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ISSUE 06/FREE The official magazine of Radio Bulgaria Bulgaria – still the world's biggest lavender producer Gold Dust folk festival in Chelopech Bulgarian success at Who’s Next fashion show in Paris NESSEBAR AND ITS CHURCHES ZOOM/content Foreign Minister 4 Daniel Mitov: The 14 Nessebar and its churches Iraq crisis is a threat to national security Bulgaria and the We must showcase 5 Euro - a marriage of Bulgaria’s little-known convenience, yet on treasures – Daniela 22 a later stage Dimitrova and the other face of tourism Bulgaria – still the biggest lavender 6 Boyan Petrov: The most producer worldwide 28 successful summer of Bulgarian mountaineering British couple 8 resuscitates Bulgarian rustic tranquillity 10 Diamond rush ahead? Publisher: Radio Bulgaria/ website: bnr.bg/radiobulgaria email: [email protected], tel: 00359 2 9336 661 Advertising: [email protected], tel: 00359 2 9336 633 Gold Dust folk festival 12 Photos: BGNES, BTA, BNR, Infotourism.net, Veneta Nikolova in Chelopech Design/ prepress: Dimitar Petrin Issue September/ ZOOM Bulgaria magazine 3 ZOOM/news Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov: The Iraq crisis is a threat to national security by Iliana Raicheva on the resumption of the EU-Ukraine- Russia dialogue and on the belief that a solution will be found at the summit level”, Bulgaria’s chief diplomat said. “We hope that no new sanctions will be imposed but this does not mean that an escalation of the conflict will not prompt such sanctions.” The extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council has worked out a position for solidarity within EU for surmounting the consequences from the Russian ban on farming goods imports. Very soon, an EU council of agriculture ministers will be held to discuss and evaluate compensations to farmers from the Russian embargo. Another priority of the team of caretaker The crisis in Iraq has gone beyond the in Iraq and there was a call to member- Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov is the humanitarian dimension and has directly countries to provide humanitarian aid.” support of Kristalina Georgieva’s threatened the European Union outer On the occasion of an article dated nomination. She is running for a second borders, Bulgaria included, Bulgarian 15 August and carried by Bild, the mandate in the European Commission Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said Bundeswehr has got a secret plan to and for High Representative of the while attending a meeting of the EU arm Iraqi Kurds with Kalashnikov rifles Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Foreign Affairs Council. The EU chief from Bulgaria and Romania. More from Policy. diplomats convened for an extraordinary Minister Mitov: meeting in Brussels to discuss the „It is clear that the European Union and „We are working on this objective in worsening humanitarian situation in its member-states have serious concerns coordination with our EU partners. Mrs Iraq, the escalating violence in Libya over the developments in Iraq”, he went Georgiva has a very high reputation and the negative consequences from on to say. “France has already sent in Europe. She is one of the European the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle military aid. Germany plans to do so bureaucrats who have never been the East with special attention paid to the soon. The Czech Republic is mulling target of negative remarks. She is developments in Gaza. The caretaker a similar move. Britain has joined the very respected by her colleagues and foreign minister made public his position campaign, as well. No decision on this represents an indisputable human capital at the Council while presenting the issue has been made in Bulgaria so far for Bulgaria.” members of his political office: and in the case of an official request the In case the post is distributed to the „For the first time we are witnessing issue will be discussed and options will European Socialists Bulgaria will crises at level 3 of the United Nations be studied.” demand a priority European Commission scale, especially where Iraq is Minister Mitov added that “Russia office for Kristalina Georgieva, Daniel concerned”, Minister Mitov explained. bears grave responsibility for the Mitov said. “We are going to have a problem with destabilization of Ukraine, but it is also The organization of the election process the refugee flow. In the meantime, it important to make sure that when Kiev abroad and Bulgaria’s preparation for would be wrong to ignore the self- is discussing anti-Russia sanctions, it the rotating EU presidency in 2018 proclaimed Islamic State. All member- involves its European partners in the are other chief priorities in the work of countries should join efforts to stop discussion too”. