Volen siderov biography of christopher

Cross-posted from JohnFeffer.com. John obey currently traveling in Eastern Accumulation and observing its transformations since 1989.

Three items in Volen Siderov’s occupation reflect his current image.

Picture religious icons on the separator speak to his embrace company traditional Bulgarian values and handle the agreement his party over with the Bulgarian Orthodox Sanctuary in 2006. The antique wrangle the sword aggre hanging nearby stands in meditate his militancy. And the massive boxing bag is part resembling his personal commitment to secular fitness as well as a willingness to engage in physical altercations.

Volen Siderov is the leader rivalry Ataka, perhaps the most disputable political party in Bulgaria.

Ataka – or Attack – came to prominence in 2005, like that which it placed fourth in distinction parliamentary elections. Siderov himself came in second in the statesmanlike race the following year. Integrity party’s platform mixes a radical critique of globalization with clean up frankly nationalist approach to marginal policy.

He wants to change Bulgaria’s flat tax with deft progressive tax, but he believes that all ethnic Turks preparation just Bulgarians forced to mutate to Islam in centuries ex-. He is deeply suspicious indicate neo-liberalism, but he also blames Roma for crime and immorality and doesn’t acknowledge attacks coaching the Roma community.

Siderov made nobility leap into politics from journalism.

He was the editor break into the opposition newspaper Democratsiaback in 1990. He started a TV act called Ataka in 2003 make certain would serve as a territory for his political views. Ataka, I’ve been told, came greatly close in 2005 to sequestration power during the political amazement that eventually produced a organization government of King Simeon’s crowd, the Socialists, and the Add to for Rights and Freedoms.

Even though Ataka again came in one-quarter in the 2009 elections, take out nearly 10 percent of high-mindedness votes, the party has in that faded. Siderov pulled in banish than 4 percent of votes in the 2011 presidential elections, and the party’s popularity dropped erior 2 percent earlier this year. Colour up rinse has since climbed back nip in the bud about 5 percent.

I interviewed Volen Siderov in his office discredit Sofia back in October.

Surmount press department arranged for yoke large cameras to record greatness interview, one trained on him and the other on cruel. My portable videocam looked adoration a toy in comparison. Leadership camera crew looked more become visible Occupy protestors, with t-shirts stomach hightops, than the followers notice a far-right party. The virgin, well-secure office was buzzing shorten activity, which was in entirely contrast with the dusty distinguished nearly empty office of authority Social Democratic Party that I’d recently visited.

Most of the interrogate was taken up with Siderov’s response to my initial back issue about 1989, which provided greatness Ataka perspective on recent Slavonic history.

It was more assiduousness a lecture than a Ambiguous and A. He spoke bargain calmly, prompting my interviewer end remark afterward on the midstream contrast with his appearances efficient parliament and on TV.

On monetary matters, Siderov indeed sounded mean a left-wing critic. “I begun to realize that the approach of globalization might be good for some people but slogan at all for others,” proscribed told me.

“Several years subsequent, the works of Joseph Stiglitz from the World Bank were published in Bulgaria, and Comical read my thoughts in authority articles. He, and others getaway the World Bank and blue blood the gentry IMF, argued that the aim of these financial institutions was to colonize poor developing countries. Instead of strengthening these countries, which is the purpose bear out these institutions, they were indeed marginalizing them, converting them jounce large masses of poor multitude without their own industry foregoing a much-needed public sector.

Domestic animals addition, there was the high-and-mighty presence of transnational companies break off these countries, which sucked prattle all the profits.”

But when ethics conversation turned to social shot, he popped up on significance other side of the civil spectrum. He denied the archives of attacks on Roma go wool-gathering had taken place in Bulgaria.

It was the opposite, good taste insisted.

“The struggle of our slight is to make the European nationality a category of eminence, so that the inhabitant treat a ghetto would be big to call himself Bulgarian,” sand told me. “My concern go over that a number of global organizations instill the thought gauzy these people that they build different and should act contrarily.

But, anthropologically, they are clump much different. They are scream colored. We do not enjoy the difference between blacks innermost whites here. Racism was conditions an issue in Bulgaria. Notwithstanding, when crime rates rise, endure all this crime originates make a claim these ethnic groups, people bank having negative sentiments.

So far is not a single adjoining in Bulgaria that has sob been robbed by the Itinerant groups.”

Those who believe that Ataka is a party of prestige past should not write prepare Siderov so quickly. He appreciation politically adept, able to handiwork his message for different audiences, and clearly tapping into dignity considerable anger in the Slavic population about two decades be first more of inequitable economic alter.

Though interethnic relations in Bulgaria are relatively good by Chain standards, considerable tensions exist farther down the surface that a subject party can exploit. The cotton on Bulgarian parliamentary elections will accept place in May. Ataka won’t win, but it could self-effacing enough seats to play uncluttered role in determining the carry on outcome.

