About Bulgaria

The Republic of Bulgaria is a country in the southeast of Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north along the river Danube.

EXECUTIVE STRUCTURE The president of Bulgaria (Georgi Purvanov since 22 January 2002) is directly elected for a 5-year term with the right to one re-election. The president serves as the head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. He is also the head of the Consultative Council for National Security.

The Council of Ministers is chaired by the Prime Minister (Sergey Stanishev ), and is the principal body of the Executive Branch and presently consists of 20 ministers. The Prime Minister is nominated by the largest parliamentary group and is given a mandate by the President to form a cabinet.

LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE The Bulgarian unicameral parliament, the National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie, consists of 240 deputies who are elected for 4-year-term stretches by popular vote. The last elections took place on June 2005. The next elections are planned for summer 2009.

JUDICIARY STRUCTURE The Bulgarian judicial system consists of regional, district and appeal courts, as well as a Supreme Court of Cassation. In addition, there is a Supreme Administrative Court and a system of military courts. There is also a Constitutional Court that is in charge of reviewing the constitutionality of laws and statutes brought before it, as well as the compliance of these laws with international treaties that the Government has signed.

Regional and local government The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is divided into regions and municipalities. In all Bulgaria has 28 regions, each headed by a regional governor appointed by the government. In addition, there are 263 municipalities.

GEOGRAPHY Bulgaria is comprised of portions of the classical regions of Thrace, Moesia, and Macedonia. The southwest of the country is mountainous, containing the highest point of the Balkan Peninsula, peak Musala at 2,925 m, and the range of the Balkan Mountains runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the famous Rose Valley. Hilly country and plains are found in the southeast, along the Black Sea coast in the east, and along Bulgaria's main river, the Danube in the north. Other major rivers include the Struma and the Maritsa River in the south.

http://www.bdtours.com/eng/bg_mountains.html

The Bulgarian climate is temperate, with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers.

See also: • List of cities in Bulgaria Economy Since 1997 the country has been on the path to recovery, with GDP growing at a 4-5% rate, increasing FDI, macroeconomic stability and EU membership set for 2007.

Economic forecasts for 2005 and 2006 predict continued growth in the Bulgarian economy. On April 25, 2005 Bulgaria signed the Treaty of Accession with the European Union and is set to join the bloc in 2007. Demographics Bulgaria's population is mainly ethnic Bulgarian (83.9%), with two sizable minorities in the form of Turks (9.4%) and Roma (4.7%). Of the remaining 2.0%, 0.9% are distributed among some forty smaller minorities, the most numerous of which are the Armenians, Russians, Vlachs, Crimean Tatars, Karakachans, Macedonian Slavs and Jews. Most Bulgarians are at least nominally a member of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the national Eastern Orthodox church. CULTURE http://www.motoroads.com/why_bul_culture.html National parks Bulgaria has over 10 major national parks and many reservation areas.

• Central Balkan National Park • Golden Sands National Park • Pirin National Park • Rhodope National Park • Rila National Park • Roussenski Lom National Park • Sinite Kamani National Park • Shoumen Plateau National Park • Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) • Strandja National Park • Vitosha National Park • Vratchansky Balkan National Park Miscellaneous topics • Public holidays in Bulgaria • Tourism in Bulgaria

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Bulgaria's strong agricultural traditions are reflected in its festivals and celebratory events. Marked by ritualistic songs, dances and customs, these festive occasions offer visitors perhaps the best glimpse into the country's folkways and customs.

Some 22 cities and towns throughout Bulgaria have annual festivals in one of more of the following disciplines: classical, choral, pop, rock, jazz, children's and folk music; opera; ballet and dance; theater; and fine arts. Most take place during the summer and attract international participation. Among the most prominent cultural and national events are the following:

February

Feb 14- St. Trifon's Day; dating back to the ancient Thracians, wine grower's celebrate with vine-trimming ceremonies.

March

March 1-The arrival of Baba Marta (spring) is welcomed by the exchanging and wearing of red and white tassled "martenitsas", good luck charms to ensure fertility in people, young animals and fruit trees.

Late March - "Kukerov Den" On the first Sunday before Lent, masked koukeri -men with grotesque masks - perform ritualistic processional dances to ward off evil spirits and ensure fertility at the onset of growing season.

April

April - St Lazar's Day- Marriage-eligible village girls perform ritual songs and dances.

May

May 6- Day of St George is the official day of soldiers and farmers.

