Ministers of Bulgaria, Greece Unveil Tobacco Factory in Sandanski ...

The Only English-Language Daily in BulgariaSofia, Monday, January 31, 2011, No.25Sofia - The Foreign Ministry hasissued a warning against travelling toEgypt due to the tense situation andForeign Ministry Issues Warning against Travelling to EgyptBTA Photorisk there. In a statement the ForeignMinistry says that the threat to securityin Egypt is growing in the entireterritory of the country, and onceagain recommends against undertakingjourneys there.Protests in big cities continue andthe army has a limited presence onthe streets of Egypt. A curfew is inforce, which is not observed by theprotestors. The ban on movement onthe streets has been extended and isnow from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m.The Foreign Ministry warns allBulgarian nationals that they mustheed the restrictions imposed bythe local powers and the army inEgypt.The airport in Cairo works with adisputed schedule of incoming andoutgoing flights, but is open. Phoneconnections - mobile and land - remaininsecure, access to the Internetis still off.The Foreign Ministry recommendsto travel agents to make arrangementsfor the return of tourist groupsnow visiting Egypt.Ministers of Bulgaria, Greece Unveil Tobacco Factory in SandanskiSandanski, Southwestern Bulgaria - BulgarianEconomy, Energy and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikovmet Saturday with Greek Deputy Prime MinisterTheodoros Pagkalos, who is responsible for defence,economy and the social sphere, in Sandanski, SouthwesternBulgaria. Following their meeting, the two cutthe ribbon to a new tobacco processing factory of LeafTobacco A.Michailides Group (LTAM) in the town. Atotal of 9.5 million euro has been invested in output,creating some 600 jobs. The new factory is connectedwith the LTAM tobacco plant in the Greek town ofPolykastro. The new factory in Sandanski, which has aproduction capacity of 4 to 6 tonnes per hour, will be usedfor preliminary processing of Bulgarian and Greek tobacco.A total of 4.5 million euro was invested in the firstLTAM factory in the town, which opened in 1996.Speaking to journalists, Minister Traikov said that heand Greek Deputy Prime Minister Pagkalos concurredthat the region of Southern Bulgaria and the neighbouringNorthern Greece are turning into a single economic area.Traikov said that the new plant would process bothBulgarian and Greek tobacco, driving competition amongtobacco growers and purchase prices.For his part, Pagkalos said that tobacco is importantfor the two neighbouring regions in Bulgaria and Greeceand that production should become international. TheGreek Deputy Prime Minister wished further success tothe local Bulgarian and Greek residents in their jointbusiness ventures.Traikov said that in 2010 economic relations betweenBulgaria and Greece continued to develop, reporting aBTA Photogrowth of 9 per cent in commodity exchange and of 13per cent in the number of Greek tourists. The BulgarianEconomy Minister thanked Pagkalos for the efforts ofthe Greek government to prevent a second blocking ofthe Bulgarian-Greek border.INSIDE: Discussion of Use of SSR2 ........................ 2 NRA Checks Senior Officials ................... 2 Bulgarian Export to ChinaIncreases 140% .......................................... 3 Dutch-Bulgarian Project Discovers"New Thracian Gold" .............................. 4

Daily NewsJanuary 31, 2011, Page 2Discussion of Use of Special SurveillanceMeans to be Held in European Parliamentin FebruarySofia - A discussion of the use of special surveillancemeans (SSM) is expected to be held in February in theEuropean Parliament in Strasbourg, Bulgarian MEPKristian Vigenin told a news conference Sunday. Thediscussion is arranged on a request supported by theGroup of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats forEurope. Vigenin said the participants in the discussionwill look into the tendency in some countries towardslimitation of the freedom of expression and towards usingpolitical pressure. The European Parliament will probablypass a resolution with recommendations to EUmember states, Vigenin said.Vigenin expressed his opinion that attempts are beingmade to reduce the significance of the recent scandals inBulgaria involving the leaking of recordings and transcriptsof wiretapped conversations of top politicians.The MEP said that "there is hardly a leader in Europe whowould gladly sit at the same table with Bulgarian PrimeMinister Boyko Borissov". The MEP argued that theprosecuting magistracy must investigate the case whilethe Prime Minister should withdraw until the facts areestablished.Vigenin expects the next technical report on Bulgariaof the European Commission to be a lot more negativethan before and to include texts concerning the largescaleuse of SSM.On Friday sources from the extra-parliamentaryNational Movement for Surge and Stability (NMSS) saidthat at some of its next session the European Parliamentis expected to hold a discussion of "the excessive use ofSSM in Bulgaria," as the NMSS put it. The