea). They have developed several
viruses and continue to do so, producing more and more sophisticated
ones. Furthermore, they intentionally spread their viruses, usually
releasing them on the school's computers or in the Technical
University in Varna. When asked why they write and release viruses,
they reply "because it's so interesting!"
The viruses written by them are: MG (5 variants), SHAKE (5 variants),
DIR and DIR II. All of them are memory resident and infect files when
the DIR command is performed.
The last one is an extremely virulent and sophisticated virus --- as
sophisticated, as THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST. It is also a completely
new type of virus --- it infects nether boot sectors, nor files.
Instead, it infects the file system as a whole, changing the
information in the directory entries, so that each file seems to
begin with the virus.
There is a counter of the number of infected systems in the virus
body. There is evidence that V.P. and S.K. collect infected files,
copy the contents of the counter and then draw curves of the spread
of infection, checking the normal distribution law. They are doing
this "for fun."
2.7) W.T.'s case.
-----------------
W.T. is a virus writer from Sofia, who has written two viruses ---
WWT (2 variants) and DARTH VADER (4 variants). According to his own
words, he has done so to test a new idea and to gain access to the
Virus eXchange BBS (see below).
The new idea consisted of a virus (DARTH VADER) that does not
increase file lengths, because it searches for unused holes, filled
with zeros, and writes itself there. Also, the virus does not perform
any write operations. Instead, it just waits for a COM file to be
written to by DOS and modifies the file's image in memory just before
the write operation is performed.
W.T. does not write viruses any more, but he is still extremely
interested in this field. He is collecting sophisticated viruses and
disassembles them, looking for clever ideas.
2.8) The Naughty Hacker.
------------------------
This virus writer, M.H., is a pupil and also lives in Sofia. He has
written several viruses, most of which contain the string "Naughty
Hacker" in their body. All of them are non-- destructive, but contain
different video effects --- from display desynchronization to a
bouncing ball.
Currently, at least 8 different variants are isolated, but it is
believed that even more exist and are spread in the wild. Also, it is
believed that M.H. continues to produce viruses. As usual, he is
doing so "because it is interesting" and "for fun."
He is also the author of three simple boot sector viruses (BOOTHORSE
and two others that are still unnamed).
2.9) Other known virus writers.
-------------------------------
The persons listed above are the major Bulgarian virus producers.
However, they are not alone. Several other people in Bulgaria have
written at least one virus (sometimes more). In fact, making a virus
is currently considered there a kind of sport, or a practical joke,
or means of self--establishment.
Some of these virus writers have supplied their creations directly to
the anti--virus researchers, as if they are waiting for a reward.
This happens quite often --- probably they expect that the
anti--virus researcher, as the best qualified person, will evaluate
their creation better. Sometimes the fact that their virus becomes
known, is described, and is included in the best anti--virus programs
is sufficient for these people and they don't bother to really spread
their virus in the wild. So, probably the main reason for these
people to produce viruses is the seek of glory, fame, and
self--establishment.
Such known Bulgarian virus writers (with the respective names of
their viruses given in parentheses) are V.D. from Pleven (MICRO-128),
A.S. and R.D. from Mihajlovgrad (V123), I.D. from Trojan (MUTANT,
V127, V270x), K.D. from Tutrakan (BOYS, WARRIER, WARRIOR, DREAM), and
others.
2.10) Unknown Bulgarian virus writers.
--------------------------------------
Of course, there are also other virus writers, that are not known to
the author of this paper. Sometimes it is possible to determine the
town where the viruses were developed --- usually due to an
appropriate string in the virus body, or because the virus wasn't
found elsewhere. Some of the viruses are very simple, others are
quite sophisticated. Here are examples of such viruses.
- The KAMIKAZE virus has been detected only in the Institute of
Mathematics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia and is
probably made there;
- The RAT virus, made in Sofia, as it is written in its body;
- The VFSI (HAPPY DAY) virus has been developed in the Higher
Institute of Finances and Economics in Svishtov (a small town on the
Danube) by an unknown programmer;
- The DESTRUCTOR virus, probably made in Plovdiv, where it has been
first detected;
- The PARITY virus, probably written in the Technical University,
Sofia, since it has not been detected elsewhere;
- The TONY file and boot sector viruses, probably created in Plovdiv
where they have been first detected;
- The ETC virus, detected only in Sofia;
- The 1963 virus, a quite sophisticated one, probably made in the
Sofia University;
- The JUSTICE virus.
2.11) The Virus eXchange BBS.
-----------------------------
About a year ago, the virus writing in Bulgaria entered a new phase.
The virus writers began to organize themselves. The first step was
the creation of a specialized bulletin board system (BBS), dedicated
to virus exchange. The Virus eXchange BBS.
It's system operator (SysOp), T.T. is a student of computer science
in the Sofia University. He has established the BBS in his own home.
On this BBS, there are two major kinds of files --- anti--virus
programs and viruses. The anti--virus programs can be downloaded
freely.
In order to get access to the virus area, one has to upload there a
new virus. However, anyone who uploads a new virus, gets access to
the whole virus collection. S/He could then download every virus that
is already available, or even all of them. No questions are asked ---
for instance for what reason s/he might need these viruses.
Furthermore, the SysOp takes no steps to verify the identity of his
users. They are allowed to use fake names and are even encouraged to
do so. Dark Avenger and W.T., between them are, the most active
users, but there are also names like George Bush from New York,
Saddam Hussein from Baghdad, Ozzy Ozburn and others.
Since this BBS has already a large collection of computer viruses
(about 300), it is quite difficult to find a new virus for it. If one
wants badly to get access to the virus area, it is much simpler to
write a new virus, instead of trying to find a new one. That is
exactly what W.T. did. Therefore, this BBS encourages virus writing.
Furthermore, on this BBS there are all kinds of viruses --- some of
them as 1260, V2P6Z, FLIP, WHALE are considered as extremely
dangerous, since they are using several new ideas and clever tricks,
which makes them very difficult to be recognized and removed from the
infected files. And the Virus eXchange BBS policy makes all these
viruses freely available to any hacker that bothers to download them.
This will, undoubtedly, lead to the creation of more and more such
"difficult" viruses in the near future.
The free availability of live viruses has already given its bitter
fruits. It helped to viruses created far away from Bulgaria and not
widely spread, to cause epidemics in our country. Such was the case
of the DATALOCK virus. It has been created in California, USA and
uploaded to the Virus eXchange BBS. A few weeks later it was detected
in the Technical University, Sofia. Probably one of the users of the
BBS had downloaded it from there and spread it "for fun." In the
similar way the INTERNAL, TYPO and 1575 viruses entered our country.
But the free availability of known live viruses is not the most
dangerous thing. After all, since they are already known, there
already exist programs to detect and probably to remove them. Much
more dangerous is the free availability on this BBS of virus source
code! Indeed, original source code or well commented virus
disassemblies of several viruses are freely available on the Virus
eXchange BBS --- just as any other live virus. To name a few, there
are:
DARK AVENGER, OLD YANKEE, DIAMOND, AMSTRAD, HYMN, MLTI830, MURPHY,
MAGNITOGORSK, ICELANDIC, MIX1, STONED, JERUSALEM, DATACRIME, BURGER,
ARMAGEDON, OROPAX, DARTH VADER, NAUGHTY HACKER, 512, VIENNA, 4096,
FISH#6, PING PONG, BLACK JEC, WWT, MG, TSD, BOOTHORSE, BAD BOY,
LEECH...
Most of them are perfectly assemblable sources.
The publishing of virus source code has proven to be the most
dangerous thing in this field. The VIENNA, JERUSALEM, CASCADE and
AMSTRAD viruses are the best examples. Their source code has been
made publicly available, which led to the creation of scores of new
variants of these viruses. The known variants of only these four
viruses are about 20 % of all known viruses, which means more than a
hundred variants. One can imagine the consequences of making publicly
available the source code of all the viruses listed above. In less
than a year we probably will be submerged by thousands new
variants...
In fact, this process has already begun. The HIV, MIGRAM, KAMASYA,
CEMETERY and ANTICHRIST viruses have been obviously created by
someone who had access to the source of the MURPHY virus. The ENIGMA
virus is clearly based on the OLD YANKEE code. There have been
reports about infections with these viruses in one Italian school and
an Italian virus writer, known as Cracker Jack is a user of Virus
eXchange...
The damage caused by this BBS alone to the rest of the world is big
enough. But this is not all. Since possession of "viral knowledge"
(i.e., live viruses, virus source code) has always tempted hackers
and since the legitimate anti--virus researchers usually exchange
such things only between themselves and in a very restricted manner,
it is not surprising that similar "virus boards" began to pop up
around the world. There are currently such BBSes in the USA, Germany,
Italy, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, the UK and the Soviet Union. Stopping
their activities is very difficult in legal terms, because the
possession, storage or willful downloading of computer viruses
usually is not considered as a criminal offence. And it shouldn't be
--- otherwise the anti--virus researchers themselves will not have a
way to exchange virus samples to work with.
The creation of a virus--oriented BBS, the system operator of which
supported the writing, spreading and exchanging of virus code didn't
go unnoticed in Bulgaria. Almost all virus writers have obtained a
modem (a not very easy thing in Bulgaria) and contacted it.
Afterwards, they began to contact each other by means of electronic
messages on this BBS. They have even created a specialized local
conference (local for Bulgaria), in order to keep in touch and to
exchange ideas how to write clever viruses. Therefore, they began to
organize themselves --- a thing that cannot be said about the
anti--virus research community in all countries...
3) New ideas.
=============
As it can be seen from the examples above, the whole of Bulgaria has
turned into some kind of computer virus developing laboratory, where
any capable (or not so capable) pupil/student/ programmer is tempted
to write his own virus and to test it in the wild. It is not
therefore unusual that several completely new ideas were first
developed in our country. I shall try to enumerate here some (only
the most important) of them.
- The interrupt tracing technique, capable of finding the original
handler (in DOS or BIOS) of any interrupt vector, has been first
implemented in the YANKEE DOODLE (TP) viruses. Later other viruses in
the world began to use it (4096, NAUGHTY HACKER).
- The "fast infectors" --- viruses that infect on file opening or
even on any file operation were first developed in Bulgaria. The
first such virus was the DARK AVENGER. Now there are a lot of fast
infectors. One of them --- 1963 --- even infects on file deletion.
- The "semi--stealth" viruses --- viruses that hide the increasing of
the size of the infected files (the 651 virus) or that remove them
from the inflected files when one loads them with a debugger (YANKEE
DOODLE) both are viruses, made in our country.
- Hiding the true file length usually causes problems, because CHKDSK
is able to detect the difference between the disk space marked as
used in the FAT and the reported file length. Only two Bulgarian
viruses in the world are able to handle this problem --- DIAMOND and
V2100.
- The first really "stealth" file infector --- the 512 virus was
Bulgarian. It is true however, that the idea has been discovered
independently almost at the same time in other parts of the world
(the 4096 virus from Israel).
- The only known stealth parasitic virus, which "stealthy" features
go down to the BIOS level (i.e., it cannot be detected if active in
memory even if the infected file is read at sector and not at file
level) is the Bulgarian INT13 virus.
- One of the first multi--partite viruses (viruses that are able to
infect both files and boot sectors) --- the ANTHRAX virus, has been
developed in Bulgaria. It is true, however, that similar ideas can be
noticed in the 4096 and GHOST BALLS viruses, which are developed much
earlier. Also, other multi--partite viruses (VIRUS-101, V-1, FLIP,
INVADER) were created independently almost at the same time (and even
earlier) in other parts of the world.
- The idea first used in the LEHIGH virus --- to place the virus body
in an unused part of the file COMMAND.COM has been further developed
by several Bulgarian viruses. They all can infect any COM or EXE file
(unlike the LEHIGH virus) in the usual way, but when they are
infecting the command interpreter, they place themselves in an area
filled with zeros at the end of the file and thus in this case they
do not increase its length. Such viruses are TERROR, NAUGHTY HACKER
and others.
- The method, mentioned above has been developed even further by
other Bulgarian viruses. They have noticed that any sufficiently
large area of zeros in any file (not just COMMAND.COM) can be used to
hide the virus body. The viruses that use this method are again of
Bulgarian origin --- PROUD, EVIL, PHOENIX, RAT, DARTH VADER... The
latter even does not write to the infected files --- it leaves this
task to DOS. And the RAT virus hides itself into the unused part of
the EXE file headers.
- One of the extremely mutating viruses is the Dark Avenger's virus
LEECH. It can exist in more than 4.5 billion variants. It is true,
however, that this is neither the first entirely mutating virus (1260
being the first), nor it has the most flexible mutating mechanism (it
is much simpler than V2P6Z).
- A completely new type of computer virus (DIR II) has been developed
by two Bulgarian pupils. This virus does not infect neither files,
nor boot sectors. Instead, it infects file systems as a whole, or
more exactly --- directory entries.
- Different tricks to get control without directly hooking the INT
21h vector were developed by several Bulgarian virus writers. The
TERROR virus places a JMP instruction to its body in the original INT
21h handler in DOS. The viruses from the PHOENIX family ( 800, 1226,
PROUD, EVIL, PHOENIX) hook an interrupt that is called by DOS on
every file--related function (INT 2Ah, AH=82h). The DIR II virus
patches itself in the chain of DOS disk device drivers.
- The first virus, that is able to infect device drivers (SYS files
only), is, of course, Bulgarian. This is the HAPPY NEW YEAR ( 1600)
virus.
- The first fully functional parasitic virus, written entirely in a
high level language (Turbo PASCAL) is the Bulgarian virus SENTINEL.
- The Bulgarian virus ANTHRAX is the first virus that is resident in
memory only temporary. It removes itself from there after it has
infected the first file and then acts as a non--resident virus.
- The shortest memory resident virus in the IBM PC world --- only 128
bytes --- is again developed in Bulgaria. There are reports about a
108--byte resident virus, also from there, but they are unconfirmed
yet.
- The shortest virus in the IBM PC world --- only 45 bytes long, is
the Bulgarian virus MINIMAL-45. It seems possible, however, to
shorten it even further --- up to 31 bytes, with a big loss of
reliability.
4) Why so many viruses are created in Bulgaria.
===============================================
Computer viruses are created in all parts of the world, not only in
Bulgaria. However, the portion of them that are created in our
country is extremely high. Therefore, in the whole world there exist
preconditions that make virus writing tempting, but in Bulgaria there
exist specific conditions as well.
4.1) Specific reasons for virus writing in Bulgaria.
----------------------------------------------------
4.1.1)
The first, and most important of all is the existence of a
huge army of young and extremely qualified people, computer wizards,
that are not actively involved in the economic life.
The computerization in Bulgaria began without economical reasons.
Since our country was a socialist one, its economics was of
administrative type. The economics didn't need to be computerized. In
fact, computers and planned economics are quite incompatible ---
computers help you to produce more in less time and with less effort
and money, while the goal of a manager in a planned economics is to
fulfil the plan exactly as it is given --- for no more and no less
time, and with no more and no less money. However, the communist
party leaders in Bulgaria decided that we should computerize ---
mainly to be able to supply computers to the Soviet Union and
circumvent the embargo.
While computerization in itself is not a bad thing, we made a very
severe mistake. Bulgarian economics was very weak (now it is even
weaker), but we had quite a lot skilled people. Therefore, we should
not have tried to produce hardware while we had good chances in the
software industry, where mainly "brainware" is required. However,
Bulgaria did just the opposite. Instead of buying the hardware, we
began to produce it (mainly illegal Apple and IBM clones). Instead of
producing our own software and to try to sell it in the West, we
began to steal Western computer programs, to change some copyright
notices in them, and to re--sell them (mainly in Bulgaria, in the
Soviet Union, and in the other countries of the former Eastern
block).
At that time most Western software was copy protected. Instead of
training our skilled people in writing their own programs, we began
to train them to break copy protection schemes. And they achieved
great success in this field. The Bulgarian hackers are maybe the best
in cracking copy protected programs. Besides, they had no real hope
in making and selling their own programs, since, due to the total
lack of copyright law on computer software, it was impossible to sell
more than two or three examples of a computer program in Bulgaria.
The rest were copied.
Since the introduction of computers in the Bulgarian offices was not
a natural process, but due to an administrative order, very often
these computers were not used --- they were only considered as an
object of prestige. Very often on the desk of a company director,
near the phone, stood a personal computer. The director himself
almost never used the computer --- however sometimes his/her children
came to the office to use it --- to play games or to investigate its
internals. While the price of personal computers in Bulgaria was too
high to permit a private person to have his/her own computer, it was
a common practice to use the computer at the office for personal
reasons. At the same time, the computer education was very widely
introduced in Bulgaria. Everyone was educated in this field --- from
children in the kindergartens to old teachers that had just a few
years until pension. Since this kind of science is better
comprehended by younger brains, it is no wonder that the people, who
became most skilled in this field, were very young. Very young and
not morally grown--up. We spent a lot of effort teaching these people
how to program, but forgot to educate them in computer ethics.
Besides, the lack of respect to the others' work is a common problem
in the socialist societies.
4.1.2)
The second main reason is the wide--spread practice of software
pirating (which was, in fact, a kind of state policy) and the very
low payment of the average programmers.
As was mentioned above, Bulgaria took the wrong decision in producing
computers and stealing programs. There is still no copyright law,
concerning computer software there. Because of this, the software
piracy was an extremely widespread practice. In fact, almost all
software products used were illegal copies. Most people using them
have never seen the original diskettes or original documentation.
Very often there was no documentation at all.
Since all kinds of programs (from games to desktop publishing
systems) were copied very often, this greatly helped for the spread
of computer viruses.
At the same time, the work of the average programmer was evaluated
very low --- there were almost no chances to sell his/her software
products. Even now, a programmer in Bulgaria is paid 100 to 120 times
less than the programmer with the same qualification in the USA.
This caused several young people to become embittered against the
society that was unable to evaluate them as it should. There is only
one step in the transformation of these young people into creators of
destructive viruses. Some of them (e.g., the Dark Avenger) took this
step.
4.1.3)
The third major reason is the total lack of legislative against
creation and willful distribution of computer viruses and against
illegal access and modification of computer information in general.
Because of the lack of copyright laws on computer software, there is
no such thing as ownership of computer information in Bulgaria.
Therefore, the modification or even the destruction of computer
information is not considered a crime --- since no one's property is
damaged.
The Bulgarian legislature is hopelessly old in this area.
Furthermore, even if the appropriate law is accepted in the future,
as a punishing law it will not be able to be applied to crimes,
committed before it was passed. Therefore, the virus writers still
have nothing to fear of.
That is why, the creation of new computer viruses has become some
kind of sport or entertainment in Bulgaria.
4.1.4)
The next reason is the very weak organization of the fight against
computer viruses in Bulgaria. Just now our country is in a very deep
economical crisis. We lack funds for everything, including such basic
goods as food and gasoline. At the same time, the organization of the
virus fight would require money --- for the establishment of a
network of virus test centers that collect and investigate computer
viruses, centers equipped with the best hardware, centers that are
able to communicate between themselves and with the other similar
centers in the world in an effective way. Such an effective way is
the electronic mail system --- and Bulgaria still does its first
steps in global computer communications. All this requires a lot of
money --- money that our government just does not have now. 4.1.5)
Another reason is the incorrect opinion, that the society has on the
computer virus problem.
Still, the victims of a computer virus attack consider themselves as
victims of a bad joke, not as victims of a crime.
4.1.6)
The least important reason, in my opinion, is the availability and
the easy access to information of a particular kind.
All kind of tricks how to fool the operating system circulate among
the Bulgarian hackers. Some of them are often published in the
computer related magazines. As it was mentioned above, there is even
a specialized BBS, dedicated to virus spreading and a special (local
to Bulgaria) FidoNet echo, dedicated to virus writing. Not to mention
the well--known file INTERxyy, published by Ralf Brown from the USA
as shareware. It is very popular in Bulgaria, since it contains,
carefully described, a huge number of undocumented tricks.
However, this is not a very important reason. Usually those, who have
decided to make a virus already know how to do it, or, at least, can
figure it out by themselves. They do not need to take an existing
virus and to modify it. The proof is the prevalence of original
Bulgarian viruses over the variants of known ones, as well as the
fact, that many new ideas for virus writing were first invented and
implemented in Bulgaria.
4.2) General reasons.
---------------------
Since viruses are also created in all the other parts of the world,
there should be also some general reasons for this. These reasons
are, of course, valid for Bulgaria too. Let's see these general
reasons.