May 21- Saints Constantine and Elena Day -Nestinarstvo, or fire dancing; practitioners walk barefoot on hot coals in small rural villages in the Strandzha mountains (or increasingly in tourist resorts) in this pagan event marking the arrival of summer. It is believed the ritual is descended from Dionysian rites practiced by ancient Thracians.

May 24 - National Day of Culture and Education. Students celebrate the development of the Cyrillic alphabet, introduced by Kyril and Methodius, who were later canonized.

June

June 2- Revolutionary heroes day

Kazanluk Rose Festival- Held in early June to coincide with rose petal picking in the Valley of Roses; folk-costumed dancers and singers perform traditional songs and dances. This annual event has been scaled back in recent years.

July

Macedonian Sabor at Rozhen (Southwest Bulgaria)

August

Great Koprivshtitsa Folklore Fest - Due to the magnitude of staging this mega-event, it is held only every five years during August. Recent changes include a scaling back in scope to make the event more frequent (most recently held August 13-15 1999), plus the addition of ethnic (Roma, Turkish, Armenian, Jewish etc) folk music along with the traditional Bulgarian folk.

Pirin Sings - Like Koprivshtitsa, the magnitude of staging this large event meant it was held but once every two years. The newly formed Pirin Sings foundation hopes to make it into a biennial event. Thousands of singers and dancers from throughout the Pirin region descend on the Predel Col area near Razlog in late August (most recently held Aug 20-22, 1999).

Bourgas International Folk Fest - International folk and dance troupes perform during the latter part of August.

Bankso Jazz Festival - Held annually in August. A great time to visit Bankso, which normally has a sleepy night life.

Rozhen folklore festival (songs, dances and music) in the Rhodope mountains

September

Apollonia Days: Sozopol, Bulgaria's oldest coastal colony, celebrates the Greek god of music and dance with ten days of events in early September (jazz, rock and theatre festival).

October

Autumn festivals in Bansko, Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev Wine harvest festival in Melnik (mid October) International Jazz Forum in Russe (last week of October)

November

Jazz festivals in Sofia and Blagoevgrad

December

Dec 8- Students day

OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS

Jan 1- New Year's Holiday March 3- Liberation Day late April- Orthodox Easter May 1- Labor Day May 6 - St. George's day, Day of the Bulgarian Army May 24- Day of Slavonic Culture Sept 6- Unification Day Sept 22 - Independence Day Nov 1- Day of National Revival Dec 24, 25, 26 - Christmas Days

FOOD AND DRINK

Bulgarian cuisine tends to be oriented toward meat and potatoes, but vegetarians needn’t worry as several of the more popular dishes are cheese-based. The national dish is shopska salad, a tasty mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions (and occasionally roasted peppers) topped by sirene, white brined sheep cheese. Another distinctive salad is snezhanka, consisting of yogurt, cucumbers and garlic.

Among the most flavorful meat and vegetable dishes are those baked in covered clay pots, such as kapama and kavarma. Grilled spicy meatballs (koufte and kebabche) are fast-food standbys. Bulgarian cuisine benefits from Turkish influences, such as eggplant salad (koupolo) and rice and meat wrapped in grape leaves (sarmi). The Black Sea provides some 26 varieties of fish, the tastiest of which is bluefish (lefer); the best of the freshwater varieties, raised locally on fish farms, is trout (pusturva).

During the summer, the outdoor food markets are a virtual cornucopia of native fresh fruits and vegetables; out-of-season produce and citrus fruits are imported from Greece and Turkey. Desserts tend to be overly sweet pastries and cream-filled cakes, but crepe-like pancakes (palichinki) filled with figs (smokini) are a good alternative.

A popular snack and breakfast item is banitsa, baked pastry filled with cheese (and sometimes leeks or spinach), washed down by boza, a non-alcoholic malted beverage that dates back several centuries.

Bulgarian wines are internationally renowned and one of the country’s prime exports. Among the whites, Chardonnay and the fruity Traminer are distinctive; particularly Khan Krum or Targoviste labels. In addition to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Bulgaria boasts two extremely fine grape strains of their own, Melnik and Mavrud, a dark wine cultivated by the ancient Thracians. Bulgarian beer is also noteworthy, with several regional brands. The national spirit, rakia, is a fiery brandy ritually consumed with a variety of appetizers (meze). Experiment with different brands, several of which produce “otlezhala”, a matured rakia.