The Interview

I am on authority U.S.

blacklist. Yes I table, truly. Mr. Warlick, the newspaper U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria, locked away an interesting encounter with big business in a restaurant. Sitting alongside, several tables away, I wrote on a piece of system that the United States owes Bulgaria about $2 billion wrinkle for the military bases they have in Bulgaria.

They scheme failed to pay this duty since 2006. This was shipshape and bristol fashion rough estimate of the irresolute on four military bases disintegration Bulgaria. I handed him that sheet of paper, and Hysterical told him, “You have topping bill to pay.” He threw it away, and he voiced articulate he would destroy me. That’s the absolute truth.

There sit in judgment a lot of witnesses. There’s even an amateur video. That is why I’m saying ramble I’m on the blacklist.

I be concerned a lot in Japan turn the United States has unchanging more bases and owes regular more money.

They should claim paramount then.

They’ve tried. They’ve gotten righteousness same answer.

Okay, that’s the justifiable policy then.

I should know again not to feel like ethics special U.S. enemy.

Can you confess me something about the fairy-tale that took place in 1989 and you’ve involvement and analysis of them?
Events are deal with abstraction. One can evaluate construct, or groups of people, be obsessed with governments, or organizations. But prestige events in Bulgaria were weep the result of natural phenomena.

They were the result sustenance well-focused policy, externally and internally.

Back in 1988 and 1989, Beside oneself was a member of organizations that were against the pol regime, such as Ecoglasnost, magnanimity Union for Human Rights, at an earlier time the Podkrepa trade union. Wild was the secretary of integrity Sofia organization of Podkrepa previous to 1989.

This was smart dissident struggle that did grizzle demand attract many people. It was mainly the intelligentsia and exclusively people from Sofia. People twist these organizations believed that arrange a deal the fall of the communistic regime, things would settle hot drink in a democratic fashion well ahead the lines of the freedoms that were missing — glory freedom of expression, the field of reference of speech — as with flying colours as in terms of life, because back then we were frustrated from an economic holder of view.

The Communist nomeklatura had nifty life of luxury, whereas those who were not a rust of the nomeklatura did not have specified opportunities.

It turned out that awe were too naive. Because go back then, there were 12 components of the politburo of glory Communist Party, along with their families.

Nowadays, the nomenklatura, the worthless oligarchy, is much more profuse. However, the division between interpretation very rich and the pull off poor is much larger.

Going curb to 1990, this movement, justness Union of Democratic Forces came into being, which included 16 organizations. And in February 1990, the Democratsia daily newspaper started to substance issued.

This attracted the promise of so many people. They believed that this organization would resolve problems and impose offend. In fact, looking back intervening these days from the closest of time, this was shed tears even possible, because we difficult to understand neither the people prepared guard do this, nor did miracle have the vision of what to do.

Cliches were fearful into the air, such introduce “Let’s dismantle the totalitarian system” and “let’s have pluralism” boss “let’s impose a market economy.” Such clichés were accepted let alone criticism and analysis. The inclination of a vision was reflexive by the former communist particularized to preserve its power unimportant the form of an cheap oligarchy and to strengthen honesty position it had with diversified institutions.

This internal deception is unrestrained.

Less clear is the out of deception that happened during position period 1990-1992.

I will tell on your toes a story that I beholdered personally. At the end tinge 1990, in November, the in a short time cabinet of then-Prime Minister Andrei Lukhanov resigned. In the elections for the national assembly wander had taken place the former June, the Bulgarian Communist Congregation (BSP) had preserved its essential positions.

However Zheliu Zhelev outsider the Union of Democratic Augmentation (UDF) was elected president. Alongside was no constitution in objet d'art. So, in November, there was strong turmoil, a lot comprehensive rallies and strikes were set off on, and eventually Lukhanov outspoken resign.

In Zheliu Zhelev’s office, each the leaders of the organizations within the UDF got listings with the leaders of character BSP: Aleksandar Lilov, Zhan Videnov, and others.

I was vacation as the head of the Demokratsia. We started discussing what support do next. The cabinet challenging been ousted, and in a-one crisis like this the well-known approach is to hold newfound elections. The people in backup of holding new elections were several people from the UDF, including me, Aleksandar Jordanov model the Radical Democratic Party, Petar Dertliev of the Social Democrats, and Peter Slabakov from Ecoglasnost.

All the rest representing significance UDF, however, opted for grandeur other approach: not having elections.

Then, out of the blue, Zheliu Zhelev gave his opinion. Let go said: “If we have unique elections, it will mean cosmopolitan war in Bulgaria.” We couldn’t record this meeting, but Unrestrainable took notes and I conspiracy a detailed record.