4.2.1) Wish for glory.
Every programmer dreams that his/her program gets widely spread and
used. A lot of very good programmers write and distribute wonderful
software packages for free --- with the only intention to have more
users using their package. However, for a program to be used, it has
to be good enough. And not every programmer is able to make a program
so good that the users will widely use it --- even for free. At the
same time, computer viruses do spread very widely, regardless and
even against the users' will. So, when a virus writer reads in a
newspaper that his virus has been discovered at the other end of the
world, he feels some kind of perverted pleasure. Some people write
viruses just to see their names (or the names of their viruses)
published in the newspapers. This reason has yet another aspect. In
the beginning of the virus era, when the idea of the computer virus
was very new, only the very good programmers were able to make a
virus. It became a common myth that if you can write a virus, you're
a great programmer. This myth might have been justified at the
beginning, but now it is completely without sense. Nevertheless,
young hackers began to write viruses --- just to prove to their
friends and to the rest of the world how good programmers they are.
Some of them were really unable to invent something original ---
that's why they just picked a known virus, modified it a bit and
released this new mutation. This explains why there are so many
variants of the simplest viruses that were first created --- BRAIN,
JERUSALEM, STONED, VIENNA, CASCADE... A typical example is the
Italian virus writer, who calls himself Cracker Jack.
4.2.2) Simple human curiosity.
One has to admit that the idea of a computer program that is able to
spread by its own means, to replicate, to hide from the user (who is
believed to maintain the computer under full control), and in general
to behave as a real live being is really fascinating. Just simple
human curiosity is sufficient to make some people, if they are young
and irresponsible enough, to try to make a computer virus. Some of
them do succeed. A greater and greater part, if we consider the
amount of last reports for new viruses. Some of them claim that they
are writing viruses "only for themselves," "only for fun," and that
"they do not spread them." However, it is often impossible to fully
control the spread of a "successful" computer virus. The more clever
these viruses are, the greater the probability that they will
"escape." There is an idea to teach students how viruses are made ---
of course in a very strongly restricted environment. Maybe at least
for some this will fulfil their curiosity and they will not be
tempted to write their own virus. Maybe if we force every computer
science student to learn Dr. Fred Cohen's theorems on the
computational aspects of computer viruses, if we administer an exam
and ask students to design a virus protection scheme or to help a
cluster of users, attacked by a computer virus for a course work ---
well, maybe in this case these students will have more than enough of
the computer virus problem and will not want to hear about it any
more --- least to make their own viruses. 4.2.3) Easy access to
information.
Sufficient information, needed to write a virus can be found easily.
This information is often even more accessible than in Bulgaria.
The person that wants to write an average virus needs only to dig in
the respective manuals --- manuals, which are often not available in
Bulgaria. However, the usefulness of the easy access to this
information is much greater than the damage, caused by the fact that
it is used by the virus writers.
4.2.4) Military interests.
It is often rumoured that the superpowers are working on the problem
how to use computer viruses to destroy the enemy computers' software.
It is even very probable, that in several countries such research is
performed. There are reports on this from the USA, France and the
USSR.
This is no wonder --- it is the right of every military force to
investigate any new idea and to consider the possible usefulness
and/or threats it might bring to the national defense. However, it is
quite improbable that the computer viruses can be used for this
purpose. Just like the live viruses, the computer ones are able to
spread only among individuals with very similar immunotype, i.e. ---
among compatible computers. The most widely used kinds of personal
computers are the IBM PC, Macintosh, Amiga and Atari ST. It is
therefore no wonder that the vast majority of existing computer
viruses are able to infect only these computers. In the same time,
viruses that infect one kind of computer (say, IBM PC), are unable to
spread (or even to run) on another (e.g., a Macintosh). They are
usually not able to run even on two different operating systems in
one and the same computer. Even a different version of the same
operating system might cause big problems to a particular computer
virus --- up to preventing it to work. The common personal computers
are never assigned important tasks in the army. Therefore, even if a
virus infects them, and even if it destroys all the data on all such
computers, the caused damage will not be of great importance.
Computers that are used for the really important things, such as
rocket leading or cannon aiming, are always specialized ones. Their
programs are usually hard--coded and only data can be entered in
them. It is not possible to insert an infected IBM PC diskette in the
computers that control the NORAD system. At the same time, the
computers that control different important devices are usually
incompatible even between themselves. Therefore, even if someone
writes a virus for a specialized rocket computer, this virus will not
be able to infect the computers of a strategic bomber or even these
of a rocket of a different system. So, such virus will not spread
very much. And last, but not least, such virus has to be placed
somehow in the enemy's computers. Since, as we saw above, it won't be
able to spread from one computer to another of a different kind,
obviously someone has to insert it in the victim computer. But if you
have access to the enemy's computers, you don't need a virus. You can
do the same task easier (and often much better) "manually", or with a
Trojan horse or a logic bomb. 4..2.5) Corporate interests.
It is also often speculated that the large software companies and the
producers of anti--virus software make or willfully spread computer
viruses.
There is some reason behind this. Indeed the fear of viruses can make
the user buy only original software (sometimes --- quite expensive),
and not to use pirated copies, shareware or freeware. At the same
time, companies that produce anti--virus software are interested that
their products are sold. And they will be, if the user needs
anti--virus protection. However, it is rather improbable, that a
software company (whether producing or not anti--virus software) will
take the risk to become known that it willfully spreads viruses. It
will be probably boycotted by its users and the losses of income will
be much greater than any gains. As to the producers of anti--virus
software, they don't need to write viruses themselves, in order to
sell their programs. It is sufficient to use the hype that the media
accords to the problem, to mention how many viruses there are and how
many of them their wonderful product is able to defeat.
5) The Soviet virus factory and virus writing in the other countries
=====================================================================
of the former Eastern block.
============================
While Bulgaria was one of the best computerized countries in East
Europe, the political, economical, and social conditions in the other
countries were (and maybe still are) quite similar. That is why the
virus writing and spreading has been developed in these countries
too.
Viruses are created in Poland ( W13, 217, 583, FATHER CHRISTMAS, DOT
EATER, JOKER, VCOMM, AKUKU, 311, HYBRYD), in Hungary ( STONE `90,
FILLER, MONXLA, POLIMER, TURBO KUKAC), in Czechoslovakia (the
AANTIVIRUS virus), and even in Yugoslavia ( 17Y4, SVIR). According to
some reports from Romania, there are no viruses written there, but
the W13, YANKEE DOODLE, DARK AVENGER and StONED viruses are quite
widespread.
However, the country most similar to Bulgaria is, undoubtedly, the
Soviet Union. According to the Soviet anti--virus researcher Bezrukov
[Bezrukov], the first virus appeared there almost at the same time as
in Bulgaria and, by the way, it was the same virus ( VIENNA). So, the
preconditions are almost the same as with our country.
There are, however, two main differences: the level of
computerization and the number of virus writers.
The level of computerization is still much lower than in Bulgaria.
There are much fewer computers per person than in our country. The
users are much more isolated, due to the much larger distances. The
telephone network is in the same miserable condition, as in Bulgaria.
The networks are very few and not widely used. For instance, in Sofia
alone there are more FidoNet nodes than in the whole Soviet Union. It
is not safe to send floppy disks by regular mail, since they will be
probably stolen. All this delays very much the spreading of viruses.
Unfortunately, it also delays the distribution of anti--virus
products and the information exchange between the anti--virus
researchers. For instance, examples of new viruses created there
reach the Western anti--virus researchers with huge delays.
Unfortunately, the other factor is much more dangerous. In the USSR
there are much more programmers than in Bulgaria and they seem at
least as much motivated in creating new viruses. The virus writing in
the Soviet Union is currently in the same state as it was in Bulgaria
about three years ago. However, at that time only nine variants of
known viruses and one stupid original virus has been created there (6
VIENNA variants, 3 AMSTRAD variants, and the OLD YANKEE virus). At
the first Soviet anti--virus conference in Kiev (mid--November, 1990)
more than 35 different viruses of Russian origin were reported.
Some of them were variants of known viruses, while others were
completely new. It has been noticed that the Soviet virus writers are
less qualified than the Bulgarian ones, but they use a destructive
payload in their creations much more often.
Since the reasons of virus writing in the USSR are very similar to
those in Bulgaria; since this virus writing occurs in a much larger
scale; and since no steps are taken by the authorities in order to
stop it, it is possible to predict that in the next few years the
Soviet Union will be far ahead of Bulgaria in computer virus creation
and that a new, much larger wave of computer viruses will come from
there. Probably after a year, several (up to ten) virus writers with
the qualification of the Dark Avenger will emerge from there.
6) The impact of the Bulgarian viruses on the West and on the national
======================================================================
software industry.
==================
While a huge part of the existing viruses are
produced in Bulgaria, a relatively very small part of them spread
successfully to the West. Of more than 160 Bulgarian viruses, only
very few ( DARK AVENGER, V2000, V2100, PHOENIX, DIAMOND,
NOMENKLATURA, VACSINA, YANKEE DOODLE) are relatively widespread. At
the same time some of them ( DARK AVENGER, V2000, YANKEE DOODLE,
VACSINA) are extremely widespread. According to John McAfee, about 10
% of all infections in the USA are caused by Bulgarian viruses ---
usually by the DARK AVENGER virus. In West Europe this virus shares
the popularity with YANKEE DOODLE and VACSINA.
Of the viruses listed above, the major part are written by the Dark
Avenger --- all except YANKEE DOODLE and VACSINA. Almost all his
viruses (in this case --- with the exception of DIAMOND, which is the
least spread) are extremely destructive. The PHOENIX and NOMENKLATURA
viruses corrupt the FAT in such a subtle way, that when the user
notices the damage, there is no way to disinfect the infected files
and even to determine which files are damaged. The only way is to
reformat the hard disk.
It is difficult to estimate the costs of all damage caused by
Bulgarian viruses. There are reports from Germany about a 10,000,000
DM damage, caused only by the VACSINA virus. It is probable, however,
that these numbers are largely overestimated.
The huge number of known Bulgarian viruses causes also indirect
damage to the West community, even if the viruses themselves do not
escape from Bulgaria, but only examples of them are supplied to the
anti--virus researchers. These researchers have to develop
anti--virus programs against these viruses (just in case the latter
succeed to spread outside Bulgaria). Therefore, they have to waste
their time and efforts. Furthermore, the user is forced to buy new
anti--virus programs (or pay for updates of the old ones), in order
to feel safe against these viruses. In the same time, the creation
and spreading of Bulgarian viruses causes a lot of damage to the
Bulgarian economics. In Bulgaria, the Bulgarian viruses are much more
widespread. More than 80 % of about 160 known Bulgarian viruses have
been detected in the wild in our country. It is difficult, however,
to evaluate, or even to estimate the exact costs of the caused
damage, since in Bulgaria the term "property of computer information"
simply does not exist in legal sense. It is the same with the cost of
this information. In fact, the creation of computer viruses causes
also indirect damage to our economics. First of all, a lot of
extremely capable people are wasting their minds to create
destructive viruses, instead of something useful. Second, the fact
that the Bulgarian programmers use their time to create computer
viruses destroys their reputation as a whole. No serious software
company accepts to deal with Bulgarian programmers or software
companies, because it is afraid that the supplied software might be
pirated or might contain a virus. 7) Conclusion. Virus writing in
Bulgaria is an extremely widespread hobby. Most of the major virus
writers are known, but no measures can be taken against them. Their
work causes a lot of damage to the Western community, as well as to
the national economics. Therefore, it is urgent to take legal
measures in this direction; measures that will make virus writing and
willful spread of computer viruses a criminal act. This is the only
way to stop, or at least to reduce the threat.
References
==========
[KV88] Viruses in Memory, Komputar za vas, 4--5, 1988, pp.12--13 (in
Bulgarian)
[KV89] The Truth about Computer Viruses, Vesselin Bontchev, Komputar
za vas, 1--2, 1989, pp. 5--6 (in Bulgarian)
[Chip] Die neue Gefahr --- Computerviren, Steffen Wernery, Chip, 9,
1987, pp. 34--37 (in German)
[Bezrukov] Computer Virology, Nikolay Nikolaevitch Bezrukov, Kiev,
1991, ISBN 5-88500-931-X (in Russian)
--608187348-1484003021-755798387:#7636--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11-2 Transliteration
(by Jan Labanowski)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
Translit --- general transliteration program is available. It transliterates
between different alphabet representations of different languages.
It is frequently necessary to convert from one representation to another
representation of the foreign alphabet. E.g., in the Library of Congress
transliteration, the Russian letter sha is transliterated as two Latin
letters "sh" while the popular word processors use a code 232 (decimal),
the RELCOM network uses a code 221, and the KOI7 set uses character "["
for the same letter. So if your screen driver, printer, word processor,
etc. uses different codes than the text file which you have, you need to
transliterate.
The TRANSLIT program is a powerful tool for such tasks. It converts an input
file in one representation to the output file in another representation using
appropriate, user defined, transliteration table. Transliteration table allows
for very elaborate transliteration tasks and includes provisions for plain
character sequences, character lists, regular expressions (flexible matches),
SHIFT-OUT/IN sequences and more. The program comes with documentation and
examples of popular transliteration schemes. The Russian language serves
as an example. Other files will be added with your collaboration.
How to get the program?
First, retrieve file: readme.doc --- it describes the files in the program
distribution and has detailed instructions on how to obtain the program.
Via FTP (if you are on Internet):
---------------------------------
ftp kekule.osc.edu (or ftp 128.146.36.48)
Login: anonymous
Password: Your_email_address (Please...)
ftp> ascii
ftp> cd pub/central_eastern_europe/russian/translit
ftp> get readme.doc
ftp> quit
Via E-mail:
-----------
Send message:
send russian/translit/readme.doc from central_eastern_europe
to OSC...@osc.edu or OSC...@OHSTPY.BITNET. The file readme.doc will be
forwarded to your mailbox.
Author coordinates:
Jan Labanowski
P.O. Box 21821
Columbus, OH 43221-0821, USA
j...@osc.edu, J...@OHSTPY.BITNET
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11-3 OCR for Cyrillic
(by Athol Yates)<DEFINE FORMAT PLAIN>
<DEFINE UPDATED 033194>
From: Athol Yates "aya...@lingua.cltr.uq.oz.au"
There have been several enquiries in the past on reading Cyrillic with
Optical Charator Recognition software.
The following three OPC programs are available in Russia.
1. TIGER. Produced by XCognitive Technologies Ltd, Russia. It costs 188
US$ and
is designed solely for Cyrillic script. It does not read Latin script.
Installation manuals are in Russian. This is the least popular.
2. CUNEIFORM for Windows. Also produced by XCognitive Technologies Ltd,
Russia.
It costs 219 US$ and recognises 4 languages (English, Russian, German
plus one
other). Supports more than 30 scanners. It even recognises texts in TIFF,
PCX,
etc. graphic formats. Installation manuals are in Russian. Help function
inside
the program is in English. All the dialog boxes are in English.
3. FINEREADER is produced by Bit Software, Inc. Russia.
Price - 149 US$. It can recognise both Latin and Cyrillic characters.
Supports
the following scanners: ScanJet, ScanJet Plus, ScanJet II, etc., Microtek
Family: MS 200, MS 400, MS 300 + modifications, complete PC Family: Hand
Scanners: GS-4500, etc., Umax family...etc. Supports grafic formats:
TIFF, PCX,
ZSoft. This is the most professional progam. Installation manuals are in
Russian. Help inside the program can be selected by the user to be in
Russian or
in English.
There are no OPC packages for MACs yet. Contary to my previous message,
SPOT OPC
is no longer available in the Russian market.
The packages can be ordered from The Russian Software Distribution
Company. I am
not sure of the postage costs. They can be contacted on:
ch...@polymer.chem.msu.su
Contact name is Ilya.
I have dealt with him before when I was searching for some Russian
software I
needed and he were reliable. They say they can find Font, Lexicongraphy,
teaching games, spell checkers etc software.
Dragomir R. Radev
Last-Modified: May 15, 1996
Posting-Frequency: Monthly
Version: 4.03
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 12: BULGARIAN LANGUAGE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-1 How to pronounce Bulgarian
(by Dragomir R. Radev)
Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet.
There are 30 letters. I will show them using a graphical description of
the capital letter (in a 7X7 bitmap).
01 01 [a]
O
O O
O O
OOOOOOO
O O
O O
O O
02 02 [b]
OOOOOOO
O
O
OOOOOO
O O
O O
OOOOOO
03 03 [v]
OOOOOO
O O
O O
OOOOOO
O O
O O
OOOOOO
04 04 [g]
OOOOOOO
O
O
O
O
O
O
05 05 [d]
OOO
O O
O O
O O
O O
OOOOOOO
O O
06 06 [e]
OOOOOOO
O
O
OOOOO
O
O
OOOOOOO
07 07 [3] (as in 'vision')
O O O
O O O
OOO
O
OOO
O O O
O O O
08 08 [z] (as in 'zeal')
OOOOO
O O
O
OOO
O
O O
OOOOO
09 09 [i]
O O
O OO
O O O
O O O
O O O
OO O
O O
10 10 [y]
OOO
O O
O OO
O O O
OO O
O O
11 11 [k]
O O
O O
O O
OOOO
O O
O O
O O
12 12 [l-] superimposed hyphen on [l]:
O (IPA symbol for a sound
O O closer to [w] than to [l])
O O
O O
O O
O O
O O
13 13 [m]
O O
OO OO
O O O O
O O O
O O
O O
O O
14 14 [n]
O O
O O
O O
OOOOOOO
O O
O O
O O
15 15 [o]
OOOOO
O O
O O
O O
O O
O O
OOOOO
16 16 [p]
OOOOOOO
O O
O O
O O
O O
O O
O O
17 17 [r]
OOOOOO
O O
O O
OOOOOO
O
O
O
18 18 [s]
OOOOO
O O
O
O
O
O O
OOOOO
19 19 [t]
OOOOOOO
O
O
O
O
O
O
20 20 [u]
O O
O O
O O
OOOOOO
O
O O
OOOOO
21 21 [f]
O
OOOOO
O O O
O O O
O O O
OOOOO
O
22 22 [h]
O O
O O
O O
O
O O
O O
O O
23 23 [ts]
O O
O O
O O
O O
O O
OOOOOOO
O
V
24 24 [ts] (this corresponds to the
O O English 'ch' as in 'chat'
O O
O O
OOOOOOO
O
O
O
V
25 25 [s] English 'sh' as in 'show'
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
OOOOOOO
V
26 26 [st] English 'sht' as in
O O O 'fresh tea'
O O O
O O O
O O O
O O O
OOOOOO
O
27 27 [^] lower-mid back unrounded
OO vowel: you can get an idea
O from the English 'cut'
O
OOOOO
O O
O O
OOOOO
28 28 [y]
O
O
O
OOOOOO
O O
O O
OOOOOO
29 29 [yu]
O OOO
O O O
O O O
OOO O
O O O
O O O
O OOO
30 30 [ya]
OOOOOO
O O
O O
OOOOOO
O O
O O
O O
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-2 How to count in Bulgarian
(by Dragomir R. Radev)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
1 - edno (ed-NOH)
2 - dve (DVAY)
3 - tri (TREE)
4 - chetiri (CHAY-tee-ree)
5 - pet (PET)
6 - shest (SHEST)
7 - sedem (SAY-dem)
8 - osem (AW-sem)
9 - devet (DAY-vet)
10 - deset (DAY-set)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-3 Modern Bulgarian Language courses
(by Kitty Kagay, Ken Grau, Prashant Dave, and Dragomir R. Radev)
In response to Dennis Godfrey's 20th January message regarding the U.S. State
Department's Foreign Service Institute's language course.
It may be of interest that there is another complete set of Bulgarian course
materials available through Slavica Press of Ohio. This course also assumes no
previous knowledge of Bulgarian or any other Slavic language. The course has
supplementary materials which are designed specifically for self-study.
The core-text, titled: A Course in Modern Bulgarian (by Milka Hubernova, Ana
Dzhumadanova & Milka Marinova, Columbus, Ohio: Slavica Publishing, 1983;
Library of Congress number: PG 835 K48x 1983) comes in two parts of about 300
pages each. The two parts consists of 62 lessons with about 60 pages of
additional readings. There is enough material in the two volumes for a 2-3
year university course sequence. Best of all, each volume ends with a 40 page
Bulgarian-English glossary consisting of vocabulary from both volumes. This
glossary is a student's dream supplying accents, plurals, verb conjugations
and aspect, and various irregulars. This feature alone is worth the price of
the book. Note that the two volumes are available separately.