NMSSPolitical Council has supported the efforts of MEPStanimir Ilchev so that "the shameful and uncontrolleduse of SSM in Bulgaria receive a proper assessment atEuropean level", the party said in a press release.Prime Minister Boyko Borissov inaugurates Saturday a new care homefor the elderly in Botevgrad. The Prime Minister said that the newfacility is a testament to the good cooperation between the municipalityand the government.The home houses 60 people, and its kitchen feedsa total of 250 peopleBTA PhotoTobacco Growers Stage Protests inSouthern BulgariaHarmanli, Southern Bulgaria - Tobacco growersof Southern Bulgaria gathered for a protestrally in Harmanli, demanding higher purchase pircesfor the 2010 crop and government subsidies for thetobacco growing industry. This emerged from aBTA Photostatement by Assen Kyuchoukov, deputy leader ofthe Association of Tobacco Growers, who is at therally.In Kyuchoukov's words, some 90 per cent of thetobacco crop have not been purchased, and purchaseprices are 30 per cent lower from last year's.Some 200 tobacco growers gathered at a parking lotnear Harmanli's bus station.A spokesperson for the police said that 180 policehave been dispatched at the site.On Monday, some 5,000 tobacco growers from theregions of Haskovo and Kurdjali gathered near the villageof Gorski Izvor, Dimitrovgrad Region, demanding governmentsubsidies for the tobacco growing industry, aswell as lower taxes and insurance contributions fortobacco growers.National Revenue Agency Checks 264Senior OfficialsSofia - The National Revenue Agency (NRA) willconduct checks of 264 persons at top public positions, theNRA said. The plan for such checks was disclosed afterthe National Audit Office established that the said personshad not properly declared property in the declarationsrequired under the Publicity of Property of SeniorOfficials Act. The omissions in tax returns range fromundeclared purchases of cars by spouses to receivedroyalties, acquired land plots and apartments.The inspections will cover not just the undeclaredproperty but all income and expenditure of the checkedpersons and their spouses. The checks will also comparewhether the declared incomes match the family property.The average duration of one such check is three months.The NRA noted that not each violation of the Publicityof Property of Senior Officials Act constitutes a taxbreach.

Daily NewsJanuary 31, 2011, Page 3Bulgarian Export to China Increases140% - Chinese AmbassadorPernik, Western Bulgaria - In 2010 Bulgarianexport to China increased 140 per cent, Chinese Ambassadorin Bulgaria, Guo Yezhou, said Sunday. The diplo-BTA Photomat said that at the beginning of the new year severalChinese provinces expressed interest in investing onBulgaria. Ambassador Guo Yezhou said that cooperationis possible mostly in the area of logistics and infrastructure.There have already been Chinese investmentsin the area of new energies, he said.On Sunday the Ambassador led a Chinese delegationto the the 20th Surva National Festival of the MasqueradeGames taking place in Pernik. The diplomat promisedto broker for the restoration of ties between Pernikand a Chinese city."We should look for more ways of cooperation," says US Ambassadorhere James Warlick (in the photo) at a meeting with Pernik MayorRossitsa Yanakieva and the municipal leadership. Warlick attended theSurva International Festival of Masquerade Games that traditionallytake place in the town. The US Ambassador promised to bring Americanensembles next yearBTA PhotoNew Zoning Rules in Sofia Expected to Alleviate Parking ProblemsSofia - The final introduction ofnew parking zones in Sofia - blue,green and yellow - was presentedat a news conference by the SofiaCity Hall Sunday. The new parkingzoning is expected to push parkingfrom the centre of the city to theperiphery, free about 15,000 parkingspaces, and ease traffic indowntown Sofia by 25 per cent. Atthe moment about 40,000 cars parkin the city centre. The City Hallexpects that the higher price fordowntown parking will dissuadesome drivers from parking in thecentre.The new parking zoning entersinto force in May. The fee for parkingin the blue zone - in the centre -will be increase to two leva for twohours. Parking in the green zone willcost the same, one lev, but for more- four, hours. Parking in the yellowzone will be free.Electric vehicles of any type,motorcycles and bicycles will parkfree of charge.More than 3,000 Women to Receive Funding for IVF Procedures in 2011Sofia - The Fund for Assisted Reproduction hasstarted giving out financing for IVF procedures onapproved candidates in 2011, the health Ministry saidin a press release. About 3,200 women are expectedto receive such financing in 2011.The Fund provides up to 5,000 leva for one procedure.A candidate is entitled to three attempts. Preferenceis given to women who have turned 42 years,the threshold age in Bulgaria for IVF procedures.The approved budget for IVF in 2011 totals 15million leva.Set up in 2009, the Fund for Assisted Reproductionhas so far provided IVF financing to 7,000women.

