Bulgarian lorries threaten to shut Greek border at Easter in retaliation

Bulgarian lorries are threatening to have the Greek border shut in the days around the Easter holidays if Greek farmers do not lift the blockade "immediately", Dnevnik daily reported on January 21 2010.

Bulgarian transport companies were incurring losses estimated at more than 150 000 euro a day while the Bulgarian economy was being hit with more than three million euro a day in losses, according to reports in Bulgarian media.

"If the Greeks don't lift the blockade by January 22, we will inform Prime Minister Boiko Borissov that we will have the border shut at Easter," Angel Popov, head of the National Carriers Union (NCU) in Bulgaria was quoted as saying by Dnevnik.

NCU deputy chairperson Krassimir Lalov said that when Greek farmers staged similar protests in 2009, which included similar border blockades, losses incurred by Bulgarian companies surpassed 10 million euro, receiving no compensation.

"Our patience is wearing thin. If this carries on, we will stage a blockade of our own," Lalov said.

Greek farmers have blocked the border checkpoints for a fourth straight day in January 21, staunchly refusing to give in to Greek government pressure and Bulgarian demands for them to clear out.

According to Ta Nea, Greek prosecutors have threatened action against the farmers, but that has not weathered farmers' enthusiasm and the traffic between Bulgaria and Greece is still severely obstructed.

Beyond the border, major roads in Greece remain blocked, while overnight the Koulata–Promahon border crossing was opened for 30 minutes, allowing only lorries with time-sensitive foodstuffs to pass through.

Central Greece, Thessalia, and the roads leading to the northern Greek port town of Kavala are also shut for traffic.

Source:sofiaecho.com/

Bulgaria names new foreign minister

Rumiana Jeleva was replaced as Bulgaria’s foreign minister on Wednesday night amid mounting embarrassment in Sofia over her failed candidacy as the country’s European Commissioner.

Nikolay Mladenov, defence minister, would take over the foreign affairs portfolio, a government official said.

Boyko Borissov, prime minister, had refused to accept Ms Jeleva’s resignation, which came at the same time as she withdrew her nomination for the post of humanitarian and crisis response commissioner.

His decision was reversed after a lengthy meeting on Wednesday of the parliamentary group of the governing right-of-centre GERB party.

Tsvetan Tsvetanov, deputy prime minister, said, “Ms Jeleva’s wish to leave the cabinet has been respected.”

Ms Jeleva withdrew her nomination hours before a parliamentary committee was due to vote on her candidacy.

After a weak performance at a committee hearing, she faced strong criticism from leftwingers, centrists and Greens in the European parliament over her competence for the job.

Ms Jeleva resigned as an MEP last July to join Mr Boykov’s cabinet as foreign minister.

“I am not thinking about my political future at all,” she told Bulgarian media after her resignation was accepted.

Mr Mladenov, 37, also joined the cabinet in July. His international experience includes working as a consultant to the World Bank and as an adviser on defence and foreign policy issues to the Iraqi parliament.

Bulgaria has nominated Kristalina Georgieva, an environmental economist and World Bank vice president for the European commissioner’s post.

General Anyo Angelov, defence undersecretary and commander of Bulgaria’s armed forces reserve, takes over as defence minister, a government official said.
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Source:t.com/