The six-volume supplemental workbooks for self-study for so-called
"Individualized Instruction". The materials are divided into workbooks
titled: Elementary Bulgarian 1, Elementary Bulgarian 2, Intermediate Bulgarian
1, Intermediate Bulgarian 2, Advanced Bulgarian 1, and Advanced Bulgarian 2.
Intermediate Bulgarian 2 is by Lyubomira Parpulova-Gribble and Catherine
Rudin and the other five volumes are by Charles E. Gribble and Lyubomira
Parpulova-Gribble. In addition, each volume has a Teacher's Manual containing
tests, transcriptions of material on the tapes, etc. There is also a set of
tapes. The workbooks, Teacher's Manual, and tapes are available from:
Center for Slavic and Eastern European Studies
Ohio State University
Dulles Hall
230 West 17th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Telephone: 614-292-8770
The first three workbooks cover the material in part one of the Hubenova text
and the last three workbooks part two of the Hubenova text. These materials
add more exercises, give additional grammatical explanations, add cultural
notes, provide additional reading materials, etc. In addition, these offer
two major features: supplementary note to the core text explaining points
which the Bulgarian authors have overlooked because of their native speakers'
"blind spot" and an answer key to the exercises. The workbooks are available
singly with each covering several (10?) lessons.
Finally, a set of audio cassette tapes is available for volume one of the core
text (lessons 1-26). These tapes include a reading of the text from each
chapter, some drills and exercises, plus a few additional readings of some
short texts.
The textbook and workbooks are all softbound and inexpensive. I don't know
the price of the tapes as a set since the tapes I used were obtained by my
university. I have read through parts of the State Department's text but it
is the Hubenova text that our class worked through systematically. Comparing
the two, I think each has significant shortcomings as well as strengths. My
opinion is that there is no definitive text for the study of Bulgarian (as of
now). Incidentally, I found the State Department's text in my local library
which may be an option for those who like to browse before buying (Bulgarian
Basic Courses, United State Foreign Service Institute. Dewey call number: 491
U58)
For those interested in the Hubenova text, the company is Slavica Publishers.
From the publishers written statement in an 1987 book of theirs:
"Slavica publishes a wide variety of textbooks and scholarly books on the
languages, peoples, literatures, cultures, history, etc. of the USSR and
Eastern Europe. For a complete catalog of books and journals from Slavica,
with prices and ordering information, write to:
Slavica Publishers, Inc.
P O Box 14388
Columbus, Ohio 43214 - 0388
Phone: 614 - 268 - 4002
Here is a short bibliography (from "Bulgarian" by Charles A. Moser, the
George Washington University).
TEXTBOOKS
1. Charles A. Moser. Bulgarian (The George Washington University:
Washington, DC 1991)
2. Albert Bates Lord. Beginning Bulgarian (The Hague: Mouton, 1962)
3. Milka Hubenova, Ana Dzhumadanova. A Course in Modern Bulgarian 1,2.
Slavica Publishers: Columbus, Ohio, 1983)
Part 1, viii + 303 p. 1983 ( ISBN:0-89357-104-0), $ 16.95
Part 2, ix + 303 p., 1983 (ISBN: 0-89357-105-9), $ 16.95.
4. Charles Gribble and Lyubomira Parpulova-Gribble. Elementary Bulgarian 1,2.
Bulgarian Individualized Instruction (Ohio State University: Columbus,
Ohio, 1984)
5. Lyubomira Parpulova-Gribble and Charles Gribble. Advanced Bulgarian 1,2.
Bulgarian Individualized Instruction (Ohio State University: Columbus,
Ohio, 1987)
6. James Augerot & Nikolay Popov. Bqlgarski ezik: A University Course in the
Bulgarian Language (Seattle, 1987)
GRAMMARS
1. Leon Beaulieux. Grammaire de la langue bulgare (Institut d'etudes slaves:
Paris, 1950)
2. Ernest Scatton. A Reference Grammar of Modern Bulgarian (Slavica Publishers:
Columbus, Ohio, 1984)
SPECIFIC TOPICS
1. Ernest Scatton. Bulgarian Phonology (Slavica Publishers: Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, 1975)
2. Charles Gribble. Reading Bulgarian Through Russian (Slavica Publishers:
Columbus, Ohio, 1987)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-4 More Bulgarian Textbooks
(by Kjetil Ra Hauge), last updated: 26-Jan-1995
Michael Holman and Mira Kovatcheva (1993): Teach Yourself Bulgarian
(coursebook and cassette), Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 0 340 56177 7, GBP
16.99
George D. Papantchev (1994): Colloquial Bulgarian (coursebook and two
cassettes), Routledge, ISBN 0 415 07965 9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-5 Teach Yourself Bulgarian (Tape)
(by Graham Crowder)
There is a book/cassette combination in the Teach Yourself
series entitled
Teach Yourself Bulgarian
A complete course for beginners
by Michael Holman and Mira Kovatcheva.
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton.
This came out just a year or two back. There is an older
title "A Course in Modern Bulgarian parts 1/2" published
by Slavica Publishers, Inc (Columbus, Ohio).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-6 Bulgarian and English dictionaries
(by Kamen Penev), last updated: 21-Nov-1994
Record #8 of 130
BRS Number: 000945202
Author: Tchomakov, Ivan.
Title: Bulgarian-English, English-Bulgarian dictionary / Ivan
Tchomakov.
Impr/Ed: New York : Hippocrene Books, c1992.
Edition: Hippocrene Books ed.
Phys Desc: 323 p. ; 18 cm.
Subjects: Bulgarian language -- Dictionaries -- English.
English language -- Dictionaries -- Bulgarian.
Series Title: Hippocrene practical dictionary
Language: eng
ISBN: 0870521454 (pbk.)
Record #57 of 130
BRS Number: 000599608
Author: Khubenova, Milka Gucheva.
Title: A course in modern Bulgarian / Milka Hubenova, Ana
Dzhumadanova, Milka Marinova.
Impr/Ed: Columbus, Ohio : Slavica Publishers, 1983.
Phys Desc: 2 v. : ill., music ; 23 cm.
Subjects: Bulgarian language -- Grammar.
Other Author: Dzhumadanova, Ana Stefanova.
Marinova, Milka Petrova.
Notes: Reprint. Originally published: Bulgarski ezik. Sofia :
Narodna Prosveta, 1964-1968. With corrections.
English or Bulgarian.
Language: eng
ISBN: 0893571040 (v. 1) 0893571059 (v. 2)
Record #77 of 130
BRS Number: 000419906
Author: Lord, Albert Bates.
Title: Beginning Bulgarian.
Impr/Ed: 's-Gravenhage, Mouton, 1962.
Phys Desc: 165 p. 23 cm.
Subjects: Bulgarian language -- Grammar.
Language: eng
LCCN: 65035287
GRSN: 00424693
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-7 Kakvo e "Dvoyno E"?
(by Iliya Talev), last updated: 27-Jul-1995
V sluchaya s dvoymoto E i shirokoto Q ("nosovkata") sqshtestvuvat
dve strani na vqprosa: ezikovedcheska i politicheska. Vqtre v
ezikovedcheskite sporove, pokray chisto lingvistichnite
sqobajeniya, chesto se injektirat social-politicheski
stanovishta, koeto pqk razdelya ezikovedite na "progresivni" i
"reakcionni".
Pochti nevqzmojno e da se nameri pqlen i obektiven pregled na
pravopisnite "borbi", koito nesqmneno sa svqrzani s borbite po
oformyaneto na bqlgarskiya knijoven ezik prez minaloto stoletie.
Kakto znaete, pobediha "rusofilite". Tyahnata pobeda moje da se
obyasni, obshto vzeto, sqs slednite faktori:
1. Ogromnoto vliyanie na Ruskata pravoslavna cqrkva v duhovnoto
ptobujdane na bqlgarite ot vrorata polovina na XVIII do kraya na
XIX vek. Osnova na bqlgarskiya cqrkoven ezik stava kqsnata ruska
redakciya na Cqrkovno-slavyanski. Pokray ruskoto proiznoshenie na
cqrkovniya ezik, v Bqlgariya pristigat drugi ruski inovacii ot
leksikalno-semantichen harakter (kato administrativnata cqrkovna
terminologiya naprimer) posredstvom trebnici, slujebnici,
Chti-Minei, jitiya na pravoslavni svetci i t.n. Prez tozi period
Ruskata cqrkva investira golemi sredstva na Balkanite s
razprostranyavane na cqrkovna literatura, obuchenie na
sveshtenici i chastichno, s pomoshti pri stroeneto na hramove.
Zabelejitelno v sluchaya e, che neynite investicii v Sqrbiya
pqrvonachalno sa po-golemi, otkolkoto v Bqlgariya, no srqbskoto
vqzrajdane, pod vliyanie na hqrvatite, trqgna na pqt za ograjdane
ot rusko vliyanie.
( V tozi kontekst, sqsho taka e interesno, che Rumqnskata cqrkva,
koyato izpolzva po tova vreme Sredno-bqlgarska redakciya na
Cqrkovno-slavyanskiya ezik, silno ogranichava ruskoto vliyanie v
cqrkovniya ezik.
Misiyata na Rusiya na Balkanite, pokray chisto hristiyansko
misionerstvo, se diktkuva i ot dqrjavno-cqrkovnata doktrina za
"Tretiya Rim" (t.e., sled padaneto na Carigrad - "Vtoriya Rim",
Moskovskata patriarhiya poema funkciite na sedalishte i
tqlkovatel na pravata vyara).
2. Sqznanieto na mnogo bqlgarski vqzrojdenci, che bez pomosht
otvqn, Bqlgariya ne shte moje da se osvobodi. Tyahnata nadejda
lelji vqrhu Rusiya; te rabotyat deyno za doblijavane na noviya
bqlgarski kqm ruskiya.
3. Uchastieto vqv vqzrojdenskite procesi na mnozina energichni
bqlgari, nyakoi ot tyah s pari, koito sa zvqrzani emocionalno ili
finansovo s Rusiya. Povecheto ot tyah idvat ot podbalkanskite
gradcheta, trevnensko i gabrovsko. Spomnete si za Vasil Aprilov:
toy se sqglasyava da pomaga finansovo na bqlgarskata kultura pri
edno uslovie: che ezikqt. makar gramaticheski da e osnovan na
trevnenskoto narechie, shte vklyuchi cherti na gabrovskite govori
kato "me, te, se" vmesto "mq, tq, sq" ("vidyah te", ne "vidyah
tq"), ili generaliziraniya imenitelen/vinitelen padej za jenski
rod ("glava" a ne "glavq") i t.n.
Po tazi tochka sa zabelejitelni dve yavleniya: pqrvoto e, che
nashite sqnarodnici ot Makedoniya se otnasyat hladno kqm rannata
rusifikaciya na ezika. Tova e po-skoro grqcko, otkolkoto srqbsko
kulturno vliyanie. Te sa na mnenie, che bqlgarskite, a ne ruskite
cqrkovni knigi tryabva da se izpolzvat kato iztochnik na
slovotvorchestvo, i che folklorqt tryabva da bqde moshten
iztochnik pri oformyaneto na ezika. Spomnete si za bratyata
Miladinovci i tyahnoto delo. Vtoroto yavlenie mojem uslovno da
narechem "Dyado Petko Rachov Slaveykov". Grupa bqlgari v Carigrad
rabotyat nad prevoda na protestantskata bibliya. Te tqrsyat
iztochnik za oformyaneto na ezika v narodnata novobqlgarska
literatura, glavno "damaskinite", i derivacionnite sposobi na
razlichni bqlgarski dialekti. Kolko jalko, che tozi imenno -
spored mene - pravilen podhod ne stana dominirasht.
Poslednata golyama pobeda v rusifikatorite na bqlgarskiya ezik
idva prez nyakolkoto godini na ruskata administraciya na
osvobodena Bqlgariya. Chrez uchilishtnata i
dqrjavno-administrativnata sistema te uspyavat za mnogo kratqk
srok da rusificirat leksicheski i semantichno, do neuznavaemost,
knijovniya bqlgarski ezik. V tazi oblast naprimer nishto ne e
pisano za vliyanieto na mitnicheskata slujba v leksikalnoto
oformyane na ezika (samo u Aleko: "dayte mi mene Solunskata
mitnica...!"). Eto primer: pristiga ot Avstro-Ungariya pratka s
"pironi", no mitnicharyat, po instrukciya otgore, pishe
"gvozdei". Mnogo ot rusizmite, vlezli po onova vreme v
bqlgarski, sa izcheznali, ili izchezvat, v ruski: "rasilen"
("baycho") ot "raz-syl'nyi", t.e. chovek, koyto se razprashta po
drebni zadachi, kurier; "lepya" (ottam, na bqlgarska osnova -
dumata "lepilo") i t.n.
Tazi dqlga, no mnogo shematichna ekskurziya za osnovata na
sqvremenniya nash knijoven ezik, beshe nujna, za da razberem i
prichinite za ustanovyavaneto na stariya pravopis sqs E-dvoynoto,
shirokoto Q, i ER-golyam i ER-malqk v kraya na dumite.
Pravopisqt, ustanoven ot ruskata shkola v Bqlgariya sledva mnogo,
mnogo tyasno oficialniya ruski pravopis ot onova vreme.
Izklyucheniyata sa malko, bukvata "yota" (spomnete si "Ivancho
Yotata"); ima sqshto izklyucheniya v tretiraneto na predstavkite
i sufiksite.
Sreshtu principite, na koito e osnovan stariyat ruski pravipis,
NE vqzrazyavat i pochti nikoi nashi vqzrojdenci ot makedonskite
zemi. Tezi principi sa ujasno udobni za obedinyavaneto na VSICHKI
bqlgarski dialekti v knijovniya ni ezik. Prosti primeri: za
E-dvoyno, "bel-beli", "byal-beli", "byal-byali". Ili oshte
poveshe za "shirokoto Q" i ER-ovete v kraya na dumite: "pQt'-"
(apostrofqt oznachava "ER-malqk") se proiznasya v dialektite kato
"pqt", "pat", "pot" i daje "put", a malkiyat ER v kraya na dumata
pokazva palatalizaviyata v "pQt'-qt" i staroto dvoystveno chislo
vqv formata "kolko pQt-i".
No bqlgarskata uchebna sistema izpitva zatrudnieniya, oshte ot
samoto nachalo, s tozi pravopis. Negovoto ovladyavane iziskva
po-shiroka lingvistichna kultura (ili poznaniya na nyakolko
dialekta, ili na Cqrkovno-slavyanski, ili na ruski). Moje bi
glavnata prichina za tova e NE-nastoyavaneto za uednakven
pravogovor na knijovniya bqlgarski, t.e., pishi "bEl", a
proiznasyay ili "byal", ili "bel". Za lipsata na pqrvonachalni
normi na izgovaryane po onova vreme, kogato oshte nyama radio i
TV, ima seriozni osnovaniya - zapadnite i yujnite bqlgarski
dialekti.
I zatova oshte ot nachaloto na bqlgaristikata zapochvat sporovete
mejdu "progresivnite", glavno ot Severo-iztochna Bqlgariya, i
"reakcionerite", glavno ot Zapadna Bqlgariya, trakiyskite i
makedonskite zemi. "Progresivnite" tvqrdyat, che bqlgarskiyat
pravopis, ako se napravi "fonetichen" kato srqbskiya, shtyal da
stane dostqpen do vsichki (neshto kato Rab-Fak). "Reakcionerite",
koito sa rugani kato "elitisti", "konservatori", "otkqsnati ot
naroda", "stroeshti kuli ot slonova kost" i t.n. nablyagat na
chetiri momenta: 1) obedinyavashtite cherti na pravopisa za
vsichki bez izklyuchenie bqlgarski dialekti; 2) priemstvenostta
i posledovatelnostta v bqlgarskata nacionalna kultura prez
vekovete; 3) problemite s tqy narechenite "fonetichni principi" -
kqde spirame s "fonetichniya, naroden" pravopis - "hlyab",
"lyab", hleb", "leb" "hlyap", "lep" i t.n?: i 4-to - no mnogo
vajno: poznavatelnite cherti na pravopisa (kogato edna duma ne
meni graficheskiya si oblik v razlichni gramaticheski formi, tya
se vqzpriema po-bqrzo i s po-malko usiliya ot uma na
chetyashtiya, ili s drugi dumi - tekstove s
etimologichno-morfologicheski pravopisi se chetat i vqzpriemat
po-bqrzo i lesno ot tekstove s fonetichni pravopisi.
Zemedelcite na Stamboliyski napraviha pqrviya kratkotraen, i to
mnogo nespoluchliv opit, da reformirat pravopisa. Osven
narodnyashkite im tvqrdeniya, te yavno imaha predvid doblijavane
na bqlgarskoto pismo do srqbskoto s ogled na edna eventualna
Yugoslavska federaciya.
Komunisticheskata reforma imashe chisto ideologicheski harakter i
beshe absolyutno nepodgotvena v lingvistichno otnoshenie. Tya
predi vsichko beshe motivirana kato podrajanie na bolshevishkata
pravopisna reforma (nali pomnite dumite v Internacionala, shte
razrushim tozi svyat napqlno). Posledstvieto ottuk tryabvashe da
bqde grafichesko priblijavane na ruski i bqlgarski.
Tova, koeto veche se spomena sa pisheshtite mashini, ne e shega -
bqlgarskite komunisti gotveha da izolirat Bqlgariya napqlno ot
Zapada, i sledovatelno tehnicheskata baza tryabvashe da se gradi
na sqvetskata promishlenost - pisheshti mashini i pechatarski
inventar.
Imashe oshte edna cel - da se prekqsne kulturnata vrqzka na
novite pokoleniya sqs starite bqlgarski knigi. Psihologicheski,
kniga sqs "star" pravopis tryabva da sqzdava u "homo sovieticus"
emocionalna bariera pri vqzpriemaneto na teksta: "tova e neshto
chujdo", "stranno", "ustaryalo", s drugi dumi, ne si zaslujava
vnimanieto i usiliyata da vnikna v tezi "stari" idei.
Ne na posledno myasto (makar i ne kato postavena cel), beshe
efektqt na smyanata na pravopisa - nashite polu-gramotni drugari
mojeha da opravdavat grubite si pravopisni greshki i lipsata na
elementarna ezikova kultura s noviya pravopis, koyto "ne bili
uchili v uchilishte".
Sega, tolkova godini sled komunisticheskata pravopisna reforma,
bqlgarite obshto vzeto ne znayat oficialniya pravopis na
stranata. Ot opit moga da kaja, che povechete bqlgaristi, koito
nyamat specialnata podgotovka na korektori, pravyat grubi
pravopisni greshki. Osven tova tozi "oprosten" pravopis dovede do
vseobsht kulturen nihilizqm - kolko bqlgari postoyanno se
konsultirat s rechnici, bilo to pravopisni ili tqlkovni? A
principite, izkovani nabqrzo sled Deveti septemvri, na koito se
gradi segashniyat pravopis, sa tolkova protivorechivi, che ne bez
osnovanie daje bqlgaristite ne znayat pravopisa.
Ima li izhod ot tova polojenie?
Az ne vyarvam, che restavraciya na stariya pravopis e
prakticheski vqzmojna, makar che lichno bih ya podkrepil sqs
vsichki sili. Vqzstanovyavane na do-komunisticheskiya pravopis, s
nyakoi neznachitelni izmeneniya i utochneniya po liniyata na
predlaganite promeni ot pokoyniya Stefan Mladenov, shte napravyat
bqlgarskiya pravopis otnovo instrument v okulturyavane na
naciyata. A psihologicheski, toy shte kazva na bqdnite
pokoleniya, che vrqzkata s do-komunisticheskata kultura e
vqzsatovena, dokato povecheto ot tova, koeto e pisano na
"komunisticheski, naroden" pravopis, e staro, nevyarno i chujdo
(da izpolzvame tyahnoto orqjie).
Edin drug faktor e, che dneshnoto pokolenie bqlgarski ezikovedi
sa zaangajirani s tozi pravopis, i mnogo malko ot tyah
chistosqrdechno shte se sastqpvat za restavraciya na stariya.
Az mislya, ce po-skoro, pravopisqt shte se doutochnyava i
doizkusuryava, kakto e praveno prez poslednite pet desetiletiya.