Daily NewsJanuary 31, 2011, Page 4Dutch-Bulgarian Project Discovers "New Thracian Gold" in Eastern RhodopesIva Tontcheva of BTASofiaFor more than a year now, Dutchand Bulgarian experts have beenworking on a joint project in theEastern Rhodope Mountains in SoutheasternBulgaria, which they called"New Thracian Gold". They are convincedthat this land which was oncehome to the Thracians and their goldtreasures, hides abundant natural andcultural treasures that are worth discovering.The project team is working tointroduce new economic forms in theregion based on organic farming,environmental protection and ecotourism.As part of the project, two organicfarmers in Madjarovo havereceived financial support to adjustcrop and animal husbandry to requiredorganic standards and to createconditions for knowledge transferto other organic farmers throughtraining and demonstration. One ofthe two now has a model farm inTopolovo village which has morethan 34 ha organic cultivation and theother a farm in Gorno pole with morethan 400 cattle from the protectedcattle breeds Rhodopi Shorthorn andBulgarian Grey.Also, more than 160 farmers havebeen included in information daysand training on organic bee-keeping,animal husbandry, herb production,and fruit/vegetable growing. Twomanuals have been produced settingout the basic principles and practicesof organic agriculture.As part of the eco-tourism componentof the project, the owners offour old houses received technicalsupport of the amount of 5,000 euroeach to prepare architectural designsand business plans to apply forfunding under the Rural DevelopmentProgramme. Approval is expectedfor one of these shortly whichmeans that a guesthouse there shouldbe ready and operational for the 2012season. The other three are not expectedto be completed before 2013.The project also organizes trainingfor entrepreneurs in eco-tourism.Bulgaria is the first country whichis implementing a combination of thethree components of organic farming,environmental protection and ecotourism.The five-year project is financedby the Dutch National Postcode Lotteryand is implemented by two Dutchnon-governmental organizations,ARK and Avalon."Our main ambition is to help theregion profit in a sustainable wayfrom the natural assets of the EasternRhodopes," the New ThracianGold Project Leader, Dutch expertFrank Zanderink, told BTA.Spring view from PerperikonFollowing is the full text of theinterview with Zanderink:Q: Why New Thracian Gold?A: The Eastern Rhodopes arehome to a huge number of plant andanimal species. It is one of Europe'sregions with the highest biodiversity(or natural richdom). And thereforenot only worth protecting and beingenjoyed by people but also as aneconomic alternative for a regionwhere other economic factors (e.g.agriculture) are disappearing.Q: What is the story of the NTGproject? Who are the people behindthe NTG idea?A: The project is a product ofcooperation between two Dutch organizations,ARK and Avalon, whichare working intensively together withthe local stakeholders who are thebeneficiaries as well. The DutchNational Postcode Lottery (NPL) isthe only financing body of this 5-yearproject.The idea of this large projectevolved from an earlier small projectwhich started some years ago in andaround Madjarovo near Kurdjali withthe reintroduction of cattle to restorenatural processes. This small projectwas an idea of Fokko Erhart andHristo Hiristov. After this projectwas completed, the NPL was invitedto visit the region, which they did andlater on they granted financing forthe new much larger proposal. Nowwe have a team of approximately tenmembers, mostof them workingin Bulgaria.Q: Whatare the principalambitions ofthe project?Can you drawa picture ofhow this regionwill look like in2014 when theproject willend?A: Themain ambitionPhoto: project websitethat we createand on whichwe work is tohelp the region profit in a sustainableway from the natural assets (nature,landscape, culture) of the EasternRhodopes. The picture of 2014 showsa region where wild species whichdisappeared like fallow deer, red deer,wild goat and even European bisonhave returned and attract thousandsof tourists to the Rhodopes who makeuse of new tourist guides, good infor-Continued on page 5