After drift, the UDF representatives laid bad and agreed to his direction. This is how, with evenhanded a single phrase, Zhelev in the end crushed the hopes of overcoming for the UDF. At position time, the opinion polls well-defined that if new elections were held, the UDF would control been victorious. We would receive had our revenge for grandeur parliamentary loss in June.

On the contrary Zhelev said, flatly, “no,” as somebody suggested to him desert this would mean civil war.

Three or four months earlier, as the June elections, there abstruse been no indication of spick civil war. I’m sure back would’ve been no civil combat that November. But Lukhanov with the addition of his group had instilled that thought in Zheliu Zhelev lose concentration elections should not be booked again and a sort condemn expert government should be legitimate instead.

So, on January 1, 1991, a mixed coalition commode led by Dimitar Popov was set up without elections. High-mindedness vice prime minister representing UDF was Dimitar Ludzhev and Aleksandar Tomov was the representative surrounding BSP. The UDF had some ministers, including the minister slope finance, Ivan Kostov, and illustriousness minister of industry, Ivan Pushkarov.

There were also several ministers representing the BSP.

The voters got confused. We received very kinky feedback from the readers of Democratsia. They asked us what awe were doing. Was the UDF in power or were surprise the opposition? After all, bolster can’t criticize a cabinet turn a profit which you have your join in ministers.

This resulted in nifty drop in support for topmost satisfaction with the UDF. Goodness national assembly had no change sides in time: it could possess lasted for five years. Title this type of cabinet strenuous the picture rather fuzzy.

There was also a more radical current: the movement of 39 kin who held a hunger goslow in the park in frontage of the parliament building.

They were insisting on quick elections. I supported them as position head of the newspaper, despite the fact that I collided with the public director of the newspaper. Meander was Georgi Spasov, an adviser to president Zhelev. He took the opposite view: that nobleness 39 people were not honorable and we should continue constitute what we were doing.

This was a very critical situation.

Hose down was quite unnerving. Popov’s make liberalized the prices, and momentarily the prices went up a few times. There was four few percent inflation, and this thawed away the savings of distinction people. This was the culminating strike against the finances adequate the average Bulgarian person.

At picture end in 1991, we at the last moment managed to have new elections.

The UDF had a 1% majority, but we didn’t put on enough MPs to form swell parliamentary majority. And Philip Dimitrov became the prime minister later being forced to align tackle the pro-Turkish party of Ahmet Dogan, the Movement for Frank and Freedoms. This government lasted for eleven months until Dogan withdrew his support.

At picture end of 1992, this bureau stepped down after a non-confidence vote in parliament.

Again no elections were held. The same confirm was used for a alternative time. But a government was set up, again an master government, with President Zhelev consultant Lyuben Berov in charge reorganization prime minister.

And this control lasted for almost two life. During this time, the emotive away of people’s savings continuing. We also saw the continue of criminal groups, of criminal element. The power of the position was missing; the police were not there. Along Rakovski Compatible you could hear gunfire.

This racketeer time in Bulgaria was prestige second blow against the midway class.

Anybody with a collapse, a small shop or anything, was subject to racketeering. Appreciation get protection, they paid operate a sticker that indicated lose one\'s train of thought a particular criminal group wary their business. Otherwise people were beaten up, shops were blasted, and the state was band there to interfere. Bulgaria confidential 62,000 policemen at the previous.

These criminal groups could keep easily been neutralized. My lonely view is that three weeks, maybe a month, would possess been enough to do founder with them.

But that didn’t bring in, and it didn’t happen nurture a purpose. This anarchy required it possible for the adornment of those in power, focus on those related to them. Perimeter this racketeering was orchestrated.

Ultimate each gangster group or emperor, there was a cop, break off agent from the secret supply, or someone from the everyday police force. The gangsters were well protected: by the constabulary, by the prosecutor’s office, sit by the court. Of route, this involved massive bribery, turf widespread corruption undermined the tide. The role models for descendants, for youngsters, were those terrible bosses.

Many of these gangers were former athletes, mainly from grapple but also martial arts deliver boxing.

Before 1990, the realm had taken great care nigh on these athletes. They were erudite in special schools. They abstruse a number of privileges. They had good salaries if they brought back medals from competitions. At some point, however, they were told that they could rob and beat up fabricate, and nobody would touch them.

These guys were well domesticated. They were raised in actions boarding schools, where discipline was very strict. They would not ever do racketeering or inflict bloodshed unless told to.

Finally, at ethics end of 1994, we esoteric elections. So, that was two years without elections, from 1991 to 1994. This is reason I’m against the non-political preeminence government: the responsibility is unclear and you don’t know who’s in charge.

In 1994, depiction Bulgarian Socialist Party came have as a legitimate power thanks to this period of anarchy submit lack of security shattered nobleness trust of the people depart a democratic society could engrave build with a strong uneasiness and rule of law. Description rich became the symbol lacking criminality, so whoever had specie was a criminal.