Tova, koeto obache ne e praveno, a tryabva da se pravi, e
nablyagane v obrazovatelnata sistema na seriozno izuchavane na
pravopisa. V Bqlgariya prez tezi desetiletiya e praveno mnogo
malko za rafinirane na ezikovata kultura na decata. A pravopisqt,
poneje nikoga ne moje da e sqvqrshen, tryabva da stane chrez
mnogo usiliya chast ot kulturata na choveka. Kolkoto po-dobre
chovek znae pravopisa, tolkova po-bqrzo i lesno chete (a ne si
mqrda ustnite, dokato chete, kato babite i dyadovcite po selata).
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 13: ART AND CULTURE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13-1 Bulgarian Cinema
(by Valentin Todorov)
THE BULGARIAN CINEMA - CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES
Copyright (c) 1993 by Val Todorov, all rights
reserved. This text may be freely shared among
individuals, but it may not be republished in any
medium without express written consent from the author.
"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."
This Mark Twain quotation, which in the given context refers to the
new Bulgarian cinema as a whole, opens a review on one of the most recent
films released in the country. It is symptomatic that the movie is a debut. It
is also symptomatic that this is a debut by a professional with more than 20
years experience in the industry. "Shrove Sunday" (Sirna nedelja) is written
and directed by Radoslav Spassov, a veteran in the cameramen's guild.
However, before examining particular trees in the changing film flora of the
new political, cultural and economic climate, let's throw a quick glance at
the whole wood.
. Death?
Rumors of the death of the Bulgarian cinema, although exaggerated, are
not groundless at all. After the fall of the socialist rule in November 1989
and the first free elections in June 1990, not only was Georgi Dimitrov's
mummy taken out of his Stalinist Mausoleum and burned to ashes, but the
whole film industry -- with its totalitarian structure based exclusively on the
state support and control -- virtually collapsed. It did not happen in a day.
The process was long and painful, as if in slow motion, and its last shot of
total distraction was taken somewhere in the beginning of 1992, although
other chain-reactions of disintegration still linger on. After the clouds of dust
settled, the aftermath was found to be a rather mournful and devastating
sight.
Ten years ago Ronald Holloway in his book "The Bulgarian Cinema"
wrote: "The Boyana Studios at the foot of Mount Vitosha turn out a feature
film a week for cinemas or television. The annual breakdown is about equal:
twenty-five for movie screens and the same for the TV tube. This is in
addition to another twenty-five animated films, and over two hundred shorts
and documentaries."
Now: In the last year only five feature films were released. In total, the
films produced in 1992 are 12.8 times less than in 1987.
Ten years ago: "There are approximately thirty-six hundred cinemas in
the country."
Now: There are 319 cinemas in the country. Over the last five years,
the number of the cinemas has decreased 8.6 times, which is particularly
tragic in the villages and small towns where the decrease is up to 29 times.
Even in the capital Sofia only 18 cinemas remain open.
Ten years ago: "Each moviegoer is reckoned to attend the movies on an
average of ten to thirteen times a year."
Now: For the last five years, the attendance has been reduced 4.2 times
-- each moviegoer attended an average of nine movies in 1987, and only
two in 1992.
Ten years ago: "A sprawling complex, the Boyana Studios are referred
to as "film city" by the local population. Nearly all of the technical facilities
are housed under one roof, the staff including over nine thousand qualified
employees."
Now: "In the transitional period the staff has been reduced to 250
compared with the 1,500 who were formerly employed," says Mikhail
Kirkov. "The result of our financial reconstruction, from a government
institution to a private company, is still unknown."
Ten years ago: "When one considers that as late as 1953 only one
feature film was produced a year, the growth of the Bulgarian film industry
is astonishing, to say the least." Especially, keeping in mind that this is a
country smaller than Pennsylvania with a population less than nine million.
Now: When one considers that as recent as 1988 seventy-two full-
length films (20 features, 26 for TV and 26 documentaries), fifty-seven
animated and more than four hundred other shorts were produced, the
collapse of the Bulgarian film industry is astonishing, to say the least.
When I was trying to do a research for this paper, the answer to my
question, what was the current situation of the Bulgarian cinema, more
often than not was, "What Bulgarian cinema?" This answer was given by
ordinary moviegoers, film buffs and even some professionals. Total apathy
and disinterested pessimism to the subject abounded. The first and probably
the largest video distributor on the country, ironically called "Bulgarian
Video", does not hold any Bulgarian title produced since the fall of the
socialist rule. It is practically impossible to find a video copy of any recent
Bulgarian film.
Although in 1992 one hundred fifty-nine new films opened in the
cinemas around the country, and five of them were Bulgarian (compared
with 99 films from the USA and 53 from Europe), it seemed that most of
the people did not notice them. Paradoxically, it seemed that most of the
people, consciously or not, accepted the notion that the Bulgarian cinema
was some kind of by-product of the socialist cultural practice, which
therefore naturally disappeared with this ideology for good.
. NFC
In such circumstances, the question about the mere existence of the
subject of this paper is absolutely legitimate. What then was the moderate
optimism of the critic quoting Mark Twain based on? If one could answer in
only three letters, the answer would be NFC. The National Film Center was
founded on June 6, 1991, but it gathered momentum in the first half of
1992 when the National Commissions started their work.
"Cinema was the first part of Bulgarian culture to adjust to the new
market economy, so obviously we confronted some big problems," says
Dimiter Dereliev, the managing director of the Center. "From a state
monopoly we had to create a private business, and to support both
production and distribution. Before the political changes there were no
independent producers, so we had to initiate a whole profession -- people
who were willing to take personal initiatives, as well as responsibilities. At
the same time we wanted to establish a subsidy system where the NFC,
unlike the Organization of Bulgarian Cinematography, should not make the
decisions about where to place production money."
On the highly politicized landscape of the Bulgarian society, it was
predictable that the question of power would be crucial to the structures and
modus operandi of the new Film Center. In a way, the architects of the new
legislation, which made the Center possible, mimicked the metastructures of
the state power and its separation -- legislative body, executive authority
and judiciary control. The panic fear of eventual recurrence of any
totalitarian forms of monopoly or centralized control put the emphasis on the
separation of powers in the Center itself. "The most important thing that
had and have to be done is separating the powers and imposing the free
market principles," says Georgi Cholakov from the NFC.
The power differentiation has been achieved by founding the National
Commissions for feature movies, documentaries and animated films. They
play the role of legislative bodies of the national film production,
determining which of the film projects will receive state subsidy, and the
amount. Each commission for allocation of state subsidy includes nine
members who are elected by the Union of the Bulgarian Filmmakers, the
Ministry of Culture, the Producers' Association, the Distributors' Association
and the Ministry of the Finances.
The National Film Center itself plays the role of an executive body: it
contracts with the producers of the projects, chosen by the commissions, and
secures every particular funding. Usually, the Center provides half of the
budget of the approved production, which might sound like a generous
percentage, but bear in mind that even a national hit can not cover more
than 10% of its production and distribution costs. This is also the main
reason why the founders of the Center based their concept on the French
model of partial state subsidy rather than on the principles of total free
market regulations. No national film industry in Europe could survive even a
year without some financial state support. And this is even more true for
such a small country as Bulgaria.
Finally, the Minister of Culture, who controls the activities of the NFC
and the commissions, plays the role of a supervising body in the system of
film funding, producing and distributing. In such a way, the separation of
power is secured, at least on paper, and the threatening phantom of a near
totalitarian past has been exorcised out of the Bulgarian film industry. At
least the enthusiasts who stand behind the NFC believe this is so. However,
the more important questions remain: Does the new system really work?
What are its achievements until now? What are its new projects? Are there
any alternatives to it?
. Alternatives
Yes, there were, and there are, attempts for film productions outside of
the Center's aegis. For example, Sergei Komitski's "A Bullet for Paradise"
(Kurshum za raja), produced by the director's brother, opened on May 1,
1992. It was the first independent film after a forty-five year wide hiatus in
the private producers' business, and was entirely funded with Roumen
Komitski's own investments.
The story of a young shepherd, who accidentally becomes involved in
the struggle for national liberation at the turn of the century, does not limit
itself to the popular formulas of the "Eastern", but also tries to analyze the
mechanisms of the power and to revise some ethnopsychological myths of
the region. Although the movie received favorable critical reviews and
relatively positive viewers' response, it turned out to be a financial disaster
for its producer. The reason was stated above: it is virtually impossible to
cover the production costs only from the national distribution.
Another example is "The Alchemist's Dream" (Mechtata na alhimika) by
Rangel Vulchanov who did refuse state subsidy from the Center and turned
the project into an entirely French production. In fact, the system of
European co-productions, with more or less foreign money involved, is the
only reasonable alternative to the NFC system of support. Although the
Center contributed to the production of eight new features with public
money last year, it is more than willing to encourage international funds for
Bulgarian projects. As a result, at least three recent movies are French co-
productions.
Considering the fact that its own budget is very limited, the Center
worked hard and managed to make Bulgaria the third East European
member of Eurimages after Poland and Hungary. Eurimages is an all-
European fund that financially supports co-productions between its members.
In the first three years of its existence, the Fund supported one hundred and
one European co-productions, providing 12% of their funding. "A very
important part of our job is to secure Bulgaria a role in the international film
society," says Dereliev. "Now we also hope to get access to the MEDIA
program." MEDIA is a financial program of the European Community and
its goal is encoded in the abbreviation itself: Measures to Encourage the
Development of the Industry of Audiovisual Production. A year ago, the EC
experts counted Bulgaria as a surprising sleeper where the processes of
restructuring of the film industry were running at a faster pace compared
with the other East European countries.
The National Film Center tries to support not only the ninety-three new
private producers as an undoubted demiurge of their current occupation, but
to assist the Boyana Studios in its painful transformation and reconstruction,
as well. For now, it seems that the only way for the Balkans' largest studio
complex to escape extinction is to set up joint ventures with foreign
companies. And indeed, last year no fewer than eleven foreign companies
commissioned the Boyana to produce bigger or smaller parts of their new
films. Primary European productions were sent to Bulgaria, but the
American doyen of B-movies, Roger Corman, said in 1990 that he would
consider shooting all of his films in Bulgaria. His first two movies shot in
the country were "Death Stalker IV" and "Queen of the Barbarians III".
"The average budget for a film in Bulgaria is five to six million levs
(currently, $1=28 levs), but with official salaries as low as twelve hundred
levs per month, it can cover a lot of labor. Most important, though, is that
we deliver work of a quality that matches international standards. This is
confirmed by the foreign directors, such as Steven Spielberg, who have shot
here or sent for, say, Bulgarian animators." To these words of Mikhail
Kirkov, chief of Cadence Animation, which is part of the Boyana Studios, I
may add only that the actual salaries of film professionals are rather several
times higher.
. New Releases
Last year 26 million levs of state subsidy was contributed by the NCF,
while this year approximately 50 million levs of government money will be
allocated for production. Last year, with only five films released, was the
transitional year for the national film industry. First there were Ivan
Balevski's "Palpitation" (Aritmija) and Georgi Popvassilev's "Bad Boy"
(Losho momche), two debuts and probably the last films produced within the
old structures, followed by the totally independent "Bullet for Paradise",
mentioned above. Then the first premiere nursed by the Center came on
September 21, 1992, and it was "Vampires and Spooks" (Vampiri, talasymi)
by Ivan Andonov -- a veteran director, actor and animator, whose previous
films are famous for their record box-office takings.
In his last work, the director strives once again to respond to the
popular demands and the mores of the day, like he did many times before
with his "Dreamers" (Mechtateli, 1986), a period piece about the founders of
the Bulgarian Socialist Party at the turn of the century; "Yesterday"
(Vchera, 1987), a nostalgic trip with an angry young man and his
conformist fellows in the heat of the Beatle-mania; and "Adios Rio" (Adio
Rio, 1989), a bitter satire on the new middle-class and its moral decay in
the age of perestroika. Now Ivan Andonov sends us back to 1945 in a small
town where the communists have already seized the power and start
establishing the "new order". That time of chaos turns into a grotesque
carnival of tragedy and slapstick, terror and folly, desperate souls and ghosts
from the past, searching the answer of one and the same question: "When
will the communists be gone?" The film, which is about a faded actress who
tries to survive by all possible means including a faked photograph of her
with... Georgi Dimitrov's dog in order to pass for a communist activist,
explores the moral dilemmas of dignity and betrayal, the twisted relationship
between artist and power.
The next two projects supported financially by the NFC were Peter
Popzlatev's second effort "Something in the Air" (Neshto vyv vyzduha), a
co-production with Arion Production, France, and Radoslav Spassov's
"Shrove Sunday, a Day of Forgiveness" (Sirna nedelja), which opened on
February 26, 1993. The theme of the film is explicated in its title -- do we
have the right of absolution after all? And the sin to be forgiven is the same
one as in "Vampires and Spooks" -- the sin of compromise.
The story of Angel, a typical man of circumstances, ragamuffin and
conformist, gambler and coward, dreamer and pragmatist, is set in the 50s,
during the Personality Cult. The protagonist is constantly torn between good
intentions and inevitable betrayals. The film is designed to point out and
explore all the political taboos of the period -- the forcible nationalization,
the youth-brigade movement, the Secret services, the gulags -- but the critic
Karin Yanakieva suggests the film is in danger of falling victim to its own
urge to deliver answers, as these answers verge on being predictable. In his
directorial debut, Radoslav Spassov appears to be mostly influenced by
Georgi Djulgerov -- a master of the Bulgarian cinema he worked for as a
director of photography for more than twenty years.
The next films to be released this year are Ilian Simeonov's and
Hristian Nochev's "Frontier" (Granica), Rumyana Petkova's "Burn, Burn
Little Fire" (Gori, gori ogynche) and Rangel Vulchanov's "The Alchemist's
Dream" (Mechtata na alhimika). The first two probe in the same painful
problems of the near past -- guilt, compromise, betrayed ideals. "Frontier"
depicts life in a distant frontier post, so close to the barbered-wire fences on
the border, too far away from the freedom of choice; life that is valued and
measured in days on furlough. A film about a lost generation and their
burnt out romantic ideals is the last work of Rumyana Petkova, a prominent
feminist director. "Burn, Burn Little Fire" takes place in a small Muslim
town in the Rhodope Mountains in the 60's. It feels as if the town is sealed
up, so in the carbon dioxide of hatred and prejudice men can hardly breathe
and little flames of hope are almost choked out.
On the other hand, Rangel Vulchanov, the Bulgarian Federico Fellini, in
another French production delivers a new tale in his trade-mark style of
political allegories and magical trips, which gave the name to the whole first
period of the Bulgarian cinema -- the cinema of poetics. "The Alchemist's
Dream" is the small world of Monsieur Michael who tries with his
hairdresser's magic to help the dwellers of that Balkan Macondo entangled
in provincial intrigues of love and envy. Almost a quarter of century after
Vulchanov made his "Aesop" (1970) and despite the fact that now the
Aesopic language is not the only possible syntax to declare one's vision, the
film easily falls in this same metaphorical and didactic trend, a trend which
the director maintains in the last ten years with "Last Wishes" (Posledni
zhelanija, 1983), "Where Are You Going?" (Zakyde pytuvate, 1986), "Where
Do We Go" (A sega nakyde?, 1988) and "Love is a Willful Bird" (Nemirnata
ptica ljubov, 1990).
Four full-length documentaries were also released this year: Henri
Koulev's "Sea in the Middle of the Earth" (More v sredata na Zemjata),
which was initially produced as TV series about the Mediterranean, "The
Doomed" (Obrechenite), "Citadel" (Citadelata) and "Tales of Assassins"
(Razkazi za ubijci).
Currently in Production. And there are several other feature films
currently in production: Dimiter Petkov's "Jehovah Ire (God Shall Decide)"
(Jehova-ire) is a period piece about the construction of the first railroad in
Bulgaria, but also about the eternal myth of the tyrant, the sin and God's
retribution set in an unknown small town. Krassimir Kroumov's "The
Forbidden Fruit" (Zabranenijat plod) is also rooted deeply in a mythological
plot of betrayal, revenge and patricide, while Kiran Kolarov's "The Golden
Chain" (Zlatnata veriga) spins a contemporary love story with an unusual
protagonist -- a sergeant from the Red berets. Ivan Nichev's "Love Dreams"
(Ljubovni synishta) is a rite of passage film based on several Stefan Zweig's
novelettes, and Georgi Djulgerov's "Magdalena" (Magdalena) attempts to
speak openly about the problems of the Gypsies' minority in Bulgaria. Two
other projects are set in the eighteenth century: Docho Bodjakov's epic
period saga "Vendetta" (Otmyshtenieto) and Nikolai Volev's remake of the
most successful Bulgarian film ever "The Goat Horn" (Kozijat rog). And
finally, Nidal Algafari's "La Donna e Mobile" about two disabled girls is a
melodrama with half-humorous, half-serious ambitions for an Oscar in the
spring of 1994.
Place on the Map. The Bulgarian producers and directors' almost
desperate and often tragicomic urge for international recognition deserves
some respect rather than taunt. This urge is not provoked by an inferiority
complex or provincial megalomania; it comes with the scary knowledge that
finding a place on the map of the world cinema is not only a question of
prestige but of survival. The economic situation in the country and the logic
of the free market mechanisms condemn to extinction films and directors
who could not gain international producers, critics, distributors and
moviegoers' interest. Paradoxically, on the other hand, such eventual
international attention would induce the home audiences to attend these new
Bulgarian films, boosting them on a rather skeptical and cynical national
market.
. Historical Context
For it is important to know not only the spatial but also the temporal
coordinates of the subject in order to project its future trajectory, at least a
simplified historical reference system should be provided. Although films
have been produced in Bulgaria since 1915, Rangel Vulchanov's "On the
Small Island" (Na malkija ostrov, 1958) may be selected as a point of
reference -- the first Bulgarian film that received international recognition.
Green Years. Ronald Holloway labels that first period of astonishing
growth as the "Green years". The Bulgarian film revival was the age of
"poetic realism" and continued until the early 70's, although it reached its
zenith in the middle 60's. The decline of that "new wave" was predetermined
by the chilling after the short "thaw" of the Khrushchev era, and initiated by
putting Binka Zhelyazkova's "The Attached Balloon" (Privyrzanijat balon,
1967) and three other films on the shelf.
The last significant film from this period was Todor Dinov and Hristo
Hristov's "Iconostasis" (Ikonostasyt, 1969). Set in the nineteenth century
during the Bulgarian Renaissance under the Turks, the film follows the
woodcarver Rafe through the same agonies of decision that charged Andrei
Tarkovsky's film biography of a Russian icon painter, "Andrei Rublev". "An
allegory on the times, the story itself sketched in broad terms the dilemma
facing the committed film artist, whose projects have to be approved by
bureaucrats committed to the staid formula of socialist realism in the
scenario." The visually strongest moment is "when the discouraged icon-
painter enters the Bachkovo Monastery to receive inspiration from the
frescoes painted on the refectory walls back in 1606," Ronald Holloway
writes, revealing his fascination.
During this first period of the Bulgarian cinema of poetics, the first
generation of directors made their debuts and often their most important
films. Their biographies can be found in the second chapter of Holloway's
book; here, just for the record, is a list of the names of a few, arguably the
most notable ones.
First Generation:
Borislav Sharaliev (1922); Zako Heskia (1922); Vulo Radev (1923);
Binka Zhelyazkova (1923); Hristo Ganev (1924); Nikola Korabov
(1926);
Hristo Hristov (1926); Hristo Piskov (1927); Rangel Vulchanov (1928)
Red years. The second period (1971-1983) can be called the "Red
years" of Bulgarian cinema, a term which is emotionally charged and yet
symbolic enough to be perceived just as a signifier outside of its contextual
definition. Holloway himself uses the term "the Pissarev years", referring to
Pavel Pissarev, who was general director of the Organization of Bulgarian
Cinematography in the 70's -- a typical bias, for this otherwise accurate
author, towards the overestimating of the role of higher socialist
aparatchiks, such as Pavel Pissarev and Lyudmila Zhivkova, in the artistic
developments of Bulgarian cinema. Strangely, it resembles the approach of
royal or party historians who interpreted national history as the personal
history of the monarchs or party leaders whom they were serving.
Unfortunately, this inclination has been literally replicated by other scholars
who did not have opportunity or personal interest for research on their own.
This period of maturity has two high points. The first one is 1972 when
Metodi Andonov completed "The Goat Horn" (Kozijat rog). The film, made
in the style of ancient tragedy, explores the problem of gender identity and
has brought one third of the whole Bulgarian population into the theaters.
