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1
- Political status
Bulgaria is a republic with a democratic
multiparty regime. The present constitution was
created in 1991. The party in power is the
Bulgarian Socialist Party (125 seats).
The
President of the Republic is M Petar Stoainov.
There are 240 seats in Parliament.
Historical outline :
681 : The first Bulgarian state was created by
Khan Asparoukh
1396 : Ottoman domination
1878 : Liberation from 5 centuries of Ottoman
occupation by the Russians.
1914 and 1940 : War on the side of the Germans
9th September 1944 : Adoption of a 'Popular
Democratic' regime (Communist)
10th November 1989 : Todor Jivkov (who had been in
power for the last 35 ans) was removed from office.
He was replaced by M. Mladenov. It was the fall of
Communism.
1st August 1990 : The President Jeliou Jev Jelev
replaced M. Mladenov.
14th February 1991 : The Turkish language is once
more authorised in the schools.
9th July 1991 : A new constitution was adopted by
Parliament.
19th January 1992 : Presidential elections, Jeliou
Jelev is re-elected
28th October 1992 : M. Filip Dimitrov, the Prime
Minister is overthrown
30th December 1992 : M. Luben Berov becomes Premier
Ministre.
2nd September 1994 : Fall of M. Luben Berov.
2 - Geographical Situation
Bulgaria is a small country with 9 million
inhabitants.
Sofia is the capital.
The surface of the territory is 110 912 sq. kms.,
about one fifth the size of France.
The country is made up of mountains, pine forests,
fertile plains, rivers and valleys.
It is situated in south-eastern Europe, with
Rumania to the north, Greece and Turkey in the
south and Yugoslavia in the west. The eastern coast
line is on the Black Sea.
The coastline measures 300 kms and is only steep in
the north. The only particular relief is the
Bourgas Gulf and the Varna. There are numerous
lagoons and sandy plains.From
the northern border (marked by the Danube) to the
Balkan Chain stretches a plateau irrigated by the
tributaries of the Danube (Isker, Vit, Jantra).
This plateau is fertile and farmed, but in the east
and in the south there is predominantly oak
forests.
The Balkan Chain (from west to east) contains peaks
of over 2000 meters : the Botev (2376 m) and the
Vezen (2197 m). On their upper slopes there are
pine forests and lower down forests of large-leaved
trees.
The plain which is situated between the Balkans and
the Rhodope range is crossed by the Mariza, 540 kms
long, coming from the Rila Mts and going to the
Egean Sea on the Greek and Turkish border.
Regions : Sofia, Plovdiv, Haskovo, Burgas, Montana,
Lovetch, Razgrad
3 - Economy
In 1994 and 1995 the economy registered a distinct
growth. Then the stagnation of foreign investment
(ROVER, the English car manufacturer pulled out of
Bulgaria), the high level of unemployment, the
devaluation of the Lev by 68% in May 1996, and
structural reforms discouraged the international
financial institutions who withdrew their aid in
1995. The government of M J Videnov, elected in
December 1994 failed in its objectives (he was
replaced in January 1997 by M Stoianov). During
1995 salaries dropped by 11.8% and this had
repercussions on the economy. 85% of the population
live under the poverty line. The economic embargo
against Yugoslavia had negative effects, a drop of
47% of Bulgarian exports , representing a loss of
1.83 billion dollars, 13.7% of the GDP.
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