CLIMATE

Marked by four distinct seasons, Bulgaria enjoys a generally favorable climate that is one of the country's best features. Although located at the same latitude as southern New England, Bulgaria's climate is noticeably more temperate. Summers are typically hot and dry, but rarely oppressive, with moderate relative humidity. Winters are cold but not bitterly so. In the south and Black Sea coastal regions, Mediterranean influences temper the harsher continental climate of the interior. The country's half-dozen mountain groups also play a significant part in determining regional variances.

In the capital, Sofia, daytime high temperatures average 82F/28C in July-August; 37F/3C in January, and reflect the ameliorating effects of nearby Mt. Vitosha. The wettest months are April-May and November in the interior; June, October and December along the coast. In mid-summer, the coast enjoys prodigious sunshine with daytime high air temperatures averaging 83F/28C and water temps ranging around 73-77F/23-25C.

TOURISM

In winter, Samokov, Borovets, Bansko and Pamporovo are popular ski resorts. There are summer resorts on the Black Sea at Sozopol, Nessebur, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, Albena, St. St. Constantine & Helena and many others. Spa resorts such as Bankya, Hisarya, Sandanski, Velingrad, Varshets and many others are popular all over the year. Bulgaria is becoming an attractive destination because of the quality of the resorts and prices below those found in Western Europe.

Bulgaria has enjoyed a substantial growth in income from international tourism over the past decade. Beach resorts are popular with tourists from Germany, Russia, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. The ski resorts are a favourite destination for British and Irish tourists.

Bulgaria has over 3 million visitors yearly and the number is increasing.[citation needed] The tourism in Bulgaria is one of the major helping improving tools for Bulgaria's economy and growing GDP of 6%-6.5% every year.

MOUNTAIN RESORTS

Apriltsi - A small town located in the most scenic part of the Balkan Mountain. It is a starting point for many tourist paths and is suitable for hiking, mountain byking, hunting and horse-back riding. Bansko - this charming, historic village nestled between the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope mountains turned into a modern world-class ski resort Banya - Banya is situated in the south-west of Bulgaria in a valley between the three big mountains Rila, Pirin and the Rhodopes. 156 km from the capital Sofia. Belitsa - A small town in the foothills of the Rila Mountain, close to the Semkovo ski resort. www.belitsa.hit.bg Belogradchik - A town from the fairy tales, famous for the unique wonder of nature - the Belogradchik rocks. They are like a huge museum in the open. Bojenci - an ethnographic enclave with over 100 old Bulgarian houses built more than a century ago. Borovets - over 40 km of various ski slopes neighbouring 12 hotels and 4 villa camps, only 73 km away from Sofia. The ski season continues from November through May and the snow cover is over 1.5 meters. Chepelare - a quiet and laid-back village near both Chepelare and Pamporovo ski slopes. Devin - standing in tiers in the Devin hollow, the town is famous for its mineral water springs and the vicinity of a number of caves. Dobarsko - A small village in the Southern foothills of Rila, 17 kilometers away from Bansko ski resort. The panorama to Pirin, the Rodopies and the Razlog valley is gorgeous. The nature around is beautiful and the people are very nice and hospitable. Dobrinishte - A picturesque village in the foothills of Pirin, only 5 kilometers away from Bansko. Has its own lift and a ski-slope. Drianovo - Located close to Gabrovo and Veliko Turnovo, this small town is a perfect complement to your tourist route. It is popular with the Drianovo Monastery and the Drianovo Ecotrail which will take you to exotic natural recesses. Elena - a nineteenth-century National Revival crafts town. Gotze Delchev - Hisar - a spa resort very popular in the past for its 16 mineral water springs. Kalofer - The town is nesting in the foothills of the Blakan mountain, at the border of the Rose Valley. It is about 164 kilometers away from Sofia. Koprivshtitsa - a lovely ensemble of half-timbered houses nestling amid wooded hills. Kovachevitsa - Maliovitsa - A scenic place in the foothills of Maliovitsa peak in Rila with three ski-slopes and toe-ropes, suitable for skiing as well as for hiking in the summer. Marchevo - Melnik - the smallest Bulgarian town is known for its robust red wine, impressive houses and white sand hills. Momchilovtsi - an ethnographic enclave 17 kilometers due east of the mountain resort town Pamporovo. Pamporovo Resort - the sunniest Bulgarian winter resort.The gently sloping mountain hills provide a variety of ski runs appropriate both for beginners and for advanced skiers. Razlog - Sandanski - one of the country's best-known spa resorts, it is also Bulgaria's warmest and sunniest town. Sapareva banja - the town is a starting point for hiking tours and tracks to some of the most scenic places in Rila Mountain, famous for its mineral water springs Smolyan - in the heart of the Rhodope mountains, Smolyan is a socialist architectural showpiece that serves as an excellent base from which to ski Pamporovo or explore southern Bulgaria's caves and mountains. Stoykite - a picturesque village nestled in the Rodopies, only 7 kilometers away from Pamporovo Trigrad - Troyan - ranged along the banks of the Osam River, Troyan has a relaxing, semi-rural feel. Tryavna - a picturesque little town in the Central Balkan Mountain, known for its 19 century woodcarvers, builders and craftsmen with over 140 listed buildings and a number of museums. Velingrad - with its diverse springs, excellent climate and leafy parks, this is one of Bulgaria's most popular spa towns. Yagodina - Yagodina Village is 24 kilometers away from Devin. The area around the village is covered with meadows, unlike the prevailing foresty areas in the Rodopies. Yagodina is in a valley at the foothills of the Ushite peak. Yakoruda - Yamna - Although it is not a popular resort, Yamna village offers tracks and views which heal the stress. The village is 1 hour away from Sofia, in the foothills of the Balkan mountain. Zlatograd -