Set in the eighteenth century, it is a story of a girl who, after her mother's
rape and death, is raised as a boy by her father and becomes a haiduk -- an
avenger and defender of the villagers in the mountain. However, the genuine
breakthrough of Bulgarian cinema on the world film stage occurred in 1977-
79: Binka Zhelyazkova's "The Swimming Pool" (Basejnyt) won a Gold
Medal at the Moscow Film Festival in 1977, Georgi Djulgerov's "Advantage"
(Avantazh), about a con man and pickpocket during the age of the
Personality Cult, won the Silver Bear for direction at the Berlin Film
Festival in 1978, and Rangel Vulchanov's masterpiece "The Uknown
Soldier's Patent Leather Shoes" (Lachenite obuvki na neznajnija voin), "a
lyrical poem in an autobiographical vein on a fading peasant culture and the
irretrievable past", opened the London Film Festival in 1979 and then won a
Grand Prix at New Delhi.
The last recognition of Bulgarian cinema was at the Venice festival in
1983 with Vesselin Branev's "Hotel Central" (Hotel central), about an
innocent young girl from the provinces, who is mistakenly arrested, during a
period of political paranoia after the coup d'etat in 1934, and brought to a
hotel to serve as a chambermaid -- to be used and abused as the town
prostitute for all in power. She manages, however, to survive morally and
unmask the corruption of those about her.
After that the Bulgarian cinema had been buried under the dinosaurs'
corpses of several epic mega-spectacles, produced to mark the thirteen-
hundredth anniversary of Bulgaria as a state. One of them, Lyudmil
Staikov's three-part epic extravaganza "Khan Asparukh" (Han Asparuh) -- a
shortened English version "681 A.D.--The Glory of Khan" (1984) was
released by Warner Brothers -- was memorable only because it was the
most expensive film in the national film history with its cast of thousands,
its elaborate costumes and massive scenes, and because it somehow
managed to gather eleven million viewers (!!) in a country with a total
population of nine million. Ironically, this world record in per capita
attendance put an end to the second period of Bulgarian cinema and threw
it into a decade of lingering crisis.
With the same reservations stated above, here is a list of the second
generation of film directors:
Second Generation:
Metodi Andonov (1932); Lyudmil Kirkov (1933); Ivan Terziev (1934);
Ivan Andonov (1934); Lyudmil Staikov (1937); Edward Zahariev (1938);
Georgi Stoyanov (1939); Mariana Evstatieva (1939); Nikola Rudarov;
Ivan Nichev (1940); Georgi Djulgerov (1943); Ivanka Grubcheva
(1946)
Black Years. Continuing the ritual of color codification, one may paint
the sad mask of the last decade black. "Why the bottom should have
suddenly fallen out of Bulgarian cinema at a time when it had definitely
reached maturity is solely a matter of speculation," writes Ronald Holloway.
Putting aside his somewhat naive speculations, but also refusing to go into
lengthy analyses, let it simply be proposed that the ultimate reason which
led Bulgarian cinema to its slow decadence is the same that later brought
the whole socialist system to collapse in the country, and all over Eastern
Europe, rather than some personal changes in the corridors of power.
Although "even the better films seemed 'old hat' in comparison to those
produced during the previous decade", this period is important for the
emergence of a third generation of directors. This is the first generation of
film directors who graduated from the Sofia Film and Theater Academy
(VITIS); Nikolai Volev, an internationally recognized documentarist
graduated in London, and Henri Koulev, a controversial animator graduated
in Moscow. Another is Peter Popzlatev, who graduated in Paris. All are
counted here because their major feature works were produced in the 80's.
Third Generation:
Nikolai Volev (1946); Kiran Kolarov (1946); Ivan Pavlov (1947);
Henri Koulev (1949); Evgeni Mihailov; Peter Popzlatev (1953);
Iskra Yossifova (1954); Rumyana Petkova; Lyudmil Todorov (1955);
Krassimir Kroumov (1955); Docho Bodjakov (1956)
Some of the more memorable films of the decade are the debuts or
second works of these young directors: Rumyana Petkova's "Coming Down
to Earth" (Prizemjavane, 1985) and Iskra Yossifova's "Love Therapy"
(Ljubovna terapija, 1987) -- two genuine feminist works; Chaim Cohen's
"Protect the Small Animals" (Zashtitete drebnite zhivotni, 1988); Ivan
Rossenov's "Stop for Strangers" (Spirka za nepoznati, 1989) -- an entry in
the New School Cinema in Transition Festival in New York 1993; Peter
Popzlatev's "I, The Countess" (Az, Grafinjata, 1989) -- a chronicle of a
junkie's life that won at least five international awards; Lyudmil Todorov's
"Running Dogs" (Bjagashti kucheta, 1989) and "The Love Summer of a
Schmo" (Ljubovnoto ljato na edin ljohman, 1990) -- a charming reunion film,
full of nostalgia and recollections about a missing friend who committed
suicide; Krassimir Kroumov's "Exitus" (Ekzitus, 1989) and "Waste"
(Mylchanieto, 1991) -- two somber political and moral allegories which mark
a bright new talent's rise on the Bulgarian film horizon; Docho Bodjakov's
"Thou Which Art in Heaven" (Ti, kojto si na nebeto; 1990) and "The Well"
(Kladenecyt, 1991) -- another entry in the New School Cinema in Transition
Festival, and another hot name on the list of the most significant Bulgarian
filmmakers.
These third genaration directors and some of their older colleagues --
Nikolai Volev, Georgi Djulgerov, Ivan Andonov, Rangel Vulchanov -- who
appear to be revitalized by the new challenges the Bulgarian film artist is
facing, are nourishing the hope that the "White years" are almost here.
Periods of Bulgarian cinema:
I. Green years (1958-1970)
II. Red years (1971-1983)
III. Black years (1984-?)
IV. White years ?
. Character and Soul
What are, however, the essential characteristics of the Bulgarian
cinema, which could help it get closer to, or, on the contrary, further away
from the European limelight, after decades of life in the basements and the
sterile studies of a Balkan totalitarianism? What is the "history of the
disease" which has brought the national film industry to its painful
mutations? And can the x-rays of its new body verify the existence of soul
and free will for new life?
Theatricality. Ronald Holloway refers to the Bulgarian Literary
Revival of the past century, trying to explain why "the theatrical narrative
dominates over visual expression for the Bulgarian film artist." It is not
necessary to dig so deep into the past to see that the film industry of the
country was built as a superstructure of a strong theatrical tradition.
Because of the late, in fact repeated, start of the national film production in
the fifties, the first directors, actors and writers came directly from the
theater. The same situation can be seen once again on the academic level in
the second period of the Bulgarian cinema, when the Film School was
founded and attached to the Sofia Academy of Dramatic Art in 1973. The
first graduates of the school made their debuts in the early eighties.
Several other factors contributed to this orientation of Bulgarian cinema.
Three very influential writers -- Angel Wagenstein, Valeri Petrov and
Yordan Radichkov -- put an emphasis on the narrative rather than on the
visual style of the films in that initial period. Finally, the social and political
imperatives of the day determined a greater concern with the text of the
script, which was the explicit bearer of the ideological message. From the
point of view of the ultimate film producer, the State, it was much easier to
comprehend, control and eventually censor the narrative than to deal with a
much more complex and ambiguous cinematic language. As in the
Hollywood studio system during that time, the director was not an artist,
but rather an artisan, while the producer was the quintessential author of
the final product, be it propaganda or mere entertainment.
Nowadays, in the end of the third major period of Bulgarian cinema, it
is ridiculous to insist that theatricality is one of its dominant distinctions,
though the birth-marks of a pathetic loquacity and some theatrical structural
and temporal peculiarities -- for example, a notably slower pace -- can still
be spotted now and then.
Allegorical Expressionism. Ironically, this second and most
significant attribute of the subject was developed as a reaction to the first
one and the mechanisms which stood behind it. The most talented directors
of the first generation -- Rangel Vulchanov, Binka Zhelyazkova, Hristo
Ganev and Hristo Piskov -- partially influenced by la politique des auteurs,
partially trying to create their own way of expression not easily susceptible
to censorship, defined with their early works a "cinema of poetics", a poetic
realism which was compared with Italian neo-realism, with the Polish School
of Andrzej Wajda and Andrzej Munk, and with the Hungarian films of
Zoltan Fabri. The milestones of that Bulgarian School were: On the Small
Island (1958), We Were Young (1961), Sun and Shadow (1962), The
Peach Thief (1964), The Attached Balloon (1967) and Iconostasis (1969).
Later on, in the seventies, in the age of political cynicism and
disillusionment, the language of the Bulgarian cinema of poetics deteriorated
from its lyrical stance to much a more allegorical and ironic one. The
philosophic and moral parables, political allegories and bitter satires proved
to be the most durable genre in the last two decades. The Hare Census
(1973), Cricket in the Ear (1976), Cyclops (1976), The Swimming Pool
(1977), Panteley (1978), With Love and Tenderness (1978), The Roof
(1978), Short Sun (1979), Barrier (1979), Illusion (1980), The Big Night
Bathe (1980), White Magic (1982), Last Wishes (1983), Where Are You
Going? (1986), Exitus (1989) and Thou Which Art in Heaven (1990) are
just a few examples of this steady trend, while some of the most acclaimed
works of the seventies -- The Advantage (1977) and The Unknown
Soldier's Patent Leather Shoes (1979) -- were late bloomers of the
classical poetic realism from the first period.
Ethnicity. An assiduous explorer of the Bulgarian cultural terrain
should acknowledge, however, that the most important aspect of allegorical
expressionism is its ability to determine not only the past but also the future
of the national film identity. Some critics have made the assumption that
the moral, philosophic and political allegories were just Aesopic tools for
climbing up the totalitarian censorship and, therefore, after its death they
themselves would vanish into thin air; but this assumption is a projection
which is not rooted in the specific cultural realities of the region.
"Indeed, most of Bulgarian cinema only makes sense in juxtaposition
with its vast cultural and national heritage," writes Ronald Holloway. Then
he quotes Vernon Young: "All art is a game played by ethnic rules." The
Bulgarian cinema is no exception. Its allegorical expressionism originates in
the Bulgarian ethno-psychology and folklore, national literature and arts, in
the Eastern Orthodoxy and pagan rites, and in the mythological
Weltansicht, mirrored in a language that employs one and the same word
for "story" and "history".
Some of the negative consequences of the ethnicity, as a significant
characteristic of Bulgarian cinema, were: isolation, nationalism and
provincialism. "The provincial attitudes and values of the overall cultural
atmosphere kept giving renewed support to the convention of schematism
and the mechanism of auto-censorship," wrote Liehm and Liehm two
decades ago. Hopefully, things have since changed for good.
On thematic level this attribute of Bulgarian cinema brought the series
of migration and folkways films from the seventies: A Boy Becomes a Man
(1972), Men without Work (1973), A Tree without Roots (1974), The
Last Summer (1974), Peasant on a Bicycle (1974), Villa Zone (1975),
Strong Water (1975), Matriarchate (1977) and Manly Times (1977). It
gave birth to Georgi Djulgerov's masterpiece Measure for Measure (1981),
but also to a heap of nationalistic historical epics, produced on a gargantuan
scale in the early eighties, which almost suffocated the Bulgarian cinema,
and threw it into its third period of stagnation and lingering crisis.
As a positive effect of the ethnicity of Bulgarian cinema, one could
expect some kind of fascinating artistic uniqueness with much a broader
appeal that eventually would transform the allegorical expressionism in a
trade-mark of excellence. A role model for such a positive shift may be the
Latin American magic realism.
Cosmopolitanism. "She was both a cosmopolitan and a cultural
nationalist," writes Bruce R. S. Litte about Lyudmila Zhivkova in a rather
dubious context, but the phrase is interesting because in some way it
reflects a dominant force in the Bulgarian culture and cinema respectively --
the tension between ethnicity and cosmopolitanism.
Bulgaria, as a small country, was always exposed to alien cultural
influences. In the first half of the century it was the French and German
poetry, art and philosophy, then the Russian literature, cinema and ideology,
later on the Italian neo-realism, French New Wave and the East European
Schools, and now the American blockbusters. (The American share of the
theatrical market was estimated at 95 per cent last year). "It is ironic that
theater schedules in Sofia offer a third of the repertoire to foreign
dramatists, in order to acquaint home audiences with O'Neill and Albee,"
wrote Ronald Holloway ten years ago, "yet American and English audiences
are quite ignorant of the dramas penned by Nikolai Haitov, Valeri Petrov,
and Yordan Radichkov, for the simple reason that no one has even bothered
to translate them into English."
And the next quotation may well be the most accurate observation in
the whole Ronald Holloway's book: "Bulgaria is often reffered to as 'the
Prussia of the Balkans.' It is a land of culture and traditions. As a country
on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, it tends to absorb and reflect
rather than promote or flaunt its own unique national character."
Cosmopolitanism emerges as a reaction of the frustrated Bulgarian artist
against isolationism and provincialism. At its worst, it introduces more or
less successful replicas of famous foreign film and genre samples. At its
best, it leads to unique works of more or less universal significance. This
cosmopolitan quest for eternal human values and issues also stems from the
deep roots of allegorical expressionism. Not surprisingly, most of the films
listed above as moral, philosophic or political allegories abound with
elements of well-known universal myths. Ironically, after forty years floating
in the ideological space of socialist myths, the Bulgarian film artist remains
a modern mythmaker rather than a postmodern mythoclast.
Self-reflexivity. It was well known that the significant works in East
Europe were produced by auteurs with distinguished personal style and
vision -- Tarkovsky, Jancso, Zanussi, etc. However, it seemed that the age
of perestroika with its disillusionment, apathy, double moral, distrust in the
official ideology and crisis of faith, which marked the beginning of the
economic, ecological, ethnic and ethical collapse of the socialist system, did
trigger a chain process of disintegration in the high-modernity paradigm of
socialist realism and, on the other hand, of semi-dissident visionary
authorship. In Russia, in the past few years, more and more works of post-
modern sensibility started popping up. Not in Bulgaria, though.
The author's persona remains the most significant factor determining
not only the whole production process, but also the thematic content, form
and style of the new Bulgarian cinema. This auteur figure often tends to
expose the subject of film depiction through self-reflexive projections of his
or her own existential obsessions.
A good example may be Krassimir Kroumov, one of the most promising
directors of the third generation, "a young genius of film directing who
unifies his entirely individual style with the achievements of the New
German cinema of the 60's and 70's," according to the critic Hans
Schurman from "Bonner General - Anzeiger". His last film "The Waste"
(Mylchanieto, 1991) is about a psychiatrist who recognizes in a patient's
dead body his own father, who he has thought missing since the communist
atrocities of 1949 and who he himself has confined to an asylum. In the
film there is also a Vergilian figure, the Historian, who serves as author's
alter-ego, a commentator implemented in the text that he is supposed to
comment and a false witness who gives false evidence on what he has seen.
"Wittgenstein asserted that the crisis of philosophy is a crisis of language,
and I think that our very existence up to now has been a fake. In the
beginning the Historian talks too much, and then he utters ever less words
until he reaches the final silence where he hears time. It is a trip back, to
the spring of words, to their nakedness and ultimate freedom," says the
director.
Didacticism. In Krassimir Kroumov's works "one can sense the
same spiritual intensity, the same moral ideal and almost religious passion in
the exploration of human suffering as in Tarkovsky's films." But one can
also sense a smack of another crucial and immutable characteristic of
Bulgarian cinema -- messianic didacticism; and the reference to the Russian
director Tarkovsky is not accidental at all. The roots of that didacticism,
which suited the communist ideology and propaganda so well, are much
deeper and can be traced back to the common ground of Eastern Orthodoxy
-- be it Russian, Bulgarian, Greek or Georgian -- and its unique cultural
heritage. For a longer excursion in the Bulgarian past, one can read the first
chapter "Art and History" of Ronald Holloway's "The Bulgarian Cinema", but
for the purpose of this paper it is sufficient to mention that being an artist
in the Eastern Orthodox tradition was considered similar to being a priest --
a status charged with the greatest moral responsibilities; the artist was
treated as a God's servant rather than as a traveling comedian, as a
preacher rather than as a clown. And a far-reaching consequence of it is the
indisputable assumption that art and entertainment could never be
synonymous.
How to defeat this sacred but obsolete notion as a moral imperative for
creativity? This would eventually be the Bulgarian auteurs' toughest
challenge. It is quite obvious, though, that it should be done in order to
survive, at least physically, in a pervasive reality professing a rather
converse creed.
Randomness. The last essential characteristic of Bulgarian cinema I
would like to state is the extreme difficulty one can face trying to pin down
the essential characteristics of Bulgarian cinema; and it is not a pun or a
joke. "A glance at its development shows a certain degree of randomness
and heterogeneousness," write Liehm and Liehm. This heterogeneousness
and lack of well defined thematic continuity is determined again by the
specific historical and cultural realities of the Bulgarian film industry.
First, for such a small country, it is a very expensive and comparatively
new art medium, which in its three fruitful decades was in a position of
underdog on the international arena, and even on the home scene,
competing with the traditionally very strong theatrical, literary and musical
forms for its own cultural niche. It appears that the Bulgarian film artist, so
overwhelmed with catching up with foreign vogues and trends, genre and
personal achievements, and with rapidly changing home cultural, social and
ideological needs, has simply not had enough time to develop his or her own
distinguished style, constant thematic pattern or school of followers.
Second, despite the high professionalism of the Bulgarian film artists, it
is not an industry in terms of Hollywood film production line with its stiff
regulations, staunch hierarchical structure and narrow specialization, but
rather a national cultural institution. The best Bulgarian filmmakers are
rather Renaissance figures with a broad range of cultural interests and
professional abilities, so that significant fluctuations of talents in the film
guild used to be and still are typical.
Here are just few examples, starting from the first generation: Bulgaria's
pre-eminent director Rangel Vulchanov started as an actor, established the
Bulgarian cinema of poetics with his directorial debut, experimented with
various genres from the avant-garde through film noir to the musical,
worked abroad, at one point gave up feature filmmaking to work on
documentaries, then came back and still is one of the most controversial
figures in the field; Valery Petrov, trained as a physician, recognized as a
major national poet, acclaimed as a translator of Shakespeare into Bulgarian,
who gave to the Bulgarian "new wave" the most important scripts, worked
also in the theater, then came back making distinguished contributions to
children's films.
>From the second generation: Georgi Djulgerov, one of the most
internationally acclaimed Bulgarian directors, after his magnum opus
"Measure for Measure", gave up film production to work in the theater, then
made several documentaries and a musical to return finally to feature
filmmaking in the beginning of the 90's; Russi Chanev who made
Djulgerov's best films possible, both acting and collaborating as a script-
writer; Ivan Andonov, a prolific and very active director, who started his
carrier as a popular film and stage actor, also made notable and prize-
winning animated films in the 60's; Edward Zahariev who was equally
successful in his documentaries and feature films.
>From the third generation: Nikolai Volev, a popular national film
director, who is best known abroad because of his documentary masterpiece
"House No 8"; Henri Koulev, arguably the most talented and controversial
author of animated films and cartoons for adults, who made several jazz
documentaries, contributed with two avant-garde features "Death of the
Hare" and "The Father of the Egg"; Radoslav Spassov, who grew up to his
script-writing and directorial debut after two decades as a cameraman; and
Krassimir Kroumov, the most promising new auteur, who comes in the film
industry as a dramatist, novelist and writer with theoretical
accomplishments.
Obscurity. As a Bulgarian, I could hope that this notorious
heterogeneousness of Bulgarian cinema is the main reason for the amazing
disinterest and ignorance to the subject in the English language critical
literature and scholarship (though it is really hard to be so naive to really
believe it). Ronald Holloway seems to be the only Bulgarian film scholar
writing in English, who at least knows the subject at first hand, while the
very few other critical attempts are either occasional film reviews or second
hand "accounts, drawn from the limited recent scholarship and reviews, of
this neglected film culture." Bruce R. S. Litte complains that "Bulgarian
films are not available to film students, to say nothing of average viewers;
nor have they become available on video", but he does not specify whether
this is the cause or the effect of this almost total disinterest to a whole
national cinema.
. Coda
The new Bulgarian cinema. What are its characteristics? Does it really
exist? Is it strong enough to survive in the post-communist environment?
Why does it remain one of the few white spots on the map of the East
European cinema?