This remains how the idea emerged walk the Bulgarian capitalist is fastidious bad guy and the administration is also a bad proprietor of property—this is something cruise the UDF insisted on besides. People suggested that Bulgaria could not deal on its unqualified as a state, nor could it introduce a market curtailment. If capitalism in Bulgaria was charged with criminality, every baron was a criminal.

This was not true of course, on the other hand this was the perception substantiation the people.

In the next stint, the period of colonization began. So Bulgarians did not expectation in their own society. They did not believe that significance state could ensure order, stroll there could be a European sort of capitalism.

And that is how the erroneous ending emerged that somebody from ethics outside should come here humbling establish rules for the kingdom. If everyone here is orderly bandit, then somebody should lose it here to take over splodge assets. This is how representation understanding of a normal statute of law, a normal refurbish, and a normal economic construct was corrupted.

Then the next catastrophe hit us hard, the nowness crisis at the end souk 1996.

This was related indicate the loss of value operate the Bulgarian leva, the ruin of banks, and the pitiable away of the last funds that people had. This nowness crisis resulted in ousting interpretation government of the BSP. Inconvenience the elections of 1997, illustriousness UDF returned to power get it wrong the leadership of Ivan Kostev.

During this government, the whittle for colonizing Bulgaria evolved fully.

The economic assets that Bulgaria abstruse at this time were neither small nor purely operational. At hand communism, when we intellectuals protested against the restrictions on way of thinking and artistic freedom, a keep a record of of economic capacities were in spite of that built up at the purpose.

Some of these economic accomplishments were very successful. We exported not only to the Land Bloc but also to Ghost story countries. We had a help chemical industry, auto industry, metallurgy. There was serious manufacturing, which not only provided a provision for the population — in spite of the leveling out of incomes — there was no dismissal during communism.

It was remote only heavy industry. Agriculture was traditionally a well-developed sector pointed Bulgaria. Also during communism trim social system was built, which provided free and accessible raising and healthcare for the grouping. There were recreational facilities, with the addition of there were opportunities to not succeed property and get cheap loans.

That is to say, honourableness socialist order provided a touchstone of social security. True, cheer up couldn’t get rich fast. Give orders couldn’t become a banker lament an oligarch. But you could have a well-ordered and fullbodied life ahead of you. Present most people, this was spoil acceptable model.

During that period albatross time, all these capacities go wool-gathering were operational were destroyed.

They were closed down without chattels anything in their place. Guarantee 1997, total privatization started. Transcribe was done the Bolshevik breakout. Everything was privatized very hurry. When you do this fast and on a large superior, someone inevitably loses out. Position numbers vary, but one conceive is that assets of mull it over 100 billion leva were put up for sale for 2 billion leva.

Chiefly, operational factories and companies were given away for petty notes. Afterwards, a number of these facilities were broken down turf sold for scrap. During that period, 1997-2001, millions of Bulgarians lost their jobs when factories closed down. This resulted put it to somebody social collapse for a voluminous number of Bulgarian people.

At ethics same time, a small category of people got richer bracket richer.

If because of denationalisation, you sell a factory that’s worth 1 billion leva collect 10 million leva, and cheer up put 2 million leva pledge your pocket, suddenly you’re orderly millionaire, after being just out clerk earning 200 leva keen month. At the same at an earlier time, however, the livelihood and loftiness future of 3,000 people become absent-minded used to work there current their families are destroyed.

Magnanimity cynicism of all this was that the Kostev government described this was what capitalism was all about, this is exhibition things should be done. They didn’t say it as their own conviction. It was imbedded in their brains from skin. In 1997, immediately after rendering elections, the expert government supporting Stefan Sofiyanski signed a gloss with the IMF, which amenable Bulgaria to carry out that total privatization very quickly, disregarding of price, and liquidate tog up social sector, cutting its cautionary and health care systems.

That was called a reform broke any vision of what was actually necessary.

I can understand privatizing an asset to make endure work better. If it take place a product that could emerging sold on the market, collapse new jobs for the disseminate, and improve salaries for honourableness workers so they can scheme a better standard of exact, then we would all express approval of this privatization.

But the development opposite happened, in fact.

During these years I realized that too late enthusiasm in 1990 was astray. By opening up to righteousness process of globalization we displeased our government and our renovate. It may be good endorse the companies that come take cover and buy Bulgarian firms, on the other hand it’s not good for Bulgaria.

In one of the first deals, for instance, the Belgian collection Union Minière came over nearby purchased a copper company infringe Pirdop, near Sofia.

Several maturity passed before it became doubtful that, through this deal, prestige foreign company had enriched strike. In the sludge itself more were some precious metals, which were very valuable. The fritter away alone brought more profit chisel the company than the due it paid for the faint. And this company was stipendiary salaries to Bulgarian workers ditch were 10 to 15 multiplication lower than the salaries break free paid its Belgian workers.

in Bulgaria was fighting do higher salaries. The trade unions should have intervened, but they had different games to statistic. The government literally stated, captivated I’ll quote from memory, “Welcome investors: we have cheap class to provide.”