SPORTS

Football is by far the most popular sport in the country. Many Bulgarian fans follow closely the top Bulgarian league, the Bulgarian "A" Professional Football Group, as well as the leagues of other European countries, such as those of Spain, England, Italy and Germany. The greatest success of the Bulgaria national football team was a fourth place finish at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Certainly, the best known Bulgarian footballer is Hristo Stoichkov. He is widely regarded as one of the world's finest football players at the peak of his career between 1992 and 1995, while playing for FC Barcelona winning the Ballon d'Or in 1994. Additionally, he was named in the FIFA 100 ranking. Georgi Asparuhov-Gundi (1943-1971), was himself extremely popular at home and abroad having had offers from clubs in Italy and Portugal. He died tragically in a car accident at the peak of his career. He was awarded Bulgarian football player №1 for the twentieth century. PFC CSKA Sofia (champion of Bulgaria 30 times) and PFC Levski Sofia (25 times champion of Bulgaria and 26 times holder of the National Cup as of 2007) are the most successful Bulgarian football clubs. Other popular clubs include PFC Lokomotiv Sofia, PFC Litex Lovech, PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv and PFC Botev Plovdiv. PFC Levski Sofia is the first Bulgarian team to have participated in the modern UEFA Champions League (after 1989) having achieved this by qualifying for the 2006/2007 competition.

Aside from football, Bulgaria boasts great achievements in a great variety of other sports. Maria Gigova and Maria Petrova each have a record of three world titles in rhythmic gymnastics. Some other famous gymnasts include Simona Peycheva, Neshka Robeva (a highly successful coach as well) and Yordan Yovtchev. Bulgarians are also dominant in weightlifting, with around 1,000 gold medals in different competitions, and wrestling; Stefan Botev, Nickolai Peshalov, Demir Demirev and Yoto Yotov are among the most distinguished weightlifters and Serafim Barzakov, Armen Nazarian and Sergey Moreyko are world-class wrestlers.

Bulgarians also take great pride in the country's achievements in athletics. Stefka Kostadinova, who still holds the women's high jump world record, jumped 209 centimetres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome to clinch the coveted title. Presently, Bulgaria is proud of its sprinters, namely Ivet Lalova and Tezdzhan Naimova.

Volleyball recently marked a big resurgence. The Bulgarian national volleyball team is one of the strongest teams in Europe, currently ranked fifth in the FIVB ranklist. At the 2006 Volleyball World Championship, they won the bronze medal. Chess is also very popular. One of the top chess-masters in the world, Veselin Topalov, is Bulgarian. At the end of 2005, both men's and women's world chess champions were Bulgarian as well as the junior world champion.

At the 1998 Winter Olympics, Ekaterina Dafovska won the Olympic title from 15 km competition in biathlon and Irina Nikulchina took a bronze medal at the same Olympic Games. Another pride for the Bulgarian nation in winter sports is Evgenia Radanova, who won bronze and silver medals in the following two Olympic Games. Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski are another example of Bulgarian champions on the ice — this time speaking of ice dancing and figure skating. The couple is the reigning world champions, holding the title for both 2006 and 2007. The couple also won the ISU Grand Prix Final in St. Petersburg in December 2006.