These were some of the questions that this paper was trying to answer,
focusing on the last five years, but also tracing back the more durable
tendencies in the previous decades. It was an attempt to determine the
variables but also the constants which stand in the complex equation of
contemporary Bulgarian cinema, with a full knowledge, however, of how
little could be done in such a short form dealing with such a broad subject --
a whole national film industry.
The following are just some of the topics which have not been
mentioned at all because of length limitation: Bulgarian documentaries and
animated cartoons which, ironically, enjoy much greater international
recognition than their heavy-weight feature brothers ("Conserve-world" was
even nominated for an Oscar), Bulgarian children films, the feminist trend,
the genre movies, the national specifics of acting, cinematography and
montage as essential characteristics of Bulgarian film expressiveness (more
often than not, directing turns out to be the weakest link in many particular
film efforts), the new tendency of film professionals draining into the TV,
the political role of the filmmakers (the third generation director Evgeni
Mihailov with his documentary footage was the prime reason for the last
communist president Peter Mladenov's resignation), the theoretical, formal
and critical presumptions which stand behind Bulgarian film artists' creative
motivation, etc. Unfortunately, even those topics that have been discussed
are pointed out rather than thoroughly analyzed, but it could not be
otherwise. My main concern remains to acknowledge the mere existence of
the subject matter before approaching it phenomenologically.
"My approach to the material is journalistic, rather than academic,"
writes Ronald Holloway. This is an approach of an outsider who was on a
field trip to expand his terrain of research. My approach is that of an insider
who is for a while outside of his cultural reality in order to gain a better
perspective on it. If a Western scholar's goal is to understand and explain,
then mine is to reflect and translate. This text derives its mode of expression
directly from its subject, and as a derivative, not surprisingly, it shares all of
the attributes of its argument: self-reflexivity, heterogeneousness, loquacity,
allegorical and didactic expressiveness, mythological and folklore
Weltansicht, uniqueness and of course. The subject alone determines the
syntax in which its tale to be told -- a syntax that does not distinguish
"story" from "history".
.....................
FILMOGRAPHY
The whole PART II of Ronald Holloway's "The Bulgarian Cinema" is an
extensive filmography of Bulgarian cinema from 1915 to 1985. This list here
shoud be considered as an up-to-date appendix, though not comprehensive
by any means.
1986
All for Love - Nikolai Volev (Da obichash na inat)
A Cry for Help - Nikola Roudarov (Vik za pomosht)
Reference - Hristo Hristov (Harakteristika)
My Darling, My Darling - Edward Zahariev (Skypa moja, skypi moj)
Where Are You Going? - Rangel Vulchanov (Zakyde pytuvate)
The Transports of Death - Borislav Pounchev (Eshalonite na smyrtta)
13th Bride of the Prince - Ivanka Grubcheva (13ata godenica na princa)
Dreamers - Ivan Andonov (Mechtateli)
The Judge - Plamen Maslarov (Sydijata)
Steppe People - Yanoush Vazov (Stepni hora)
The Girls and Their Neshka (doc.) - Georgi Djulgerov (Momichetata i
tjahnata Neshka)
1987
House No 8 (doc.) - Nikolai Volev (Dom nomer 8)
Friday Night - Lyudmil Kirkov (Petyk vecher)
Coming Down to Earth - Rumyana Petkova (Prizemjavane)
Eve on the Third Floor - Ivanka Grubcheva (Eva na tretija etazh)
Someone at the Door - Milen Nikolov
Yesterday - Ivan Andonov (Vchera)
Love Therapy - Iskra Yossifova (Ljubovna terapija)
1988
1. Nights on the Roofs - Binka Zhelyazkova (Noshtem po pokrivite)
2. - 3. Time of Violence - Lyudmil Staikov (Vreme razdelno)
4. Where Do We Go - Rangel Vulchanov (A sega nakyde?)
5. Protect the Small Animals - Chaim Cohen (Zashtitete drebnite zhivotni)
6. The Neighbor - Adela Peeva (Sysedkata)
7. Uncle Godfather - Stefan Dimitrov (Chicho Krystnik)
8. Forget If You Can - Nikolai Bossilkov (Ako mozhesh zabravi)
9. The Report - Milen Nikolov (Izlozhenieto)
10. Blind Saturday - Panayot Panayotov (Sljapa sybota)
11. AcaDaMus- Georgi Djulgerov (Akatamus)
Stairway to Heaven (doc) - (Stylba kym nebeto)
The Prosecutor - Lyubomir Sharlandjiev (Prokuroryt) (1968)
The Life Flows Silently - Binka Zhelyazkova (ZHivotyt si teche tiho)
(1957)
1989
1. No Damage - Zako Heskia (Bez draskotina)
2. Stop for Strangers - Ivan Rossenov (Spirka za nepoznati)
3. Father - Detelin Benchev (Bashta)
4. Ivan and Alexandra - Ivan Nichev (Ivan i Aleksandra)
5. Running Dogs - Lyudmil Todorov (Bjagashti kucheta)
6. Fragmented Love - Ivan Cherkelov (Parcheta ljubov)
7. Adios Rio - Ivan Andonov (Adio, Rio)
8. The Threat - Milen Nikolov (Zaplahata)
9. Exitus - Krassimir Kroumov (Ekzitus)
10. Right of Choice - Emil Tsanev (Pravo na izbor)
11. Zone 2-V - Chavdar Gagov (Zona V-2)
12. Judas' Silver - Svetoslav Ovcharov (JUdino zheljazo)
13. Marital Jokes - (comp.) (Brachni shegi)
14. Divorces, Divorces - (comp.) (Razvodi, razvodi)
15. Test'88 - Hristo Hristov (Test'88)
16. Maggie - Peter Donev (Megi)
17. Margarit and Margarita - Nikolai Volev (Margarit i Margarita)
18. I, The Countess - Peter Popzlatev (Az, Grafinjata)
19. Coming Back - Yanush Vazov, Lada Boyadjieva (Zavryshtane)
1990
1. The Carnaval - Ivanka Grubcheva (Karnavalyt)
2. My Nephew is a Foreigner - Mariana Evstatieva (Plemenikyt
chuzhdenec)
3. Tale of the White Wind - Nikola Korabov (Poverie za belija vjatyr)
4. Thou Which Art in Heaven - Docho Bodjakov (Ti, kojto si na nebeto)
5. 8 % of Love - Vladimir Kraev (8% ljubov)
6. Shortage - Chaim Cohen (Deficit)
7. Mayor, Mayor - Plamen Maslarov (Kmete, kmete)
8. Musical Moment - Nikolai Bossilkov (Muzikalen moment)
9. The Camp - Georgi Djulgerov (Lageryt)
10. Cruel and Innocent - Iskra Yossifova (ZHestok i nevinen)
11. The Love Summer of a Schmo - Lyudmil Todorov (Ljubovnoto ljato na
edin ljohman)
12. Anthrax - Stanislava Kalcheva (Antraks)
The Attached Baloon - Binka Zhelyazkova (Privyrzanija balon) (1967)
13. I Still Put off Forgetting You - Stefan Gurdev (Vse otlagam da te
zabravja)
14. Walks with the Angel - Ivan Pavlov (Razxodki s angela)
15. Sofia Story - Nadya Staneva (Sofijska istorija)
16. Love is a Willful Bird - Rangel Vulchanov (Nemirnata ptica ljubov)
17. The Drummer and His Wife - Panayot Panayotov (Barabanchikyt i
negovata zhena barabanchica)
The Survivers (doc.) - Atanas Kiryakov (Ocelelite)
1991
Salvador Dali - (Spain/Bulgaria) (Salvador Dali)
1. Silence - Dimiter Petkov (Tishina)
2. The Bronze Fox - Nikola Roudarov (Bronzovata lisica)
3. Indian Games - Ivan Andonov (Indianski igri)
4. That Thing - Georgi Stoyanov (Onova neshto)
5. Nature Reserve - Edward Zahariev (Rezervat)
6. Material Evidence - Borislav Pounchev (Veshtestveno dokazatelstvo)
7. Madame Bovary form Sliven - Emil Tsanev (Madam Bovari ot Sliven)
8. O, Lord, Where Are You - Krassimir Spassov (O, Gospodi, kyde si?)
9. Tony - Dimiter Petrov (Toni)
10. The Well - Docho Bodjakov (Kladenecyt)
11. Bay Ganyo Goes to Europe - Ivan Nichev (Baj Ganjo trygva po
Evropa)
12. Gentle Killings - Lyubomir Hristov; Valentin Nedyalkov (Nezhni
ubijstva)
13. The Father of the Egg - Henri Koulev (Bashtata na jajceto)
14. Plyontek - Borislav Sharaliev (Pljontek)
15. Waste - Krassimir Kroumov (Mylchanieto)
16. I Want America - Kiran Kolarov (Iskam Amerika)
1992
1. Palpitation - Ivan Balevski (Aritmija)
2. Bullet for Paradise - Sergei Komitski (Kurshum za raja)
3. Vampires, Spooks - Ivan Andonov (Vampiri, talasymi)
4. Bad Boy - Georgi Popvassilev (Losho momche)
5. Something in the Air - Peter Popzlatev (Neshto vyv vyzduha)
Sea in the Middle of the Earth (doc.) - Henri Koulev (More v sredata na
Zemjata)
1993
The Doomed (doc.) - (Obrechenite)
1. Day of Forgiveness - Radoslav Spassov (Sirna Nedelja)
Citadel (doc.) - (Citadelata)
Tales of Assassins (doc.) - (Razkazi za ubijci)
2. Frontier - Ilian Simeonov; Hristian Nochev (Granica)
--- In production:
3. Burn, Burn Little Fire - Rumyana Petkova (Gori, gori ogynche)
4. La Donna e Mobile - Nidal Algafari
5. Jehovah Ire (God Shall Decide) - Dimiter Petkov (Jehova-ire)
6. The Alchemist's Dream - Rangel Vulchanov (Mechtata na alhimika)
7. The Forbidden Fruit - Krassimir Kroumov (Zabranenijat plod)
8. Love Dreams - Ivan Nichev (Ljubovni synishta)
9. Magdalena - Georgi Djulgerov (Magdalena)
10. The Golden Chain - Kiran Kolarov (Zlatnata veriga)
11. The Revenge - Docho Bodjakov (Otmyshtenieto)
12. The Goat Horn - Nikolai Volev (Kozijat rog)
-----------------------
THIRD GENERATION.
Since one can not find much information about these third generation
directors in scholarly or popular film literature in English, at least their
filmography is provided here:
Third Generation:
Nikolai Volev (1946): The Double (Dvojnikyt, 1980); King for a Day
(Gospodin za edin den, 1983); All for Love (Da obichash na inat, 1986);
House No 8 (doc.) (Dom nomer 8, 1987); Margarit and Margarita
(Margarit i Margarita, 1989); The Goat Horn (Kozijat rog, 1993) (in
production)
Kiran Kolarov (1946): Status: Orderly (Sluzhebno polozhenie: ordinarec,
1978); The Airman (Vyzdushnijat chovek, 1980); Case No. 205/1913 (Delo
#205/1913 g., 1985); I Want America (Iskam Amerika, 1991); The
Golden Chain (Zlatnata veriga, 1993) (in production)
Ivan Pavlov (1947): Mass Miracle (Masovo chudo, 1981); Black and
White (TV) (Cherno i bjalo, 1983); Walks with the Angel (Razxodki s
angela, 1990)
Henri Koulev (1949): Death of the Hare (Smyrtta na zaeka, 1981); The
Father of the Egg (Bashtata na jajceto, 1991); Sea in the Middle of the
Earth (TV doc.) (More v sredata na Zemjata, 1992)
Evgeni Mihailov: Home for Lonely Souls (Dom za samotni dushi,
1981); Death Can Wait a While (Smyrtta mozhe da pochaka; 1985)
Peter Popzlatev (1953): I, The Countess (Az, Grafinjata, 1989);
Something in the Air (Neshto vyv vyzduha, 1992)
Iskra Yossifova (1954): Love Therapy (Ljubovna terapija, 1987); Cruel
and Innocent (ZHestok i nevinen, 1990)
Rumyana Petkova: Reflections (Otrazhenija, 1982); Coming Down to
Earth (Prizemjavane, 1985); Burn, Burn Little Flame (Gori, gori
ogynche,1993)
Lyudmil Todorov (1955): Running Dogs (Bjagashti kucheta, 1989); The
Love Summer of a Schmo (Ljubovnoto ljato na edin ljohman, 1990)
Dimiter Petkov: Silence (Tishina, 1991); Jehovah Ire (God Shall
Decide) (Jehova-ire, 1993) (in production)
Krassimir Kroumov (1955): Exitus (Ekzitus, 1989); Waste
(Mylchanieto, 1991); The Forbidden Fruit (Zabranenijat plod, 1993) (in
production)
Docho Bodjakov (1956): Memory (Pamet, 1985); Thou Which Art in
Heaven (Ti, kojto si na nebeto; 1990); The Well (Kladenecyt, 1991);
Vendetta (Otmyshtenieto, 1993) (in production)
-----------------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holloway, Ronald. The Bulgarian Cinema. Rutherford, N.J.: Fairleigh
Dickinson University Press, 1986
Holloway, Ronald. "Bulgaria: The Cinema of Poetics." Post New Wave
Cinema in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Edited by Daniel J.
Goulding. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1988
Bruce R. S, Litte. "Bulgaria." Handbook of Soviet and East European
Films and Filmmakers. Edited by Thomas J. Slater. N.Y.: Greenwood
Press, 1992
Liehm, Mira, and Antonin J. Liehm. The Most Important Art: Soviet
and East European Film After 1945. Berkeley: University of California,
1977
Stoil, Michael Jon. Cinema Beyond Danube. Metuchen, N.J.:
Scarecrow, 1974
Stoyanovich, Ivan, "Bulgaria." Annually in International Film Guide.
Edited by Peter Cowie, 1965-1991
Jorn Rossing Jensen. "Bulgaria." Moving Pictures. Cannes 19 may
1993
Katharine F. Cornell. "After the Wall." Cineaste, Vol.XIX #4, March
1993
.....
spisanie Kino, organ na Syjuza na bylgarskite filmovi dejci. 1992-1993
Bylgarsko kino, bjuletin na Nacionalnija filmov centyr. 1992-1993
Kino - maj/92 - "Kurshum za raja" 16 str.; "Aritmija" 52 str.; NFC 41
str.; Media'92 38 str.
Kino - dek/92 - "Vampiri, talasymi" 10 str.; " Privyrzanija balon" 50 str.
Kino - 1/93 - NFC 10 str.; "Granica" 14 str.; E. Zaharaiev 42 str.
Kino - 2/93 - "Sirna nedelja" 23 str.; TV antena 50 str.
Kino 3/93 - G. Djulgerov - dok. 3 str.; B. ZHeljazkova 21 str.;
Ungarija 32 str.
Pari 21/5/93 - "Hramyt na izkustvata pustee"
Bylgarsko kino -dek/92 - Analiz 92
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13-2 Filmography
(by Val Todorov)
The whole PART II of Ronald Holloway's The Bulgarian Cinema is
an extensive filmography of Bulgarian cinema from 1915 to 1985. This
list here shoud be considered as an up-to-date appendix, though not
comprehensive by any means.
1986
All for Love - Nikolai Volev (Da obichash na inat)
A Cry for Help - Nikola Roudarov (Vik za pomosht)
Reference - Hristo Hristov (Harakteristika)
My Darling, My Darling - Edward Zahariev (Skypa moja, skypi moj)
Where Are You Going? - Rangel Vulchanov (Zakyde pytuvate)
The Transports of Death - Borislav Pounchev (Eshalonite na smyrtta)
13th Bride of the Prince - Ivanka Grubcheva (13ata godenica na princa)
Dreamers - Ivan Andonov (Mechtateli)
The Judge - Plamen Maslarov (Sydijata)
Steppe People - Yanoush Vazov (Stepni hora)
The Girls and Their Neshka (doc.) - Georgi Djulgerov (Momichetata i
tjahnata Neshka)
1987
House No 8 (doc.) - Nikolai Volev (Dom nomer 8)
Friday Night - Lyudmil Kirkov (Petyk vecher)
Coming Down to Earth - Rumyana Petkova (Prizemjavane)
Eve on the Third Floor - Ivanka Grubcheva (Eva na tretija etazh)
Someone at the Door - Milen Nikolov
Yesterday - Ivan Andonov (Vchera)
Love Therapy - Iskra Yossifova (Ljubovna terapija)
1988
1. Nights on the Roofs - Binka Zhelyazkova (Noshtem po pokrivite)
2. - 3. Time of Violence - Lyudmil Staikov (Vreme razdelno)
4. Where Do We Go - Rangel Vulchanov (A sega nakyde?)
5. Protect the Small Animals - Chaim Cohen (Zashtitete drebnite zhivotni)
6. The Neighbor - Adela Peeva (Sysedkata)
7. Uncle Godfather - Stefan Dimitrov (Chicho Krystnik)
8. Forget If You Can - Nikolai Bossilkov (Ako mozhesh zabravi)
9. The Report - Milen Nikolov (Izlozhenieto)
10. Blind Saturday - Panayot Panayotov (Sljapa sybota)
11. AcaDaMus- Georgi Djulgerov (Akatamus)
Stairway to Heaven (doc) - (Stylba kym nebeto)
The Prosecutor - Lyubomir Sharlandjiev (Prokuroryt) (1968)
The Life Flows Silently - Binka Zhelyazkova (ZHivotyt si teche tiho)
(1957)
1989
1. No Damage - Zako Heskia (Bez draskotina)
2. Stop for Strangers - Ivan Rossenov (Spirka za nepoznati)
3. Father - Detelin Benchev (Bashta)
4. Ivan and Alexandra - Ivan Nichev (Ivan i Aleksandra)
5. Running Dogs - Lyudmil Todorov (Bjagashti kucheta)
6. Fragmented Love - Ivan Cherkelov (Parcheta ljubov)
7. Adios Rio - Ivan Andonov (Adio, Rio)
8. The Threat - Milen Nikolov (Zaplahata)
9. Exitus - Krassimir Kroumov (Ekzitus)
10. Right of Choice - Emil Tsanev (Pravo na izbor)
11. Zone 2-V - Chavdar Gagov (Zona V-2)
12. Judas' Silver - Svetoslav Ovcharov (JUdino zheljazo)
13. Marital Jokes - (comp.) (Brachni shegi)
14. Divorces, Divorces - (comp.) (Razvodi, razvodi)
15. Test'88 - Hristo Hristov (Test'88)
16. Maggie - Peter Donev (Megi)
17. Margarit and Margarita - Nikolai Volev (Margarit i Margarita)
18. I, The Countess - Peter Popzlatev (Az, Grafinjata)
19. Coming Back - Yanush Vazov, Lada Boyadjieva (Zavryshtane)
1990
1. The Carnaval - Ivanka Grubcheva (Karnavalyt)
2. My Nephew is a Foreigner - Mariana Evstatieva (Plemenikyt chuzhdenec)
3. Tale of the White Wind - Nikola Korabov (Poverie za belija vjatyr)
4. Thou Which Art in Heaven - Docho Bodjakov (Ti, kojto si na nebeto)
5. 8 % of Love - Vladimir Kraev (8% ljubov)
6. Shortage - Chaim Cohen (Deficit)
7. Mayor, Mayor - Plamen Maslarov (Kmete, kmete)
8. Musical Moment - Nikolai Bossilkov (Muzikalen moment)
9. The Camp - Georgi Djulgerov (Lageryt)
10. Cruel and Innocent - Iskra Yossifova (ZHestok i nevinen)
11. The Love Summer of a Schmo - Lyudmil Todorov (Ljubovnoto ljato
na edin ljohman)
12. Anthrax - Stanislava Kalcheva (Antraks)
The Attached Baloon - Binka Zhelyazkova (Privyrzanija balon) (1967)
13. I Still Put off Forgetting You - Stefan Gurdev (Vse otlagam da te
zabravja)
14. Walks with the Angel - Ivan Pavlov (Razxodki s angela)
15. Sofia Story - Nadya Staneva (Sofijska istorija)
16. Love is a Willful Bird - Rangel Vulchanov (Nemirnata ptica ljubov)
17. The Drummer and His Wife - Panayot Panayotov (Barabanchikyt i
negovata zhena barabanchica)
The Survivers (doc.) - Atanas Kiryakov (Ocelelite)
1991
Salvador Dali - (Spain/Bulgaria) (Salvador Dali)
1. Silence - Dimiter Petkov (Tishina)
2. The Bronze Fox - Nikola Roudarov (Bronzovata lisica)
3. Indian Games - Ivan Andonov (Indianski igri)
4. That Thing - Georgi Stoyanov (Onova neshto)
5. Nature Reserve - Edward Zahariev (Rezervat)
6. Material Evidence - Borislav Pounchev (Veshtestveno dokazatelstvo)
7. Madame Bovary form Sliven - Emil Tsanev (Madam Bovari ot Sliven)
8. O, Lord, Where Are You - Krassimir Spassov (O, Gospodi, kyde si?)
9. Tony - Dimiter Petrov (Toni)
10. The Well - Docho Bodjakov (Kladenecyt)
11. Bay Ganyo Goes to Europe - Ivan Nichev (Baj Ganjo trygva po Evropa)
12. Gentle Killings - Lyubomir Hristov; Valentin Nedyalkov
(Nezhni ubijstva)
13. The Father of the Egg - Henri Koulev (Bashtata na jajceto)
14. Plyontek - Borislav Sharaliev (Pljontek)
15. Waste - Krassimir Kroumov (Mylchanieto)
16. I Want America - Kiran Kolarov (Iskam Amerika)
1992
1. Palpitation - Ivan Balevski (Aritmija)
2. Bullet for Paradise - Sergei Komitski (Kurshum za raja)
3. Vampires, Spooks - Ivan Andonov (Vampiri, talasymi)
4. Bad Boy - Georgi Popvassilev (Losho momche)
5. Something in the Air - Peter Popzlatev (Neshto vyv vyzduha)
Sea in the Middle of the Earth (doc.) - Henri Koulev (More v sredata
na Zemjata)
1993 - 1994
The Doomed (doc.) - (Obrechenite)
1. Day of Forgiveness - Radoslav Spassov (Sirna Nedelja)
Citadel (doc.) - (Citadelata)
Tales of Assassins (doc.) - (Razkazi za ubijci)
2. Frontier - Ilian Simeonov; Hristian Nochev (Granica)
3. Burn, Burn Little Fire - Rumyana Petkova (Gori, gori ogynche)
4. La Donna e Mobile - Nidal Algafari
5. Jehovah Ire (God Shall Decide) - Dimiter Petkov (Jehova-ire)
6. The Alchemist's Dream - Rangel Vulchanov (Mechtata na alhimika)
7. The Forbidden Fruit - Krassimir Kroumov (Zabranenijat plod)
8. Love Dreams - Ivan Nichev (Ljubovni synishta)
9. Magdalena - Georgi Djulgerov (Magdalena)
10. The Golden Chain - Kiran Kolarov (Zlatnata veriga)
11. The Revenge - Docho Bodjakov (Otmyshtenieto)
12. The Goat Horn - Nikolai Volev (Kozijat rog)
13. Canaries' Season - Evgeni Mihailov (Sezonyt na kanarchetata)
-----------------------
THIRD GENERATION.