Daily NewsJanuary 31, 2011, Page 5Dutch-Bulgarian Project Discovers "New Thracian Gold" in Eastern Rhodopes Continued from page 4mation panels and enjoy their stay atorganic farms and small hotels, eattraditional and organic local food,enjoy walking, hiking and canoeing,and thus leave a substantial amountof money in the region for the benefitof the local people. Farmers groworganic products like nuts, grapes,herbs and fruit and welcome touriststo visit their farms.In fact we see that the combinationof a region where organic farmingand a genuine wilderness (a completeecosystem) with a hospitableenvironment is a very promising combinationwhich really could turn into"new Thracian gold" but it won'tcome by itself, we all have to worktogether and make an effort!Q: A year of the project is alreadyover. What has been done andachieved so far?A: We managed to organize localpeople in so-called focus groups,trained farmers to become organicfarmers and find new markets, buildinga model biofarm in Topolovo. Wetrain tourism entrepreneurs, reintroducewild horses and cattle, and workon making it all one coherent networkwhere people add and complementthe project and their neighbours.Q: What is the biggest challengein this project?A: The biggest challenge is thatpeople do understand that the ambitionis not only promising but alsobecomes realistic when they all gofor it and believe in it. Promotion ofthe area is also very important, startingwith the Bulgarian public andslowly also attracting foreigners.Q: What is the potential of theNTG region?A: The potential of the regionconsists of nature, culture and people.These actors are being mobilized andcommunicated to in order to linkthem up into a network where localfarmers, hunters, foresters, tourismentrepreneurs, etc. work together tofind an economicalternativewherebythe natural environmentisused in a sustainableway.Q: Whatare the mainadvantages ofthe wilderne s s ,biodiversityand eco/ruraltourism thatPhoto: project websiteEasternRhodopes regioncould offer?A: The Eastern Rhodopes have avery high level of biodiversity.For example, the level ofbiodiversity is among the highest forraptors, insects, butterflies, reptiles,orchids and other plants etc. And thedensity, too. If you go to watch somebird or animal; you will find it! Theenvironment is more or less unspoiled(pristine), and it breathes a romantichospitable atmosphere and it showsmagnificent stone formations.Q: What is your personal newThracian gold?A: My personal New ThracianGold is not limited to the nature andculture the Eastern Rhodopes areoffering but extends to the enthusiasticway colleagues and focus groupsare working on and in the project.But most fascinating is the highbiodiversity and that it isn't reallydiscovered yet!One of my favourite spot is in andaround the Byala Reka and Borovitsaregion. Why? Just go there and see itfor yourself! If you are not able to gothere soon, visit our web sitewww.newthraciangold.com.600-Year Old Plane TreeWins 2010 Tree of theYear CompetitionSofia - A 600-year old plane treein the centre of the village of Gurmen,Blagoevgrad region, has won the2010 Tree of the Year competition,organized by the Bulgarian EnvironmentalPartnership Foundation. Thewinner was unveiled on Friday at thePolish Institute in Sofia after the tenshortlisted nominations were announced.The tree is 24 m high, has acircumference of 10.46 me and ahuge hollow. According to the localpeople, the hollow appeared after a fireset by a caravan of Janissaries duringthe times of the Ottoman empire.In an additional category, Tree atRisk, a venerable oak tree in thevillage of Avren and an age-old planetree in the Badechka Park in StaraZagora earned the top honours andprize money that will be spent ontheir conservation.Young mothers in Kurdjali, Southern Bulgaria,stage a silent protest against the main polluterof the town - the Lead and Zinc Plant. On Fridaythe government gave the plant two weeks fordrawing up a short-term environmentalprogramme for reduction of the hazardousemissions of carbon dioxide in the air ofKurdjali and the region. The protesting mothersthreatened with civil disobedience andblocking of streets if the the plant fails to meetthe two week deadline BTA Photo

Daily NewsJanuary 31, 2011, Page 6Weekly Roundup of Political Events January 21-28Tokyo, January 21-26Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is on aworking visit to Japan. Borissov meets with CrownPrince Naruhito of Japan to discuss opportunities topromote relations between their countries and invites thePrince to visit Bulgaria. Borissov confers with JapanesePrime Minister Naoto Kan and meets with the Chairmanof Nippon Keidanren Hiromasa Yonekura and the managementof the Japan Bank for International Cooperation(JBIC), as well as with the leadership of the InternationalFriendship Exchange Council (FEC), with TakahiroYokomichi, Speaker of the House of Representatives(lower house of the Diet), and Takeo Nishioka, Presidentof the House of Councillors (upper house) and leaders ofmany business and economic institutions. Borissov attendsthe finals of the Japanese sumo tournament atwhich he confers the Cup of the Bulgarian Government.The Bulgarian delegation includes Foreign Minister NikolaiMladenov, Economy, Energy and Tourism MinisterTraicho