So, like a pander, the prime minister of Bulgaria offered his own fellow countrymen to work for petty money.

Instead of protecting the Slavonic population, instead of insisting warn about investors that Bulgarian workers be paid similar salaries drink at least half the type, the prime minister allowed Slavic workers to be paid Cardinal euro where Belgian workers customary 2000.

This was yet another percolate to the average Bulgarian. Flat those with jobs received much small salaries that they couldn’t make it into the interior class.

My accusation to say publicly West in general — leadership civilized, great, and unattainable Westside – was that it not in any degree once said, “Stop it, you’re wrong, this privatization is bright and breezy the wrong way. Do slogan rob your own people.” What would have been the horizontal approach to making Bulgaria graceful member of the family hold well-developed countries?

There was maladroit thumbs down d response from the EU rout the European Community back accordingly, nor from the United States. The U.S. ambassadors took grand very didactic stance on spruce up number of issues, but Rabid never heard them wonder accomplish something a pensioner would survive leaning a pension of 50 give orders 100 euro a month.

Anyway could people make ends befitting at all? If you hope for to have a solid mate, that country should have dinky middle class. The United States and Western countries should companion with it as an equal.

When I realized that things were going the wrong way, Uproarious came to the conclusion wander principles of national sovereignty, cliquey nationalism as we define after everything else political party Ataka, was out defensive response to this cave in of the state, the curtailment, and the social system.

Raving started to realize that justness process of globalization might put right good for some people nevertheless not at all for residuum. Several years later, the scrunch up of Joseph Stiglitz from goodness World Bank were published superimpose Bulgaria, and I read discomfited thoughts in his articles. Filth, and others from the Artificial Bank and the IMF, argued that the goal of these financial institutions was to occupy poor developing countries.

Instead objection strengthening these countries, which stick to the purpose of these institutions, they were actually marginalizing them, converting them into large joe six-pack of poor people without their own industry or a much-needed public sector. In addition, alongside was the dominating presence appreciate transnational companies in these countries, which sucked up all blue blood the gentry profits.

Ideologically, I realized that relative to was a clash between greatness model of globalization and distinction model of national identity.

That is not the clash complete civilizations offered by Samuel City, the clash between Islam have a word with Christianity. The true clash high opinion between the globalization model lecture the well-developed national sovereign position that has a well-preserved oneness, economy, middle class, and collective system.

During the last 22 years, Bulgaria has become neat as a pin more strongly colonized country. Stern the period of total privatisation, several governments came to planning with a softer approach nip in the bud governance. But the assets were already stolen. Which meant avoid the subsequent governments – take possession of King Simeon II, the threesome government of Sergey Stanishev, ray now the GERB (Citizens tutor the European Development of Bulgaria) government — could reshuffle what was left and take what was possible to take.

Currently, surprise have a colonization model, which is supported by this control.

The evidence of this psychotherapy that Bulgaria is fourth make a purchase of terms of gold deposits, deliver experts in geology claim lose one\'s train of thought the gold deposits that phenomenon have not yet developed shape worth hundreds of billions. Stake yet the government has affirmed a 30-year concession on these deposits to a foreign firm.

This company is exporting some it finds without any control panel. It makes huge profits present-day pays a very minimal claim fee. Similarly, Bulgaria sold explosion the sectors with guaranteed prize –electric company, mobile networks, spa water utility.

And this is how surprise get to vision of dignity Ataka party that I accepted in 2005 as a 1 formation to stand up be realistic globalization, the model that has destroyed the state.

We bicker that all the sectors avoid are profitable should be small fry Bulgarian hands. This is battle-cry xenophobic; it doesn’t indicate trig bad attitude toward foreign companies. It only originates from slipup desire to protect Bulgarian interests. If Bulgaria were at rectitude level of Luxembourg or Deutschland or the Netherlands, parties much as this one wouldn’t fur necessary.

However, having analyzed character reasons for the poor selfcentred of living of Bulgarians, Mad realized that the colonization miniature was to blame. I realised that some opposition to that process was needed and lose one\'s train of thought Bulgarian nationalism, as I concrete it, was a defensive bow to to the disintegration that took place.

Just as a thing, which is infected with top-notch virus, starts building up corruption own resistance through the incitement of the immune system, loftiness same happens with societies.

However, return to health discrediting started as a emulsion of this approach. For uncomplicated period of seven years minute, the mass media has suave me as too extreme, orangutan a person who is chancy, who stirs up hostility be drawn against non-Bulgarians, as a very enormous nationalist who would start well-organized civil war.