Since one can not find much information about these third generation
directors in scholarly or popular film literature in English, at least
their filmography is provided here:
Third Generation:
Nikolai Volev (1946): The Double (Dvojnikyt, 1980); King for a Day
(Gospodin za edin den, 1983); All for Love (Da obichash na inat, 1986);
House No 8 (doc.) (Dom nomer 8, 1987); Margarit and Margarita
(Margarit i Margarita, 1989); The Goat Horn (Kozijat rog, 1994)
Kiran Kolarov (1946): Status: Orderly (Sluzhebno polozhenie:
ordinarec, 1978); The Airman (Vyzdushnijat chovek, 1980); Case No.
205/1913 (Delo #205/1913 g., 1985); I Want America (Iskam Amerika,
1991); The Golden Chain (Zlatnata veriga, 1994)
Ivan Pavlov (1947): Mass Miracle (Masovo chudo, 1981); Black
and White (TV) (Cherno i bjalo, 1983); Walks with the Angel (Razxodki
s angela, 1990)
Henri Koulev (1949): Death of the Hare (Smyrtta na zaeka, 1981);
The Father of the Egg (Bashtata na jajceto, 1991); Sea in the Middle
of the Earth (TV doc.) (More v sredata na Zemjata, 1992)
Evgeni Mihailov: Home for Lonely Souls (Dom za samotni dushi,
1981); Death Can Wait a While (Smyrtta mozhe da pochaka; 1985);
Canaries' Season (Sezonyt na kanarchetata, 1994)
Peter Popzlatev (1953): I, The Countess (Az, Grafinjata, 1989);
Something in the Air (Neshto vyv vyzduha, 1992)
Iskra Yossifova (1954): Love Therapy (Ljubovna terapija, 1987);
Cruel and Innocent (ZHestok i nevinen, 1990)
Rumyana Petkova: Reflections (Otrazhenija, 1982); Coming Down
to Earth (Prizemjavane, 1985); Burn, Burn Little Flame (Gori, gori
ogynche,1993)
Lyudmil Todorov (1955): Running Dogs (Bjagashti kucheta, 1989);
The Love Summer of a Schmo (Ljubovnoto ljato na edin ljohman, 1990)
Dimiter Petkov: Silence (Tishina, 1991); Jehovah Ire (God Shall
Decide) (Jehova-ire, 1994)
Krassimir Kroumov (1955): Exitus (Ekzitus, 1989); Waste
(Mylchanieto, 1991); The Forbidden Fruit (Zabranenijat plod, 1994)
Docho Bodjakov (1956): Memory (Pamet, 1985); Thou Which Art in
Heaven (Ti, kojto si na nebeto; 1990); The Well (Kladenecyt, 1991);
Vendetta (Otmyshtenieto, 1994)
-----------------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holloway, Ronald. The Bulgarian Cinema. Rutherford, N.J.: Fairleigh
Dickinson University Press, 1986
Holloway, Ronald. "Bulgaria: The Cinema of Poetics."
Post New Wave Cinema in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Edited by
Daniel J. Goulding. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1988
Bruce R. S, Litte. "Bulgaria." Handbook of Soviet and East European Films
and Filmmakers. Edited by Thomas J. Slater. N.Y.: Greenwood Press, 1992
Liehm, Mira, and Antonin J. Liehm. The Most Important Art: Soviet and
East European Film After 1945. Berkeley: University of California, 1977
Stoil, Michael Jon. Cinema Beyond Danube. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1974
Stoyanovich, Ivan, "Bulgaria." Annually in International Film Guide.
Edited by Peter Cowie, 1965-1991
Jorn Rossing Jensen. "Bulgaria." Moving Pictures. Cannes 19 may 1993
Katharine F. Cornell. "After the Wall." Cineaste, Vol.XIX #4, March 1993
....
spisanie Kino, organ na Syjuza na bylgarskite filmovi dejci. 1992-1993
Bylgarsko kino, bjuletin na Nacionalnija filmov centyr. 1992-1993
Kino - maj/92 - "Kurshum za raja" 16 str.; "Aritmija" 52 str.; NFC 41
str.; Media'92 38 str.
Kino - dek/92 - "Vampiri, talasymi" 10 str." Privyrzanija balon" 50 str.
Kino - 1/93 - NFC 10 str.; "Granica" 14 str.; E. Zaharaiev 42 str.
Kino - 2/93 - "Sirna nedelja" 23 str.; TV antena 50 str.
Kino 3/93 - G. Djulgerov - dok. 3 str.; B. ZHeljazkova 21 str.;
Pari 21/5/93 - "Hramyt na izkustvata pustee"
Bylgarsko kino -dek/92 - Analiz 92
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13-3 Bulgarian sayings
(by Plamen Stefanov), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
BULGARIAN SAYINGS
"No matter how little they pay us, they can never pay as little as we
will work for them".
"All diseases are caused by not drinking regularly".
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 14: MUSIC AND DANCE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-1 Bulgarian music on CD's
(by Brian Sutin)
Stambolovo '88 Balkanton 060101
Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares Explorer 9 79165-2
Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares, Vol. 2 Explorer 9 79201-2
Villiage Music of Bulgaria / Bulgarian Folk Music Explorer 9 79195-2
Music of Bulgaria / Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic Explorer 9 72011-2
The Severnyashki Folk Ensemble Round The World Gega GD 103
The Greatest Bulgarian Folk Dances Gega GD 106
Balkana / The Music of Bulgaria Hannibal CD-1335
The Forest is Crying / The Trio Bulgarka Hannibal CD-1342
Two Girls Started to Sing... Rounder CD-1055
Bulgarian Polyphony Vol. 2 / The National Folk Ensemble Victor VDP-1462
Balkan -- Mysterious Voices of Bulgaria Virgin 2-91368
"Two Girls..." is very poor -- don't buy it. "Balkan" is the soundtrack
to a documentary. "Stambolovo" is modern wedding band music. "Bulgarian
Polyphony" #1 and #2 are both out of print (they are Japanese). Many
of these CDs can be ordered my mail from Elderly Instruments, a company
in East Lansing, Michigan (call information for the number). They have
a catalogue they will send to you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-2 Bulgarian musical instruments
(by Brian Sutin)
The traditional musical instruments of Bulgaria are:
THE KAVAL
The kaval is a wooden flute which is played by blowing across the end.
It has a very interesting woody sound. The name kaval is found for
similar musical instruments from Rumania all the way to India, but the
Bulgarian kaval is probably the most beautiful sounding version. The kaval
was the chosen instrument of shepherds, who needed some way to entertain
themselves while grazing sheep on the high pastures. Unfortunately the
number of Bulgarians who play the kaval well has dropped due to the fewer
number of shepherds.
THE GADULKA
The gadulka is a bowed instrument similar to a violin, but only three
strings are bowed, while the rest are sympathetic; ie, these strings
vibrate on a harmonic, giving a very rich texture, but are not fingered.
The gadulka held by a sling around the neck, much like a saxaphone, and
the fingerboard is up by the players neck. Of all the traditional
Bulgarian instruments, the gadulka has declined in popularity the most,
and is rarely heard, even on folk music recordings.
THE GAIDA
The gaida is a bagpipe with one drone. The bag is usually made out of
goat hide, although the very large Macedonian kaba gaida is often made
from sheep hide. The gaida sounds quite different from the more common
Scottish bagpipe.
THE TUPAN
The tupan is a large drum which is played with a big drumstick on one
side and a very thin drumstick on the other. Any person who has ever
learned to play any kind of drum for "western" music (ie, R&R), please
spare all of us and do not try to pick up Bulgarian tupan. Bulgarian
rhythms consist of short beats of two counts and long beats of three
counts, and westerners invariably split the long beats incorrectly.
Other instruments which are common are the dumbek, a small lap drum,
the zurna, an incredibly loud reed instrument, and the tamburitsa,
a plucked string instrument similar to a bouzouki, but these are also
common in Turkey, Greece, and other countries are are not solely Bulgarian.
Originally these instruments were used mostly for village dancing, and
only one or occasionally two instruments would be played at a time.
People would dance to one of the melody instruments, sometimes accompanied
by a tupan. The zurna and tupan is still a popular combination in
Macedonia. In this century, bands became popular which had one or more
of each instrument, say, for instance, a kaval, a gadulka, a gaida, a
tamburitsa, and a tupan. Later, instruments such as the accordeon and
clarinet became popular. Nowadays, the "traditional" Bulgarian wedding
band might have clarinets, electric guitars, and so on.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-3 Bulgarian folk dance
(by Ersch Rotholz)
1. Last summer, while visiting Sofia, I had the pleasure of seeing a folk
dance ensemble in the NDK concert hall. It occured to me that this
beautiful Bulgarian art form is little known in the U.S.A. and Canada. I
promised to help the Bulgarian producer find an American producer
(impresario) willing to bring them over here. So far I have not been able
to keep my promise since I do not know how to go about finding a producer.
Any lover of Bulgarian folk dancing and music who might have an idea how to
find such a producer, please call me during the day at (617) 271-6409. Or,
get in touch with the Bulgarian producer directly:
Peter Grigorov, Drujba-2, bl. 206-B, ap. 66, Sofia 1586
The dance group, "Rosna Kitka", comprises boys and girls age 6-13 and
adult instrumentalists. I have a video recording of one of their
performances on VHS, NTSC format (translated from the original SECAM
format). I will gladly make a copy for a producer.
2. Few comments about FAQ Bulgaria.
a) Western music lovers have discovered Bulgarian folk music thanks to
tours of groups such as the Philip Kutev ensemble, Pirin, etc. A CD
recording of the Philip Kutev group is: "Les mystere des voix bulgares"
Elektra/Nonesuch 9 79201/2.
b) Ivo Papasov and his "wedding band" gives jazz-inspired improvisations
based on bulgarian folk motives. Two CDs with Ivo's music are:
"Orpheus Ascending", Hannibal Records Ltd., HNCD-1346 and
"Balkanology", Hannibal Records Ltd., HNCD-1363.
c) Sqdejki po albumite koito imam, imenata na prochutite ni basove se
pishat po slednija nachin:
"Boris Christoff" i "Nicolai Ghiaurov".
Ghiaurov se pishe s "h" sled "g"-to s tsel da se razdeli "g"-to ot
"i"-to. Po tozi nachin imeto se proiznasja GIAUROV a ne DZHAUROV.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-4 Bulgarian folk dance
(by Jim Garrett)
I'm a member of a relatively small community of
folk-dancers that especially treasures Bulgarian dancing.
I know many people here in Minneapolis/St. Paul who would love
to see Bulgarian dancers, but I can't help you directly with a
producer. Perhaps the Ethnic Dance Theater based in Minneapolis
would be a good contact. Their number is (612) 872-0024.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-5 Bulgarian Folk Dance Club in Buffalo, NY, USA
(by Barbara Dintcheff)
Zdravai ot Buffalo, New York!
Ako doidite v Buffalo, New York, ilati da igraite narodni hora i
rachenitsi. Nie se sabranie vseki Petek ot 8 vecherta na Universitet
na Buffalo. Nie znaem starite Bqlgari i mnogoto novite Bqlgari
okolo Buffalo. Tuka e oshte informatsia:
We are the International Folk Dance Club
At the University at Buffalo
Main Street (South) Campus
Diefendorf Hall - Ground Floor, usually Room 2
Fridays 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
8 - 9 = Teaching 9 - 11 = Request Dancing
Free Admission
Last Meeting of 1993: 12/17/93
Next Meeting: 1/7/94
Contact: Barbara Dintcheff (H) 716-675-0203
(W) 716-887-2520
dint...@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-6 Bulgarian records
(by Paul Amblard)
4 records I have at home, 2 of them were recently reviewed in the french
journal TELERAMA.
In the shop I also found a lot of others.
references :
Bulgarian folk ensembles and songs Balkanton 060053
Vocal traditions of Bulgaria Say-disc (UK company) CD-SDL-396
Musics and musicians of the world . Bulgaria . AUVIDIS (French company) UNESCO
collection D 8019
Rhodopa family GEGA GD124
the fourth is the best for my pleasure but other opinions are welcome !!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-7 Bulgarian music : 20th Century
(by Luben Boyanov)
During the first years of the 20th century, the Bulgarians listened to
the works of the first 'famous' Bulgarian composer of classical (not
to be mixed with the definition of L. Bernstein) music - Maestro Atanasoff.
Amongst his famous works are "Kossara", "Borislav" and "Atzek" (opera).
During the same time, 2 brothers - Luben and Pancho Vladigerovi
were sent to study in Europe (? Germany?). Pancho Vladigerov became
the most prominent figure of the Bulgarian classical music. His
most famous work "Bulgarian Rhapsody Vardar" is still the best known and
loved Bulgarian classical composition. Pancho Vladigerov is also the author
of piano concertoes and other works. Pancho Vladigerov is the teacher of
of one of the most famous world pianists - Alexis Weisenberg (living in Paris
at present). Weisenberg left Bulgaria while being a child and came back
only during the early 80-ies enjoying enormous success amongst the Bulgarian
audience. Another world famous pianist and student of Pancho Vladigerov is
Milcho Leviev (who lives in LA) - who also returned with great success in
Bulgaria after years being separated from his country (living in the USA.
The former was/is one of the leading world classical piano playes, the later
is one of the top jazz-piano players. Both are jazz composers.<P>
"Bulgarian Rhapsody Vardar" is composed using Bulgarian folk motives, and so
is another very famous Bulgarian classic music piece - "Thracian Dances" -
by Petko Stainov.<P>
Another famous Bulgarian composer is Parashkev Hadjiev. He had many piano
compositions, songs and operas ("Leto 1893", "Maria Desislava", "Lud
Gidia").<P>
From the younger generation Bulgarian classical music composers are
Krasimir Kyurkchiiski (the ballet "Kosyat Rog") and Stefan Dragostinov
(with the "F. Kutev" ensemble, and also he - Dragostinov - is a composer of
symphony music).<P>
The Bulgarian classical music generation of the 50-ies, 60-ies is
known with the piano composers Emil Naumov (student of Nadia Boulanger)
and Boyan Vodenicharov.<P>
Written without references - according to memory only - sorry if I missed
(or messed) somebody.<P>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-8 Addresses of Bulgarian musical companies
(by Luben Boyanov)
Some contact addresses in Bulgaria of companies/distributors of music:
Impressario and Publishing House "Rod"
134 Vasil Levski Bulv, 2nd floor
1504 Sofia
Bulgaria
tel: 359 2 77 03 10
fax: 359 2 43 10 42
Balkanton
6 Haidoushka Polyana Str.
1612 Sofia
Bulgaria
tel: 359 2 52 54 51
fax: 359 2 54 27 44
telex: BALKTON BG
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-9 Bulgarian Music
(by Zdravena Maldjieva)
The professional development of Bulgarian Music started relatively
late, compared to other European cultures - around 1860. The first
artists working in that field organised groups, performing their own
arrangements of folk melodies, usually for an a'cappella choir. The
most significant contributions to Bulgarian music began after 1900.
Although disputable, the following classification is the most used by
musicologists today: first generation (till 1944), second generation
-approximately till 1970, third generation - after 1970. There are
three basic types of musicians representative of the Bulgarian culture:
composers, performers and folk musicians ( usually they are combining
the creation and the reproducement of original music, based on folk
melodies ).
The first major figure among the composers in the first generation
is the "Patriarch (title of an important position in the Ortodox Church,
equivalent of the Pope in Roman Catholic Church) of Music" Dobri Chris
tov. He was also the first theorist of the Bulgarian Musicology. As all
major musicians from the first generation he was educated abroad.
Although he was a student of French composer Paul Duka, he didn't adopt
his relatively contemporary techniques and musical language, but mostly
worked in arranging folk tunes for choirs with more or less "classic"
harmony and structure. Despite the simplicity of his art, he was a very
influential teacher for younger musicians. Around 1920 - 40 there
were some composers, who created more sophisticated art as Veselin and
Andrei Stoyanov, Pancho Vladigerov, Lubomir Pipkov and others. The
brothers V. and A. Stoyanov worked in a folk-like style, using irregular
meters, typical melodic configurations and quart-quint harmonies.
Andrei Stoyanov was mostly occupied with piano literature, while Veselin
worked in all major genres. A very important figure was Dimitar Nenov,
a composer and a virtuoso piano player (like Andrei Stoyanov), who was
accused of formalism and bad influence on young communist musicians after
1944. Unlike the other major composers of this time Pancho Vladigerov
didn't use any original folk melodies and rarely used folk-type tunes.
A Bulgarian Jew, born and educated in Switzerland, he adopted the impres-
sionist style, typical for a significant part of the Western European
music. He was the most internationally recognised Bulgarian composer,
for example Herbert von Karajan performed Vladigerov's third piano
concerto on his graduation recital.
That period was productive and successful for performers as well.
With the support and financial help from the monarchist institution and
specially Tsar (king) Boris III many opera houses were established.
The opera art became really popular and Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna were
cities with internationally famous opera houses and opera stars. In the
bigger cities were gathered first professional orchestras with very high
quality of the participants. People enjoyed performances by worldly
famous virtuosi like Sasha Popov and Nikola Kozarev.
The folk music in that period didn't involve professional musicians
and was performed in smaller places mainly, but it never lost its po-
pularity.