Traikov, Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov,Agriculture and Food Minister Miroslav Naydenov, MPsand businessmen. The ministers also have meetings:Mladenov with Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, Traikovwith State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy,Science and Technology, and Space Policy Banri Kaieda,Rashidov with the Commissioner heading the Agency forCultural Affairs Seiichi Kondo, and Naydenov with theMinister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries MichihikoKano. A number of documents in the economic sphereare signed, a business forum and bilateral businessmeetings take place.Sofia, January 21"The President of the European Commission, thePresident of the European Investment Bank (EIB) andthe Bulgarian Government will work jointly on the important,large and costly infrastructure projects which arealready European priorities too," Prime Minister BoykoBorissov tells journalists after a meeting with EIBPresident Philippe Maystadt who pays a one-day workingvisit to Bulgaria. Bulgaria is expected to receive some2,200 million euro from EIB for the motorways, includingabout 1,000 million euro for Hemus motorway.Sofia, January 21The European Commission will offer Bulgaria financialand technical support in its fight against foot and mouthdisease (FMD), the Agriculture and Food Ministry says.Nicosia, January 22The labour ministries of Bulgaria and Cyprus organizea Saturday information day for the Bulgarian workers inCyprus, the Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and SocialPolicy says.Sofia, January 23Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov presents hisnew book, "Georgi Purvanov's First Term", a collectionof his speeches and lectures in the 2001-2006period which was his first term in office as Bulgaria'shead of State.Bansko, South-West Bulgaria, January 24Bulgarian Interior Ministry Chief Secretary KalinGeorgiev and the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Police,Police Lieutenant General Ioannis G. Rachovitsas, signrules for the work of the joint patrols in the Bankso winterresort.Sofia, January 24The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry strongly condemnsthe suicide bomb attack at the Domodedovo Airport inMoscow as a terrorist act having caused the death andinjury of dozens of people. "We offer our condolencesto the relatives of the victims," says the message.There is no cause justifying the killing of innocentcitizens". Bulgarian-born Nikolai Ivanov Ivanov, whois an Austrian citizen, is killed in the bombing. PresidentGeorgi Purvanov cables condolences to RussianPresident Dmitry Medvedev, while Prime MinisterBoyko Borissov condoles with his Russian counterpartVladimir Putin, expressing his Government's readinessto help all victims and people affected by the blastto recuperate.Sofia, January 25"The EU's big future lies in further enlargement andTurkey is an integral part of it," Zhelyu Zhelev, Bulgaria'sfirst democratically elected President (1990-1997), tellsBTA. Turkey's bid for EU membership faces Europeanpoliticians and statesmen with the big questions about thefuture of the EU - questions to which they do not haveanswers, according to Zhelev.Sofia, January 25"Years ago, the affiliation of diplomats to the formerState Security could have been considered on a case bycase basis but now we should act en bloc," BulgarianForeign Ministry Spokesperson Vessela Cherneva saysat a regular news briefing in reply to a question. Thequestion comes after a statement of President GeorgiPurvanov on Sunday to the effect that of all the case filesof diplomats in question, only one contains things that aremorally reprehensible.Sofia, January 25"Bulgaria will meet all criteria for membership ofSchengen by March 2011," Foreign Ministry SpokespersonVessela Cherneva says at her regular news briefingand expresses the hope that Bulgaria's efforts would beappreciated for "what they are worth" by the partners.Cherneva commentary is prompted by recent statementsof high-positioned French representatives concerningBulgaria's readiness to join Schengen.Brussels, Januray 26"Bulgaria and Romania's delayed entry into the border-freeSchengen area highlights the 'dishonest' and'club-like atmosphere' of EU decision-making by memberstates, MEPs argue, calling for more EU institutionsto be involved in the process," EUObserver writes,covering the end of discussions at the relevant EuropeanParliament committee.Continued on page 7