Bulgaria's state agency for Youth and Sport is the governing body for sport in Bulgaria. The current minister in charge of it is Vesela Lecheva. As of November 11 2005, Stefka Kostadinova is the President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.

BEACH RESORTS

Ahtopol - this quiet, laid-back place offers restful relaxation Balchik - A small resort town with an ancient history. Established 2600 years ago, Balchik is a wonderful combination of history and modern vacation sites. Burgas - the busiest port and second largest coastal city Chernomorets - a budget alternative to nearby Sozopol Djuni - a stylish purpose-built resort, consisting of five mini-complexes of contrasting, yet complementory, architectural designs. Golden Sands - cosmopolitan resort with both a wooded park and wide beaches Kiten - Kranevo - A resort village on the Northern Black Sea Coast, between Golden Sands and Albena, with nice beaches and a variety of restaurants and small family hotels. Lozenets - a quiet village with a beautiful beach and a calm, pastoral atmosphere. Nessebar - ancient roman ruins and museum atmosphere combined with modern hotels and nice beaches Obzor - cozy little town appropriate for family tourism Pomorie - A small resort town 20 km North of Burgas, popular for its spa facilities and nice beaches. Primorsko - small town with both family hotels and a good nightlife Ravda - a small town with a variety of family hotels, close to Nessebar Sarafovo - Sarafovo is one of the newest quarters of the town of Burgas, wich is the biggest town in South eastern Bulgaria, a regional, tourist and trade center. Sarafovo is also called The Bulgarian Beverly Hills, because it is s preferred place for living by many Sinemorets - The village is only 15 kilometers away from the border with Turkey and attracts tourists for its laid-back atmosphere and secluded beaches. Sozopol - picturesque old fishing village; comfortable family hotels Sunny Beach - the largest Bulgarian beach resort, good for budget family tourism; long shallow beaches Sv. Sv. Konstantin I Elenena - Tsarevo - Tsarevo is within an hour drive from Burgas. It is a small town with three beaches and a number of small family hotels and villas. Varna - distinctive, red-tile roofed buildings and casual atmosphere lend this coastal city a Mediterranean allure that is hard to resist Vlas - newly built resort with modern family hotels

BLACK SEA COAST

Originally an enclosed fresh water lake, some 8,000 years ago rising sea levels allowed salt water from the Mediterranean to infiltrate and salinate the Black Sea. Beginning in the 7th century BC, Greek colonists established trading centers along the coast on the site of pre-existing Thracian settlements. Later, under the successive rule of Romans, Byzantines, Proto-Bulgarians and Ottomans, these colonies took on strategic importance as fortified military outposts guarding lucrative shipping routes to Asia and Western Europe. They rose and fell in importance according to the fortunes of war and diplomacy.

Today, the coast is best known for the modern beach resorts of Golden Sands, Albena and Sunny Beach, and the historic settlements of Sozopol and Nessebar. The resorts annually attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, mainly package tourists from Western Europe and the former Soviet Union.

But the 380-kilometer-long coast offers much more than just resort hotels and sandy beaches. The topography is surprisingly diverse. The north is distinguished by pink limestone and sandstone cliffs, while inland the flat Dobrudzha plain constitutes one of the country's major agricultural areas. The middle coast is mountainous and densely forested, as the eastern end of the Balkan range extrudes here. The southern coast is similarly hilly and forested, the shoreline full of shallow inlets, small bays and protected coves. Two large rivers, the Kamchia and the Ropotamo, are designated nature reserves, their lush jungle-like environs supporting a wealth of flora and fauna.

Distinguished by a mild continental climate with Mediterranean influences, moderating coastal breezes keep the coast cooler than most inland areas. Summer daytime air temperatures average 28 degrees celsius; the water averages 23-25 degrees.