The beginning of the second period (second generation) was the
Soviet invasion and the so-called "revolution" in Bulgaria. The new
government quickly established their new ideology, which was believed
to be progressive and basically was denying everything, achieved before,
because of its connection with the monarchy. Very harmful for all
musicians, that period was crucial for composers. Some genres were cla
imed to be retrogressive, while others (like oratorio) to be new and
purifying for people. The best composers remain silent for the first decade
of that period. There are some exceptions. For example, Lubomir Pipkov
who was a talented and educated musician was "oriented" quickly and star
ted the foundation of the socialistic realism music. He worked mainly
in vocal music, operas and oratorios with text, suitable for the new
authorities. For other composers, who weren't that adaptive, began a
hard period. The communist party, following the example of Russian
Communist party, started to determine the rules for "good, valuable"
art and labeled with formalism everything more contemporary, than it
was believed to match the new soul of people ( In Russia - the opera
"Lady Macbeth from Mtsenskaia Gubernia" from Schostakovich). In
Bulgaria started a real autodafe for the "enemies" of the people. The
scores and records from the Sofia Radio were burned and many other
library collections were destroyed. Priceless works like D.Nenov's
"Spring" and Lazar Nikolov's Second Symphony are lost forever. Nenov
was fired from the Music Academy and died soon after that. Nikolov
was forbidden to be performed, Vladigerov and V.Stoyanov didn't create
anything of global importance any more. New composers started to work
and to write hymns for the party, all new holidays and communist Cong-
resses. In the same time, composers like Parashkev Hadjiev and Vasil
Kazandjiev tried to keep as neutral as possible and wrote music based
on ancient legends or old Bulgarian history.
Performers from that period were mostly working abroad. Very
talanted singers - Boris Christov, Nikolai Ghiaurov, Christina Morfova
and many others transferred to major European theaters and performed
only occasionally in Bulgaria, which was a reason for the decline
of the opera houses. Some virtuosi piano players like Vaisenberg and
Milcho Leviev also left the country. Major conductors like Dobrin
Petkov were neglected for other (faithful to the party conductors) like
K. Iliev.
Folk music was believed to be close to the real virtues of the
communists, unlike the expressionistic or minimalistic art. Folk ensembles
were in development. One of the most important musicians working in
arranging of folk melodies was Philip Kutev. This groups had a big
importance for the acceptance of the Bulgarian culture abroad. Still
they are among the most popular Bulgarian artists in Europe and America.
Around 1970 and later was born a new generation of Bulgarian musici
ans. People got tired of being ruled in their art views and some
composers like Tsenko Minkin and Stefan Dragostinov started to create
a more liberated and free art, close to the modern Western European
tendencies. Both composers won international prizes for their works.
Recently after the collapse of the communist party, the composers felt
free to experiment with the modern musical means.
Some young performers like Aleksandrina Pendanchanska, Josif Radi-
onov, Angel Stankov, Emil Naumov and others gained the recognition of
the audience.
The folk music continued to spread abroad and now cd's like "The
Mystery of Bulgarian Voices" are in the top charts of many record
companies.
The new period was also the establishment and development of Bulga
rian Pop music. Now there are artists working in many styles, like
hard rock, heavy metal, rap, funk and other.
The overall tendency is of development and progress again, after
big decline through the communist era in all genres and styles.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-10 Bulgarian Rock'n'Roll
(by Peter Yovchev), last updated: 31-Jul-1994
Bqlgarskiyat rok
Naposledqka mi se sluchi da si govorya s nay-razlichni hora po mrtejata
i nyakaksi spontanno se zarodi ideyata da se opitam da izloja v organiziran
vid , tova , koeto znam za bqlgarskiya rok. Tazi istoriya nyama da se zanimava
s izvestnite nam ot socialistichesko minalo bqlgarski rok muzikanti, kato
FSB, SHturcite, Tangra , Signal i Diana Ekspres, a shte se opita da vklyuchi
dosta vajniya spored men fenomen na zarajzdaneto , razvitieto, apogeya i
upadqka na neformalniya, ulichniya bqlgarski rok.
Az sqm jiv svidetel na po-golyamata chast ot izlojenite sqbitiya kakto
i uchastnik v nyakoi ot tyah i zatova shte
si pozvolya da pisha v izyavitelno naklonenie. I taka:
Nastoyashtata istoriya razglejda perioda ot nachaloto na 80-tte godini do
dnes.
Prez 80-tte ili daje oshte po-rano se poyaviha v Sofiya pqrvite pqnkari.
Do togava se e svirila muzika , povecheto Beatles i Acid rock, v sredite
na taka narechenite hipari, zakqsnyalata reakciya na hipi-dvijenieto, chiito
sedalishta byaha Monteto i Stenata v Parka. Pqnkarite sa edna
grupichka puberiteti ot mahalata, koito slushat heavy metal i punk i reshavat,
che e vreme da si poleyat kosite s bira i da zabodat bezopasnite igli. Pqrvite
predstaviteli na dvijenieto byaha dvama - trima yunaci , poznati i na drugi
uchastnici v diskusiite - nebezizvestniyte Kuni i Motopeya, Karlo, Dani,
Bobi (Ramones), bratya Dinevi (Shemeta i Fashista) i oshte nikomu neizvestniya
Kolyo Ciganina ili izvesten oshte pod imeto Kolyo Gilqna. Estestveno imashe
oshte 10-tina yunaci chiito imena sqm zabravil, a fizionomiite im ne pomnya.
Grupichkata se sqbirashe v gradinkata zad Ruskata cherkva i tam se organizi-
raha i sqotvetno vednaga sled tova se razpadaha pqrvite underground punk
i hard rock grupi. Imenno tam izgrya zvezdata na edna ot nay-starite ni
"mladi" grupi - TNT, preimenuvana po-kqsno v "Trotil", koyato sqshtestvuva i
do dnes. Po tova vreme imashe mnogo malko drugi rok grupi. Shte se spra samo na
dve ot tyah , koito po-kqsno zahraniha rodniya rock s mnogo i dobri muzikanti.
Pqrvata ot tyah beshe nebezizvestnata grupa "Apokalipsis" v sqstav :
Niki Kacharov - kitara i vokal
Bobi Gradinarski - kitara
Svetlyo Daskalov - bas i
Ivo Popov - barabani
Grupata beshe jestoka, Niki vqrteshe jica sled jica, muzikata beshe tvqrda,
daje mnogo tvqrda. Shte vidim po-kqsno , che gornite muzikanti shte se
poyavyat v drugi formacii.
Drugata 'stara' grupa beshe "Analgin", ot chiyto sqstav sui spomnyam dvama
dushi - Richie - kitara i nebezizvestniya Zvezdi - vokal. Tam svireshe kato
kitarist i edin Mitko ot frenskata gimnaziya po edno vreme.
Po tova vreme zapochnaha po chitalishta i uchilishta da se sqzdavat grupi
ot uchenici, mladi, neopitni, no nahqseni i uporiti, smeli i optimisti.
Tryabva da vi kaja , che samo vqv Frenskata gimnaziya imashe osven
"Apokalipsis" i 'Trotil" oshte 3 grupi. Ednata beshe grupata 'NLO',
s Boreto Daskalov, chieto ime po-kqsno beshe otkradnato ot trimata shutove,
izvestni ni dnes pod gornoto ime. Drugata grupa beshe sqzdadenata ot moya
milost grupa "Nirvana" , sqshto mnogoizpatilo ime , otkradnato po-kqsno
ot momchetata ot muzikalnoto, a sled tova i ot west beach rocker-ite, koito
go napraviha svetovnoizvestno. Tretata grupa, moje bi nay-kupondjiyskata
i nay-priyatna beshe "Krater", s Muvi, Joro i Sashko Kratera. "Krater" daje
imaha i koncertni izyavi i mnogo publika i pochitatelki.
V Nemskata gimnaziya imashe grupa 'Izgrev', koyato vklyuchvashe Toni kato
kitarist i Yavor Petrov , kato barabanist. Po kqsno Toni sqzdade "Testament"
a Yavor sviri v dosta grupi i do den dneshen ne se e otkazal ot roka.
Dokolkoto si spomnyam i v Angliyskata gimnaziya se opitvaha da pravyat
rok, no ne sqm mnogo siguren dokolko uspeshno e bilo, tam vqzlovata figura
beshe Bogi Milchev, ako ne se lqja. Estestveno, nay-dobrite v profesionalno
otnoshenie byaha momchetata i momichetata ot muzikalnoto (Niki Arabadjiev,
Ogi, po-kqsno i grupata 'Nirvana' v koyato svireshe Misho, po-setneshen
pianist v Nova Generaciya i nastoyash emigrant v Kanada, kakto i Orlin,
po-setneshen barabanist na 'Impuls'). Ot muzikalnoto idva i Milena Slavova,
izvestna poveche kato Milena. V Matematicheskata gimnaziya sqshto imashe
dobri muzikanti Vaso Gyurov (po setne basist na Milena), Tomi (po-setne
keyboard na "Testament" ili kakto se prekrqsti "Milenium") i drugi.
Sqshtestvuvaha i neutralni grupi, koito svireha po chitalishta, mazeta
i tavani. Grupa , za koyato se seshtam v momenta beshe 'Tornado", s Juji
- bas, Ivan Peshev - barabani i Galin Popov - kitara. Postepenno muzikantite
pochnaha da se sqbirat na 'Kravay" i po-kqsno na Sinyoto kafe. Krqchmarskite
muzikanti pqk, mejdu koito imashe mnogo kadqrnni momcheta , koito po-kqsno
se 'vqrnaha' v roka , se sqbiraha na 'Kristal'.
Kqm sredata na 80-tte po starite muzikanti zapochnaha da vlizat v kazarmata
i beshe prekqsnat procesqt na 'vtasvane' na tova bogato testo ot koeto
vposledstvie se rodiha 'novite' bqlgarski rok grupi.
Po tova vreme se poyavi i izvestnata country grupa 'Atlas', s pevica
Rosica Kirilova i kitarist Pepi Pisarski. Podvizavaha se i edinichni dobri
i talantlivi muzikanti, kato Niki Tankov, Bojo Glavev, Pavkata Vasev,
Joro Donkov i mnogo drugi.
Estestveno gornite fakti sa dosta razpokqsani i veroyatno dosta netochni,
zashtoto baya voda izteche ot tezi vremena i spomenite postepenno izblednyavat.
Izvinyavam se za eventualnite netochnosti i molya ako ima zabelejki,
utochneniya i dopqlneniya, da bqdat izlojeni.
V sledvashta publikaciya shte razgledam perioda mejdu sredata na 80-tte i
nachaloto na 90-tte, nay-plodotvorniya period za nashata rok-muzika.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14-11 Bulgarian Rock Groups
(by Peter Yovchev)
Toku shto kachih na magdanoz novi dve parcheta bqlgarski rok.
Tova sa parchetata 'Sladoledeno momiche' ot ednoimenniya album na grupa
'Okazion' i 'Emigrant' ot albuma 'MEDICUS vol 1.' na grupa "Medikus".
'Okazion' sa:
Boreto Daskalov /bodaska/ - vokali, klavishni
Georgi Anastasov /juji/ - bas
Galin Popov - kitara
priyateli - Niki Arabadjiev - kitari, Boyo - efekti i ritqm, moya milost -
klavishni i dr.
'Medikus' sa:
Niki Tankov - vokal, piano, klavishni, mouth thrumpet
Koceto Georgiev - bandjo, ak. kitara, fleyta, kaval, vokali
Venci Veznikov - el.kitara, bas, vokali
Emo Mishev - barabani
Iliycho Hristov - perkusiya i govorene na gluposti
priyateli - Toni,Veso/Ekoto/,Doni i mnogo drugi.
===============================================================================
CHAPTER 15: LITERATURE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15-1 Bulgarian Literary Archive
(by Luben Boyanov, Ivan Danchev, Gergana Haralampieva, Ivan Vassilev, Peter Yovchev, Martin Minchev, Ivoil Koutzarov, Anton Kirilov, Dragomir R. Radev, and others), last updated: 31-Mar-1994
Here is the list of poems and fiction on the ftp archive. Files marked with
a * in the leftmost column were added recently.
Author Title
Aleksandqr Gerov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/AGER001.TXT">Kopnej</A>
Aleksandqr Gerov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/AGER002.TXT">Leglo</A>
Aleksandqr Gerov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/AGER003.TXT">Golyamata tishina</A>
Aleksandqr Gerov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/AGER004.TXT">Vishna</A>
Antonia Atanasova <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/AATA001.TXT">Jivotqt e ...</A>
Blaga Dimitrova <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/BDIM001.TXT">To be a Woman</A>
Blaga Dimitrova <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/BDIM002.TXT">Sama jena na pqt</A>
Blaga Dimitrova <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/BDIM003.TXT">Heroica</A>
Blaga Dimitrova <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/BDIM004.TXT">To the End</A>
Boris Hristov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/BHRI001.TXT">Vecheren Trompet</A>
Boris Hristov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/BHRI002.TXT">Samotniyat Chovek</A>
Boris Hristov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/BHRI003.TXT">Svatbata na mama</A>
David Ovadiya <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DOVA001.TXT">Na svatbata ...</A>
Damyan Damyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDAM001.TXT">Kogato si ...</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB001.TXT">***</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB002.TXT">***</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB003.TXT">Molitva</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB004.TXT">Bohemski noshti</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB005.TXT">Pomnish li ...</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB006.TXT">Ti smqtno ...</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB007.TXT">Pobeden</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB008.TXT">Cherna pesen</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB009.TXT">Na lunniq ...</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB010.TXT">***</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB011.TXT">Vchera gledash ...</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB012.TXT">Da se zavqrnesh ...</A>
Dimcho Debelyanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DDEB013.TXT">***</A>
Dimitqr Panteleev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DPAN001.TXT">Hristos vqzkrese</A>
Dobri Jotev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DJOT001.TXT">Sebeprisqda</A>
Dimitqr Voev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/DVOE001.TXT">Dayte mi</A>
Elisaveta Bagryana <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/EBAG001.TXT">Potomka</A>
Evtim Evtimov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/EEVT001.TXT">Rosata v ravninata ...</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK001.TXT">Bilyana platno beleshe</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK002.TXT">Ayde, Vodenicharyu</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK003.TXT">Gradil Iliya Koliya</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK004.TXT">Cherveno Vino Snoshti Pih</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK005.TXT">Dve kokoshki</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK006.TXT">Kacnal Brqmbar na Trqnka</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK007.TXT">Ako Umra</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK008.TXT">Zemi me, Penke</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK009.TXT">Ludo Mlado</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK010.TXT">O, Spomnyate li si, gospojo</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK011.TXT">Cheren vlak ...</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK012.TXT">Nie studentite ...</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK013.TXT">Parichki koy si ima ...</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK014.TXT">Selo Brenica</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK015.TXT"></A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK016.TXT">Kqrshi bqrchina ...</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK017.TXT">Bilyana platno beleshe ...</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK018.TXT">Koga zashumat bukite</A>
Folklore <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/FOLK019.TXT">Moma sedi na chardak</A>
Georgi Anastasov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/GANA001.TXT">Shantav Svyat</A>
Georgi Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/GMAR001.TXT">***</A>
Geo Milev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/GMIL001.TXT">Dnevnik</A>
Hristo Yasenov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/HYAS001.TXT">Prez granitnite ogradi</A>
Ina Popova <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IPOP001.TXT">Who ami I supposed to be ...</A>
Ina Popova <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IPOP002.TXT">Connection</A>
Ivan Canev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/ICAN001.TXT">Mig</A>
Ivan Milchev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IMIL001.TXT">Pqrvi snyag</A>
Ivan Vassilev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IVAS001.TXT">A toy, jivota</A>
Ivan Hadjiyski <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IHAD001.TXT"></A>
Ivan Vazov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IVAZ001.TXT">De e Bqlgariya</A>
Ivan Vazov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IVAZ002.TXT">Ne davame ya!</A>
Ivan Vazov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IVAZ003.TXT">Bratya Miladinovi</A>
Ivan Vazov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/IVAZ004.TXT">Ne davame ya!</A>
Kalin Donkov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/KDON001.TXT">Zimna kqshta</A>
Kalin Donkov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/KDON002.TXT">Byag</A>
Kalin Donkov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/KDON003.TXT">Cena</A>
Kalin Donkov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/KDON004.TXT">Prag</A>
Kiril Hristov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/KHRI001.TXT">Lyatna nosht</A>
Lamar <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/LMAR001.TXT">Kqm Evropa</A>
Nikola Furnadjiev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NFUR001.TXT">Jena</A>
Nikola Furnadjiev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NFUR002.TXT">Dqjd</A>
Nikolay Haytov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NHAY001.TXT">Mqjki vremena</A>
Nikolay Liliev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NLIL001.TXT">***</A>
Nikolay Liliev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NLIL002.TXT">***</A>
Nikolay Liliev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NLIL003.TXT">***</A>
Nikola Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NMAR001.TXT">Carsko Sqrce</A>
Nikola Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NMAR002.TXT">Iztochna geografiya</A>
Nikola Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NMAR003.TXT">Elada</A>
Nikola Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NMAR004.TXT">London</A>
Nikola Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NMAR005.TXT">Entropiya</A>
Nikola Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NMAR006.TXT">Rodinata</A>
Nikola Markov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NMAR006.TXT">Jelanie</A>
Nikolay Tankov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NTAN001.TXT">Kopoite</A>
Nikola Vapcarov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NVAP001.TXT">Proshtalno</A>
Nedyalko Yordanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NYOR001.TXT">Lyubov neobyasnima</A>
Nova Generaciya <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NGEN001.TXT">Chast ot kolekciya</A>
Nova Generaciya <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NGEN002.TXT">Otvqd smqrtta</A>
Nova Generaciya <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/NGEN003.TXT">Obicham</A>
Pavel Matev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PMAT001.TXT">Lyubov - magicheska realnost</A>
Poduene Bluz Bend <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PODU001.TXT">Komunizmqt si otiva</A>
Plamen Sivov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PSIV001.TXT">Ohrid</A>
Petko Slaveykov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PSLA001.TXT">Tatkovina</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV001.TXT">Rodina</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV002.TXT">Ela</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV003.TXT">Zatochenici</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV004.TXT">Ne si vinovna ti</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV005.TXT">Dve hubavi ochi</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV006.TXT">List otbrulen</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV007.TXT">Epitafiya</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV008.TXT">Na Lora</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV010.TXT">Jelanie</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV011.TXT">Mechta</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV012.TXT">Na edin pesimist</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV013.TXT">Ela (w/t)</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV014.TXT">Sreshta</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV015.TXT">Vqzdishka (w/t)</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV016.TXT">Haydushki pesni</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV017.TXT">Dve hubavi ochi (w/t)</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV018.TXT">Ovcharska pesen (w/t)</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV019.TXT">Na nivata (w/t)</A>
Peyo Yavorov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/PYAV020.TXT">Kopnenie (w/t)</A>
Rayko Jinzifov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/RJIN001.TXT">***</A>
Stefan Canev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/SCAN001.TXT">Molitva kqm Anna</A>
Stefan Canev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/SCAN002.TXT">Himn</A>
Stefan Gruev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/SGRO001.TXT">Korona ot Trqni (prolog)</A>
Tangra <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/TANG001.TXT">Nashiyat grad</A>
Tangra <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/TANG002.TXT">Bogatstvo</A>
Trifon Kunev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/TKUN001.TXT">Noshtta se priblijava</A>
Trifon Kunev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/TKUN002.TXT">Umira pobledneliy den</A>
Trifon Kunev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/TKUN003.TXT">Umira pobledneliy den (w/t)</A>
Teodor Trayanov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/TTRA001.TXT">Karpatskiyat vyatqr</A>
Vladimir Bashev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VBAS001.TXT">Spomen za pqrvata celuvka</A>
Vladimir Bashev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VBAS002.TXT">Risunka</A>
Vesselin Hanchev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VHAN001.TXT">Prqsten</A>
Vesselin Hanchev <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VHAN002.TXT">Lyubov</A>
Vasko Krqpkata <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VKRQ001.TXT">Kvartalno krqchme</A>
Vasko Krqpkata <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VKRQ002.TXT">Kucheto ot krayniya kvartal</A>
Vasko Krqpkata <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VKRQ002.TXT">Nyama bira</A>
Volen Siderov <A HREF="ftp://shiva.cs.columbia.edu/BULGARIA/POETRY/VSID001.TXT">Avtobiografiya </A>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15-2 Address of Hemus Publishing Co.
(by Teodora Davidova)<DEFINE IMPORTANCE 4>
You can send a fax with your questions concerning Bulgarian books and peridicals about folk Music and Bulgarian culture to:
Bulgaria
Sofia 1000
1b "Raiko Daskalov" Sq.
HEMUS Co.,Inc.