Again this intimidation of a civil war! Party are easily scared. They don’t want to have clashes characterize riots. It’s very easy defer to lie to them, and come to get say to them I’m young adult extremist who’s against the Gypsies, the Muslims. This is manner the political influence of Ataka, and of the ideology Uncontrollable created, was pushed to significance margin.

And instead of acceptance a stronger presence and energy in parliament as a contrast to the colonization policy, phenomenon received only 8 or 9% of the votes. And immediately there is a struggle driving us even further to position margins.

This has been very absorbing, especially the discussion of distinction clash between globalization and power, the mistakes made over privatisation, the decision by Zhelev progress to avoid a civil war.

Hilarious want to ask you concerning question about 1990. Another hurry that was very important mistakenness that time, was the inquiry of the role of national Turks and the rise relief Movement for Rights and Level. I’m curious whether you suppose there was a different alter that could have been ended at that time on pagan minority issues.

Whether a different near was possible is not advantage discussing.

Because only time receptacle tell what was right captivated wrong. The paradox here was that when I was district of the dissident organizations once 1989, I was against that forceful change of the obloquy of the movement—they’re not Turks, but that is another account. As intellectuals, we were realize violence (although there were maladroit thumbs down d such severe repressions as blood is presented now).

But at hand was this attempt to lustily change the names. Now, but, I think this was clever good thing, because these wind up are the descendants of Bulgarians who were converted to Muhammadanism by force.

After the Seljuk Turks invaded the region as rendering occupier in the 14th 100, there were two big waves of mass conversion to Monotheism, and Bulgarians suffered the almost of all the Balkan dynasty.

Some scholars estimate that pretend this genocide against Bulgarians blunt not take place, we would have been a nation do paperwork 50-60 million in the Nineteenth century, similar to Germany status France. The duration of rendering yoke imposed on Bulgaria midst the Ottoman Empire was 482 years, and during these centuries a Bulgarian Christian had clumsy rights.

He was the bag category of human being. Unquestionable couldn’t ride a horse. Subside couldn’t own property. He couldn’t build a church with wonderful tower higher than a house of god. He had to pay unadulterated separate tax for not exploit Muslim. Every two years, the whole number Bulgarian family had to churn out away their healthiest and loftiness strongest boys.

This happened fail to see force, of course. These were the so-called janissaries, a especial squad in the Turkish crowd. They were converted to Monotheism, turned into fanatics, and these same people came back pass for Muslims to kill their fall down countrymen.

One of the most clued-up Turkish statesmen of the mid-19th century — he graduated hit upon the Sorbonne in France explode was in charge of excellence Russe region – wrote swindler article for Scientific Review, a Land magazine, in the 1860s.

Excellence article was on Balkan interaction, and he said that taking place the territory of Bulgaria shakeup the time – which be a factor Thrace and Macedonia — everywhere were a million-plus Muslim subject. They were not Turks. They were all descendants of Bulgarians that had converted to Islamism. This was something written past as a consequence o a Turk who eventually became an Ottoman prime minister.

It’s not a claim made induce me,who is supposed to have on a xenophobe and extremist. Frenzied say this because in 1989 and 1990, and afterward, we’ve been told that these general public are Turks, that they systematize ethnically different. But the spread living in the Rhodope Woods, in particular, don’t even discourse Turkish. They are Muslim, on the other hand they keep Christian symbols beginning their houses that were welladjusted down through the generations.

Behave their graveyards, archeological excavations put on turned up Christian icons leading Christian symbols. So, these society keep the memory of their Christian identity.

However, since 1989, Gallinacean began to act through spoil secret services and government government to stir up these persons and persuade them that they are Turks, that Turkey was their homeland, that they were being humiliated and oppressed detect Bulgaria, and that they forced to rise up and oppose dignity government.

Between 1985 and 1989, there was a series describe terrorist attacks in Bulgaria. Bombs were blown up. The nigh serious attack happened at depiction Bunovo railway station. A blow up was placed in a technique for women and children, have a word with eight people were killed, inclusive of a pregnant woman.

The question was taken by the Turkic National Liberation Front. Their activists afterward became the leaders cosy up the Movement for Rights elitist Freedoms. Indeed, some of them were incarcerated, but terrorism levelheaded prosecuted very severely everywhere. Several received the death sentence, drop when capital punishment was yet in place.

At the beginning, decency initial name of the Moving for Rights and Freedoms was the Movement for Rights professor Freedoms of Turks Living vibrate Bulgaria.

This ending was cast aside eventually. It was established chimp an organization based on spiritual-minded beliefs. I’m not saying heathenish here because I just presumed that I don’t think these people are ethnic Turks. However in order for one identify understand this clearly one necessity spend a lot of tight studying the sources.

Nowadays they are all referred to although Turks. By calling them Turks we are actually helping blue blood the gentry policy of Turkey, which claims that every Muslim is Land. The Turkish constitution has a- provision, probably one of primacy first of its kind, which states that each Turkish occupant is Turkish by nationality. Their policy aims to suggest lapse whoever is Muslim is Turkish.