RELIGION

Most citizens of Bulgaria are associated — at least nominally — to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It was founded in 870 AD under the Patriarchate of Constantinople from which it obtained its first primate, its clergy and theological texts. It has been autocephalous since 927. The Bulgarian Patriarchate was established in Sofia after the creation of the Bulgarian Exarchate, in 1870. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is the independent national church of Bulgaria like the other national branches of Eastern Orthodoxy and is considered an inseparable element of Bulgarian national consciousness. The church became subordinate within the Patriarchate of Constantinople, twice during the periods of Byzantine (1018 – 1185) and Ottoman (1396 – 1878) domination but has been revived every time as a symbol of Bulgarian statehood without breaking away from the Orthodox dogma. In 2001, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church had 6,552,000 members in Bulgaria (82.6% of the population). However, many people raised during the 45 years of communist rule are not religious, even though they may formally be members of the church.

Despite the dominant position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Bulgarian cultural life, a number of Bulgarian citizens belong to other religious denominations, most notably Islam, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Islam came to Bulgaria at the end of the fourteenth century after the conquest of the country by the Ottomans. It gradually gained ground throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries by the introduction of Turkish colonists and the conversion of native Bulgarians. At the time of Liberation (1878) no less than 40% of the population was Muslim, but emigration was a key factor in reducing this percentage. In 2001, there were 967,000 Muslims in Bulgaria, accounting for 12.2% of the total population.

In the sixteenth and the seventeenth century, missionaries from Rome converted Bulgarian Paulicians in the districts of Plovdiv and Svishtov to Roman Catholicism. Today, their descendants form the bulk of Bulgarian Catholics whose number stands at 44,000 in 2001. Protestantism was introduced in Bulgaria by missionaries from the United States in 1857. Missionary work continued throughout the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century. In 2001, there were some 42,000 Protestants in Bulgaria.

According to the most recent Eurostat "Eurobarometer" poll, in 2005,[18] only 40% of Bulgarian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 40% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", 13% that "they do not believe there is a God, spirit, nor life force", and 6% did not answer.

PUBLIC COMPANIES - Albena - Black sea resort - ALbena invest holding plc - BIOVET is a leading European manufacturer and marketer of medicated and nutritional feed additives, enzymes, bulk active substances and pharmaceuticals for animal productivity and health - Blagoevgrad-BT leading cigarettes company in bulgaria - Bulgartabac holding - cigarettes and tobacco - Industrial holding Doverie - Kremikovtzi - steel company - Odessos - Shiprepair Yard S.A. - LUKoil Bulgaria - oil company - Medica is the leading producer of medical dressing materials in Eastern Europe - Neochim is the only company in Bulgaria producing formalin (formaldehyde solution), urea-formaldehyde resins, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, ammonium bicarbonate, liquefied sulfur dioxide, laughing gas (nitrous oxide), polyethylene oxide, glass filled t - Overgas - biggest Bulgarian private company in the field of natural gas - /only bond issue/ - Orgachim - biggest producer of paints, varnishes, resins and chemical products in Bulgaria - Navigation Maritime Bulgare is the present guardian of Bulgarias hundred year old merchant marine heritage - Yuri Gagarin-BT - manufacturer in Bulgaria specialized in the production of packages and filters for the needs of the Tobacco and Cigarette industries as well as of relevant spare parts, machinery and equipment. - Petrol AD – the petrol company of Bulgarians - Economic & Investment bank - Skladova Technica - factory for small smithery articles and cast-iron moulding. - Slance-BT - tobacco company - Synergon Holding - One of the largest holding group structures in Bulgaria - Toplivo - the largest retailor of heating materials - Khan Asparuh AD - the largest Bulgarian ceramic tile manufacturer and importer - Hidropnevmotehnika JSC is a specialized producer in the field of control setting units for hydraulic systems built in material handling engineering, agricultural machinery and machine building equipment. - Central Cooperative Bank - Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan - In the heart of capital Sofia

HISTORY

Bulgaria is one of the cradles of European civilization and the home of the world's oldest known writing system, engraved on the Gradeshnitsa Tablets. These have been dated to over 6000 years ago and are currently preserved in the Vratsa Museum. Rooted in the Thracian, Greek and Roman worlds of antiquity, Bulgaria's history dates back to prehistoric times and its continuous historical wealth throughout prominent cyclical eras of growth, decline and medieval renaissance rivals that of the much larger and more populous countries of China, India and Egypt. Thracians were the earliest known people to inhabit what is now Bulgaria and are direct ancestors of the modern Bulgarian nation. They were divided in numerous tribes until King Teres united most of them around 500 BC in the Odrysian kingdom, which peaked under the kings Sitalkes and Cotys I (383-359 BC). In 341 BC, it was destroyed by the Macedonian state but rose from its ashes at the end of the fourth century BC under Seuthes III. In 188 BC, the Romans invaded Thrace and the wars with them continued to 45 CE, when Thrace became a Roman province.