Daily NewsJanuary 31, 2011, Page 7 Continued from page 6Weekly Roundup of Political Events January 21-28Sofia, January 26-27A new batch of wiretapped telephone conversationsof National Customs Agency Director Vanyo Tanov aremade public by the Galeria weekly: two with PrimeMinister Boyko Borissov and one with Sofia AirportCustoms Chief Pavel Manchenko. The three transcriptsas published by Galeria show the Prime Minister lobbyingfor a position transfer of a Customs officer withwhom he plays football on weekends. Speaking to hisministers at a weekly Cabinet meeting, Borissov says: "Iam the target of the attack. I won't waver." He isadamant that the attack seeks "to destabilize and drive awedge between ministers", and "make them easy prey".Sofia, January 26In a public lecture marking the fifth anniversary ofBulgaria's accession to the EU, former EU ConsumerAffairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva "sent strongpolitical messages about the need of Europeanization ofthe Bulgarian government and against the use of policestatemethods and violating people's rights and freedoms,"the non-governmental Institute of Modern Politics(IMP) says in a press release.Bourgas, on the Black Sea, January 26Bourgas Regional Governor Konstantin Grebenarovand Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Ismail Aramazdiscuss the rebuilding of border fences between the twoneighbouring countries as a foot-and-mouth disease(FMD) precaution, the Bourgas Regional Administrationsays in a press release. FMD broke out in two Bulgarianvillages near the Turkish border, Rezovo and Kosti.Sofia, January 26"In line with the Government's decision, all defenceattaches who officially represent the Defence Ministryand the Armed Forces abroad will be recalled if they areon the list of the Committee for Disclosing Records andAnnouncing Affiliation of Bulgarian Citizens to the StateSecurity and the Intelligence Services of the BulgarianPeople's Army," Bulgarian Defence Minister AnyuAngelov tells his first news conference this year.Sofia, January 27Bulgarian Regional Development and Public WorksMinister Rosen Plevneliev meets EU ambassadors topresent the Government's priorities in the transport sectoruntil 2020.Strasbourg, January 27The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe(PACE) says in a resolution adopted on January 26that "structural problems in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy,Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraineare causing 'extremely worrying delays' in implementingjudgments of the European Court of Human Rights,"PACE says in a press release.Sofia, January 27"Bulgaria is not in grain crisis: there are reserves of1.5 million tonnes of wheat, while only 1 million tonnes arenecessary until the new wheat harvest," Bulgarian Agricultureand Food Minister Miroslav Naydenov tells journalists.Around 1.5 million tonnes of the crop wereexported in 2010. "We cannot and we do not need to bangrain export, the European Commission can do this,"Naydenov adds.Sofia, January 27Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan comes under arocket attack at 06:41 hrs local time but no injured soldiersor damage to property are reported, the Bulgarian DefenceMinistry says.Sofia, January 27Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov accepts thecredentials of four newly appointed ambassadors: PetritKarabina of Albania, Toko Diakenga Serao of Angola,Blagoj Handziski of Macedonia, and Regina Escher ofSwitzerland. Ukrainian Ambassador to Bulgaria VictorKalnik invests Dimiter Georgiev as Ukraine's HonoraryConsul in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria).Sofia, January 28Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov hosts a traditionalreception for the heads of diplomatic missionsaccredited to Bulgaria.Silvio Danailov Heads Bulgarian ChessFederationSofia - European Chess Union President SilvioDanailov headed the Bulgarian Chess Federation (BCF)at its annual conference on Saturday, replacing StefanSergiev who has served two terms.Danailov, who is manager of former world championVesselin Topalov, won a overwhelming victory on 61votes out of 62.Topalov did not attend the Saturday conference.Bansko Hosts 2011 Spartakiad Gamesfor Young Bulgarian ExpatriatesBansko, Southwestern Bulgaria - Bansko MayorAlexander Kravarov, Hristo Hristov, Chief Secretary ofthe State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, and TsvetanGeorgiev of the Physical Education and Sports Ministrysigned an agreement designating Bansko as host to the2011 Spartakiad Games for young Bulgarian expatriates.The Games will take place May 10-14, the BanskoMunicipality said.The games will take place within the "I Love Sport"national campaign of the Physical Education and SportsMinistry under the auspices of the State Agency forBulgarians Abroad in partnership with the Bansko Municipality.In 2010, the Games took place in Kavarna, onthe Black Sea, with football, basketball and volleyballteams from the Western Outlands in Serbia, Albania,Romania and Moldova.