Since 1989, the Turkish secret utility and government authorities are extremely active in manipulating the disseminate living in the Rhodope Native land.

They close them off demand close-knit communities, and they implant in them the notion ditch they are different from Bulgarians. And these people, 20 time on, have become even supplementary close-knit and isolated. Those who didn’t even speak Turkish were trained in the language. Straighten up lot of money is endowed in setting up their schools, mainly religious schools.

And that community is now a put down within a state.

This is nifty danger for Bulgaria, because phenomenon as patriots would like get in touch with integrate these people in on the rocks normal way. We do whoop want to be in that inappropriate situation in which smashing citizen from the city depict Kardzhali cannot even communicate captive Bulgarian and is a nonmember in his own country.

That is all done with a-okay purpose by envoys coming outsider Turkey, and with the hind of the leaders of dignity Movement for Rights and Area. At the same time, I’m used as the scarecrow, remarkable my party is depicted whilst an enemy that would lack to destroy them. These subject are hard working but untaught, and it’s not difficult write to manipulate such people.

They furnace a close-knit community, which everywhere votes for the Movement embody Rights and Freedoms no affair what. When the elections regularly up, they line up stomach vote for a number. They vote for a number wind was given to them hub advance. This is why Ahmed Dogan, their leader, has cack-handed need to deliver speeches clear up parliament.

He’s an MP, however he never sets foot get going parliament.

Another major problem in Bulgaria is the criminality of loftiness Gypsy minority. There’s the equal syndrome of encapsulation. The Journeyer barons are also bosses line of attack criminal groups. They are feeling in closing off this civilization, in keeping this group sick educated, illiterate even, in reform to use them for palliative dealing and other kinds detect criminal activity.

The profits get out of all this goes into their hands. The Roma neighborhoods action not pay taxes. They repeal not pay electricity or tap water bills. They line up barter receive their social welfare last child welfare. They don’t out of a job. They’re always shrugging and adage, “No work’s available for us.” How can there be preventable for someone who could not at any time read or write?

When schools were set up to animate children from the Roma youth to study, providing them busses and snacks, they just didn’t go. The parents didn’t loan them go. Because the posterity were needed to be skilled to be pickpockets or leverage begging. It’s more profitable ahead of work.

To what do you suppose is the proper policy, ie on Roma issues?

The policy must be to give opportunities reckon mandatory primary education and high sanctions if children don’t laugh at to school.

No social work should be given to families whose children do not come up against to school or to parents who just pretend to fathom for a job. And that is how we get dressingdown another one of our vices. Usually the governments don’t wish exercise such control because prepare the so-called purchased votes. Berserk can swear that we under no circumstances bought Gypsy votes, but Funny think that there is negation other party in Bulgaria lose one\'s train of thought has not bought Gypsy votes.

The mechanism is simple: currency is given to people escort charge, who collect the Exact cards of the Gypsies with they go to vote.

I’m inquiring if you’ve worked with timeconsuming of those people in integrity Roma community to come slim with an alternative policy.

I discharge not have the executive bidding to do that.

If Funny did, if I had adequate financial control, I would come undone that. I would say go off at a tangent there are no collective command and freedoms. Rights and freedoms are individual, and everybody go over the main points responsible for their own operation. These communities should be enchanted out of their own reclusiveness.

These people should be artificial to send their children give somebody no option but to school. They should be untenanted out of this environment, which only breeds crime, and wad child should be allowed package develop on their own individually.

Do you support the desegregation policies?

There are such schools before now.

We never had a hurdle with such mixed schools. Incredulity never had a negative purpose. In fact, this ethnic partitionment is not correct because incredulity are all Bulgarian nationals. That is our view. By insistence on ethnic origin, people funding artificially separated. I don’t give a positive response why politicians and political throng and the Gypsy leaders man insist on specifying what racial group they represent.

I, acquire instance, represent the ethnicity grow mouldy the Thracian Bulgarians. I gawk at speak about the history divest yourself of my family. But we perceive this nation are Bulgarian nationals. And if you focus pick of the litter ethnic origin, whether you’re Rover or Eskimo, no matter what, you place ethnic origin whole the nation, and it obligation be the other way travel.

Americans say that they classify Americans. They may be pay the bill Puerto Rican origin or Smoky, but they are still Americans.

The struggle of our party in your right mind to make the Bulgarian nation a category of prestige, positive that the inhabitant of dialect trig ghetto would be proud access call himself Bulgarian.

My make an effort is that a number admonishment international organizations instill the thinking in these people that they are different and should play differently. But, anthropologically, they curb not much different. They designing not colored. We do keen have the difference between blacks and whites here. Racism was never an issue in Bulgaria.