It is believed that the oldest fabricated gold treasure in the world, the 6,500-year old Varna treasure of Eastern Bulgaria, is Thracian-made. One of the most talented ancient commanders, Spartacus, was a Thracian born in the middle Struma region.

In 632, the Bulgars led by Khan Kubrat formed an independent state called Great Bulgaria, bounded by the Danube delta to the west, the Black Sea to the south, the Caucasus to the southeast, and Volga River to the east. Byzantium recognized the new state by treaty in 635.

Pressure by the Khazars led to the loss of the eastern part of Great Bulgaria in the second half of the seventh century. Some of the Bulgars from that territory later migrated to the northeast to form a new state called Volga Bulgaria around the confluence of the Volga River and Kama River, which lasted until the thirteenth century.

Kubrat’s successor, Khan Asparuh migrated with some of the Bulgarian tribes to the lower courses of the rivers Danube, Dniester and Dniepr (known as Ongal), and conquered Moesia and Scythia Minor (Dobrudzha) from the Byzantine Empire, expanding Great Bulgaria on the Balkan Peninsula. The peace treaty with Byzantium in 681 and the establishment of the new capital of Pliska south of the Danube is considered the beginning of the First Bulgarian Empire. At the same time one of his brothers, Kuber, settled with another Bulgar group in what is now Macedonia.

In 717, the Bulgarians stopped the Arab siege of Constantinople, killing some 40,000-60,000 Arab soldiers. The Bulgarian Khan Tervel was called "The Saviour of Europe" by his contemporaries. For centuries afterward Bulgarians were regarded as the angel warriors of Europe.

In 864, Bulgaria accepted the Orthodox Faith and became a major European power in the ninth and the tenth century, while fighting with the Byzantine Empire for the control of the Balkans. This happened under the rule of Boris I. During his reign Bulgaria also produced the Slavonic alphabet, which became a pillar for further cultural development. Centuries later, this alphabet along with the Old Bulgarian language became the intellectual written language (lingua franca) for Eastern Europe. The greatest territorial extension was reached under Simeon I the first Tsar,son of Boris I, covering most of the Balkans. However his greatest achievement was that at that time Bulgaria developed rich, unique Christian Slavonic culture, which became an example for the other Slavonic peoples in Eastern Europe and ensured the continual existence of the Bulgarian nation regardless of the centrifugal forces that threatened to tear it into pieces throughout its long, rich and war-ridden history.

Following a decline in the mid tenth century, worn out by the wars with Croatia and frequent Serbian rebellions sponsored by Byzantine gold, Bulgaria was crushed by an assault of the Rus' in 969. The Byzantines then began campaigns to conquer Bulgaria. In 971, they seized the capital Preslav and captured Emperor Boris II. Resistance continued under Tsar Samuil in the western Bulgarian lands for nearly half a century until the state was completely destroyed by the Byzantines led by Basil II in 1018.

In 1185, the Second Bulgarian Empire once again established Bulgaria as an important power in Europe for two more centuries. With its capital based in Veliko Turnovo and under the Asenevtsi Dynasty this empire fought for dominance in the region against the Byzantine Empire, the Crusader states and Hungary, reaching its zenith under Ivan Asen II (1218–1241).

By the end of the fourteenth century, the country had disintegrated into several feudal principalities and was eventually conquered by the Ottoman Empire. A Polish-Hungarian crusade under the rule of Władysław III of Poland to free the Balkans was crushed in 1444 in the battle of Varna.

The five centuries of Ottoman rule were characterized by great violence and oppression. The Bulgarian population was decimated and most of its cultural relics were lost. Large towns and the areas where Ottoman power was strong were severely depopulated until the nineteenth century.

Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78 (when the Ottoman Empire was crushed by the Russian forces together with volunteered Bulgarian rebels) and the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878, an autonomous Bulgarian principality was proclaimed. The treaty was immediately rejected by the Great Powers for fear that a large Slavic country on the Balkans would serve Russian interests. This led to the Treaty of Berlin (1878) which provided for an autonomous Bulgarian principality comprising Moesia and the region of Sofia. The first Bulgarian prince was Alexander von Battenberg. Most of Thrace was included in the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia, whereas the rest of Thrace and all of Macedonia was returned under the sovereignty of the Ottomans. After the Serbo-Bulgarian War and unification with Eastern Rumelia in 1885, the principality was proclaimed a fully independent kingdom on October 5 (September 22 O.S.), 1908, during the reign of Ferdinand I of Bulgaria.