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during this plague. Readiness was voiced for „Russia should realize that its actions are the term of the caretaker government, supporting the Kurdish security forces counter-productive. We strongly count Minister Daniel Mitov said. 4 ZOOM Bulgaria magazine/Issue September ZOOM/news Bulgaria and the Euro - a marriage of convenience, yet on a later stage by Vladimir Sabev and Deyana Borissova Bulgaria has just gone through a banking outside the new currency union. The in Bulgaria do not regard the accession crisis which was totally fabricated and analyses and comments regarding the of this country to the Eurozone as a top occurred without any good reasons. country’s benefits and perspectives from priority. The accession agreement signed However, just like each crisis, it raised a future accession to the Eurozone have between Bulgaria and the EU prior to a series of questions. One of them started from day one. the country’s membership reads that it was whether Bulgaria would have “Bulgaria does not aim at joining the has the obligation to adopt the European overcome similar crisis easier through Eurozone on a given date. Each year currency. However, the contract does the assistance of the European Central this country fulfills certain criteria not say when it should happen. Bulgaria Bank and the other members of the and requirements on its road to the has been claiming for a long time Eurozone if it was part of the currency Eurozone”, explains economic expert that its financial system is among the union and had adopted the Euro as an Lachezar Bogdanov from the Open most stable ones in the EU and most official currency. This question was quite Society Institute. Some requirements Eurozone members can only dream reasonable against the background of linked with the legislation regarding the of having such a high level of budget the assistance provided by the Eurozone central banks remain unchanged over the restrictions. The latter, in addition to countries to Greece over the recent years. years. Of course, there are some small data about the country’s foreign debt, details that can be changed, provided inflation, budget deficit, etc, allow the In fact, Bulgaria’s attitude towards Bulgaria receives an official invitation to official authorities in Bulgaria to claim the Euro dates back to 2002 when the join the Eurozone.” that this country has practically fulfilled single European currency was launched. the formal EU requirements regarding Earlier, the Bulgarian national currency The Bulgarian love towards the the Eurozone accession.Therefore, we was fixed to the Deutsche Mark through European single currency, however, can conclude that neither is Bulgaria the system of the Currency Board. When seems unrequited and weaker than in a hurry to adopt the Euro, nor is the official currency of Germany- the before. The European Central Bank does the Eurozone urgently in need of new Deutsche Mark changed for Euro, the not intend to receive new members and members. Apparently, the partners Bulgarian Lev remained fixed to the new the Eurozone members do not insist on in the future inevitable marriage are European currency and its successes and its immediate enlargement. Moreover, still not ready to exchange “wedding failures. However, the country remained the political parties and business circles rings”. Issue September/ ZOOM Bulgaria magazine 5 ZOOM/economy BULGARIA – STILL BIGGEST LAVENDER PRODUCER WORLdwide by Maria Dimitrova-Pichot This rainy summer has delayed by effective return of lavender oil, which How did we manage to outrun nearly a month the harvest of lavender will be at least 20% lower. However, France, regarding the first position? in Bulgaria, which still keeps its leading both things reach a balance and we still “France has had its problems with position among producers worldwide. expect the quantity of distilled lavender lavender plantations over the past Over the past years this country has oil to reach last year’s levels, or some decades, as there are diseases and the managed to take the place of France, 120 tonnes.” plants need to be re-planted over certain though the latter sees its endless purple periods of time, which requires greater fields of Provence as a part of its Thus Bulgaria preserves its leading investments. Fields have shrunk there national identity. position, regarding this aromatic plant and production has gone down. China, Will bad weather affect the lavender with long-standing traditions here. the other large lavender producer has vintage this year? After certain withdraw at the end of last also stepped out of the market, due to We ask this question to Mr. Dimitar century, a true boom of new plantations other agricultural priorities, I guess. Stefanov, one of the major producers can be recently observed. These two factors have resulted in a and exporters of rose and lavender oil. “Right now we are taking back our serious demand/supply discrepancy, “Cool and wet weather might be good previous positions, even bettering the shooting prices up. Hence the increased for picking up roses, but it is no good result,” Mr. Stefanov underlines. “We interest to lavender in Bulgaria.