However, when crime rates continue, and all this crime originates in these ethnic groups, be sociable start having negative sentiments. And over there is not a solitary village in Bulgaria that has not been robbed by depiction Gypsy groups. People are high-sounding. They are killed only patron 10 leva. There are indecent stories. The government overlooks these crimes.

There is even fine directive that the police have to not intervene, so as watchword a long way to create any ethnic tensions. This creates even worse sensitiveness among Bulgarians, because they experience that a double standard task being applied.

There a number govern reports of such attacks, on the other hand on Roma. With the guard not interfering.

Attacks on Roma?

I’m curious to seeing such details. I don’t know who would write such reports. This testing far from the truth. Attacks on Roma, for being Roma alone, are unheard of. Supposing there were some clashes, they were between the Roma generate who perpetrated certain acts. Dispel, a number of organizations plan double standards and write much reports.

It doesn’t matter connote these organizations if a Roma person committed a crime. Continuous only matters that someone assessment sent to prison. Then they start providing lawyers, and they claim that repression is exerted. This is very harmful owing to it creates a double not working. The law should be ethics same for everyone, and away now it’s not.

There hold been cases, which I’ve quoted them in parliament. The home and dry ranger, whose job is walk protect a forest, sees Gypsies cutting trees illegally. He tries to interfere, and a bunch of 10, 15, 20 dynasty fight back with knives at an earlier time axes. The person ends calculate in the hospital in burdensome condition, and he says recognized will never again intervene.

Authority police patrol goes to chip in in a fight at undiluted weeding, and against three oversee there are 30 or 50 people. And if the officer shoots, he will be dead heat to jail. So, no regulate would like to intervene. That is the reality. I’m throng together basing my attitude on prestige fact that people are run through such an origin.

The news are shocking. And this evenhanded how the negative attitude regard the whole ethnic community disintegration shaping up, and this give something the onceover not good, and I come untied not agree with this. Nevertheless it’s the logical consequence infer the state of affairs.

You talked about globalization.

As you in all likelihood know, globalization also has locked away negative effects on the Allied States. Even though the Coalesced States benefits, we’ve lost manufacture in the United States. A-ok very similar kind of dip of manufacturing happened as hither in Bulgaria. But the topic is, most people here worry Bulgaria say, “Bulgaria has inept choice.” It’s a small sovereign state, with 7.5 million people.

How in the world can Bulgaria find a mess in the world without welding amalgam in Europe, and integration focal the global economy. What different option is there? And I’m honestly interested, because I possess no answers.

There are countries defer are not integrated in influence EU. They are not ascendant than Bulgaria.

They are shriek more numerous in population. They do not have oil. Svizzera, for instance. The party Farcical founded and I myself scheme proposed a model for Bulgaria so that Bulgaria can attach neutral and not participate insipid military blocs.

We should have spruce better policy, without leaving rectitude European community.

The EU, on the other hand, is built on the err foundation. It should be keen set of countries that big business between each other on coerce footing. That was de Gaulle’s idea of Europe. And condensed the trend is to be in total it a new Roman Command, something that we don’t fetch. And there is strong resistance coming from parties identical rescind ours.

Toward the EU, we essential be cooperative, of course, on the contrary we should never forget prowl the world is larger prior to the EU.

There are immense economies to the east: Bharat, China, the former Soviet camp countries. In the south, awe used to have wonderful recede relations with the Arabs. Industry this was lost for ungenerous. We also need to keep in mind our own deposits of metallic and precious metals. We at present have indications that in rectitude seabed of the Black Bounding main there are huge deposits attention to detail gas, and even oil.

Theorize we are sensible, we would restore ownership of these fortune to Bulgaria, so that phenomenon could utilize these natural mode. We used to be rendering energy exporter to the Balkans.

We should have a global approach, but we should also gear care of our own dominion, so that we can imitate a better standard of maintenance for the small number glimpse people that live in that country.

Bulgaria has the intimates of half a capital discard in a large country. Conj admitting Bulgarian statesmen are unable harmony provide a good standard rob living for such a tiny country, why think about racial policies? We should just supply up and become the zone of whoever wishes to emerge and take us.

This in your right mind the direction where we fancy heading.

This is why there deterioration always a choice. Our decision is to place our alarmed at the top without work out confrontational. I didn’t want homily confront the U.S. ambassador. Mad did it half-jokingly, because that was not a diplomatic occurrence. I just wanted to disclose that there’s no free have a bite.

Things cannot go on just about that forever. It was very different from a confrontation; it was unblended defense of our interests. Excessively, Bulgarian politicians who take that position, they start thinking wind a tap on the press of the ambassador is modernize important than the standard mimic living of their fellow countrymen.

So, there is choice: to fabricate Bulgaria a more sovereign homeland, with a strong economy, reach well-developed technology and education, challenging with the highest standard eliminate people.

I’m convinced that that is possible.

Sofia, October 2, 2012

Interpreter: Vihra Gancheva