issue 89 may 2008 Analysis: Higher Interest Rates Surprise Bank Clients Real Estate Market is Moving Forward Despite the Setbacks Sector Overview: Healthcare, Pharmacy, Medical Equipment TheThe CabinetCabinet RedecorationRedecoration American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria Business Park Sofia, Mladost 4 Area, Building 2, Floor 6, 1766 Sofia Tel.: (359 2) 9742 743 Fax: (359 2) 9742 741 homepage: www.amcham.bg e-mail:
[email protected] editorial Dear Reader, As a rule, I try to avoid company functions, corporate celebrations and public anniversaries. I am not particularly enamored with the idea of standing in a crowd balancing a glass with the 'wine of the moment' in one hand and a 25- cent-sized bite of salmon on rye bread. Of course, I have little choice in this matter, because I have to be seen at such occasions often. At the end of April, I was invited to the 17th anniversary of 24 Hours daily, since I spent six years in this newspaper, starting with its founding in 1991. The cele- bration was held on the same day the parliament voted for the changes in the Stanishev Cabinet. You would be amazed to know how strong was the repre- sentation by high-level government officials at the cocktail. The president with the first lady, the prime minister himself, ministers, leaders of parliamentary groups, regular MPs attended the party. The notable exception, naturally, was Roumen Petkov, the now ex-minister of the interior, who will not be seen much in public for a while. Larger news organizations, such as 24 Hours, Trud, bTV, BNT, Nova TV, by default enjoy the attention of senior government officials.