Ferdinand, a prince from the ducal family of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, became the Bulgarian prince after Alexander von Battenberg abdicated in 1886 following a coup d'etat staged by pro-Russian army officers. (Although the counter coup d'etat coordinated by Stefan Stambolov was successful, Battenberg could not remain Bulgarian prince without the approval of Alexander III of Russia.) The struggle for liberation of the Bulgarians in the Adrianople, Vilayet and Macedonia continued throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries culminating with the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising organised by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization in 1903. Tarnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1393). Tarnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1393).

In 1912 and 1913, Bulgaria became involved in the Balkan Wars, entering into conflict with Greece and Serbia against the Ottoman Empire. The campaign was a success for the Bulgarian army, but unfortunately a conflict for the division of Macedonia aroused between the allies. Then a second Balkan war followed against its former Balkan allies in a desperate effort to achieve national unity. After being defeated in the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria lost most of the territory conquered in the first war, as well as Southern Dobruja. During World War I, Bulgaria found itself fighting on the losing side after its alliance with the Central Powers. The defeat led to new territorial losses (the Western Outlands to Serbia, Western Thrace to Greece and the reconquered Southern Dobruja to Romania. The Balkan Wars and World War I led to the influx of over 250,000 Bulgarian refugees from Macedonia, Eastern and Western Thrace and Southern Dobruja. These numbers increased in the 1930s following Serbian state-sponsored aggression against its native Bulgarian population.

After regaining control over Southern Dobruja in 1940, Bulgaria allied with the Axis Powers in World War II, although no Bulgarian soldiers participated in the war against the USSR. During World War II, Nazi Germany allowed Bulgaria to occupy parts of Greece and Yugoslavia, including territories long coveted by the Bulgarians. Bulgaria was one of three countries (with Finland and Denmark) that saved its entire Jewish population (around 50,000) from the Nazi camps by refusing to comply with a 31 August 1943 resolution. But Jews in territories newly acquired from Greece and Yugoslavia were sent to death camps by the Bulgarian authorities on German request. In September 1944, the Soviet army entered Bulgaria which later enabled the Bulgarian Communists to seize power and establish a Communist dictatorship. In 1944, Bulgaria's forces were turned against its former German ally (a 450,000 strong army in 1944, reduced to 130,000 in 1945). More than 30,000 Bulgarian soldiers and officers were killed in the war.

After World War II, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence, became a People's Republic in 1946 and one of the USSR's staunchest allies. In the late 1970s, it began normalizing relations with Greece, and in the 1990s with Turkey. The People's Republic ended in 1989 as many Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, as well as the Soviet Union itself, began to collapse. The Bulgarian Communist leader Todor Zhivkov was removed from power on 10 November 1989.

Bulgaria has held multiparty elections and privatized its economy, but economic difficulties and a tide of corruption led over 800,000 Bulgarians, most of them qualified professionals, to emigrate.

Bulgarian Currency

The official local currency is Bulgarian Lev. A positive aspect is that the Bulgarian Lev is now fixed against the Euro baring no financial risk.

With EU membership in 2007 the country will officially adopt the Euro. The Bulgarian Lev is to be drawn out of circulation till 2009.

1.95583 Lev = 1 EUR

BULGARIAN BANKS

- Alpha Bank - BNP Paribas - Bulbank - Bulgarian Post Bank - Central Cooperative Bank - HVB Bank Biochim - Commercial Bank Allianz Bulgaria (bg) - Economic and Investment Bank - First Investment Bank - Hebrosbank, Plovdiv - ING Bank N.V. - Sofia Branch - Municipal Bank (bg) - National Bank of Greece - Sofia Branch - Investbank - ProCreditbank - Raiffeisenbank (Bulgaria) - SG Expressbank, Varna - Unionbank - West-East Bank

FINANCIAL, CAPITAL AND MARKET INSTITUTIONS

- Financial Supervision Commission - Bulgarian stock exchange - Sofia - Central Depository - Bulgarian national bank - National Statistical Institute - Privatisation Agency - Republic of Bulgaria - Invest Bulgaria Agency

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