Minister Slavinski Robbed at a News Conference

The mobile telephone of the minister of transport and communications was not found despite the search

The cell phone of the Minister of Transport and communications Antoni Slavinski was stolen in Bourgas yesterday during a news conference held in the building of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC). It was heard of the theft at the end of the briefing after a panic began and vigilant bodyguards started closely watching those present. 'Someone has stolen the GSM of the minister', announced an embarrassed BTC employee.
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Sofia Will Alleviate Issuing Visas to Turkish Businessmen

Bulgaria searches opportunities for alleviating the procedure for issuing visas to Turkish businessmen, it became clear yesterday. This will be done in line with the visa agreement with Ankara. Krasimir Stephanov, the Chief of 'Consul's Relationships' Directorate to Foreign Ministry, met with Tahsin Burcuoglu, Turkey's Ambassador to Bulgaria. The two of them discussed the delay of the issuing of multiple visas for businessmen from both countries. By alleviation of the visa regime a way for responding to the growing interest in developing the economic relationships between the two neighbouring countries is being searched.

IMF Criticized The Energy Policy

Until mid-March the amendments to the Energetics Act are to be submitted to the Parliament. IMF team leader Yuha Kaekoenen (to the left) said yesterday at his closing meeting with the economic team of the government. Only under this condition the IMF board could approve the review of the three-years fund agreement.
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Photo of Nikolay Dontchev
ndontchev@standartnews.com

Filchev: IM Can Blackmail

The Interior Ministry can blackmail the tapped persons with the information gathered through specific intelligence means (SIM). This was said yesterday by General Prosecutor Nikola Filchev, who arrived in Bourgas for the annual report of the prosecutors' office. He explained that the prosecutors have no access to the records and use only the information earmarked by the Interior Ministry to be treated as evidence. 98% of the information gathered through SIM, remained reportedly with the Interior Ministry and it was not clear what was happening further to it. 'The police has large massifs of this information and it's not clear how it uses it. Preconditions for abuses and racketing are being created, against magistrates including. The information serves for blackmailing anyone', the General Prosecutor said.
Elena Dimitrova

January 30 in History

In 1848 in Istanbul (Tzarigrad) the first copy of "Tzarigradski vestnik" ("Istanbul Newspaper") edited by Ivan Bogorov, Alexander Exarch and Todor Burmov was published.
In 1856 in Svishtov the first Bulgarian library-cultural club was established containing the firs museum collection.
In 2000 in Sofia the Balkan Media Academy was founded. It was established under the aegis of the Stability Pact in Southeast Europe.
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Still warm for the season. At 2 p.m. temperatures will be from 9 to 14 degrees C. With a cold air front passing in the afternoon - thunders which are relatively rare phenomena in winter. As early as morning in the southwest regions rain showers and over the mountains of Rila and Pirin snow-falls. At noon precipitations over the whole western Bulgaria and till evening in most parts of this country. Mild to high southeast winds in east Bulgaria.

Editorial

Shilyashki Suits Kostov Only

IMF told PM Kostov bluntly something of what common Bulgarians are aware for quite a time. The native energetics is run by a man who is not able to even screw a bulb. Let alone make reforms. The now leader of the IMF team Yuha Kaekoenen himself established Shilyashki's unfitness. The latter lied to him to show the long ago promised amendments to the Energetics Act which should have eliminated the monopoly. This way the IMF once again indicated who is to be blamed for the chaos in this branch. Then, for what reason is Kostov still keeping Shilyashki?