Истината

Three ministers, one deputy minister and four MPs from NDSV arrived on October 18 in Velingrad to meet with voters and give their unequivocal support to the independent candidate mayor Nikolay Deliev. The group was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Lydia Shuleva, who welcomed in her hometown the Ministers of Justice Anton Stankov and of Energy Milko Kovachev and Deputy Social Minister Rumen Simeonov. They all watched the program of the Representative Brass Orchestra and entered the community center through a shpalir of cheerleaders. At the very beginning of the meeting, the candidate-mayor Nikolay Deliev congratulated Ms. Shuleva for the award, awarded to her by the UN as a person of the millennium. On the same occasion, the artist Boris Kostov gave Mrs. Shuleva a commemorative sign depicting wings, with the wish "Let Velingrad fly forward!".
Lydia Shuleva opened the meeting with the news that at the annual meeting of the World Tourism Organization, Bulgaria was elected by secret ballot as a member of the Executive Council (IC). There are 141 countries in the organization, and 4 European countries are among the 40 IS members: Bulgaria, Spain, Turkey and Croatia. This is a recognition for us, Bulgaria will set the guidelines for the development of tourism in the world, Ms. Shuleva said.
The purpose of the ministerial visit in Velingrad she defined by saying: "We are here to demonstrate the good desire to work for Velingrad." According to a recent sociological survey, the municipality has 4 main problems: unemployment, lack of perspective for the young, health care, infrastructure. To solve it, you need good governance and a capable mayor who has a comprehensive strategy, not a piecemeal one, L said. Shuleva and recommended: answer the question what are the mayoral candidates, do they think large-scale and prospectively or will they satisfy someone's interests. She put emphasis on the opportunities of Velingrad to become a serious tourist brand, for which also needs a mayor manager. The citizens of Veligrad still dream of industrial development, but this time will not return, now it is our turn to bet on tourism and on a real strategy that will open the doors of the European funds to us. "Money has a lot, but it is not digested because we sleep, sleep and wait for someone to look for us!" - so criticizes L. Shuleva lack of quality projects made by the municipality. She specifically pointed out from a European fund what amounts could be absorbed, promised "one shoulder" for each good project and set as a main task the creation of a unit in the municipality to deal with writing and winning projects. Ms. Shuleva also told about her efforts to advertise Velingrad to foreign investors and in order not to be idle Mr. Alan Smith - a member of an Anglo-American corporation that is considering establishing a chain of balneological hotels throughout Bulgaria. The same day Mr. Smith visited several balneological bases in Velingrad and shared in front of the hall that the city has very great potential and that they want to continue their project in Velingrad with the help of Mrs. Shuleva. And she urged the citizens of Veligrad not to set low goals, but to think about the first place and to judge which mayor will take us to the EU.
Minister Stankov presented the progress of judicial reform and promised that by April-May 2004. The problem with the building of the District Court in Velingrad will be solved. Minister Kovachev reported that in 2004 actual measures for utilization of the geothermal potential of Velingrad will be implemented with the help of the project funded by the government of Japan. Mr. Kovachev, who is a son-in-law of Velingrad, also shared his personal experience how 2 years ago. put a solar battery on his house in Velingrad and was amazed by the result. That's why he recommended that the people of Velingrad try it, because the investment pays off in 2 years. He was outraged that a cultural monument like the community center was in such a wretched form and it was so cold. The MP and secretary of NDSV Veselin Bliznakov reported that when the nominations for mayor of Velingrad were considered in the political council of the party, there was no dispute to support the independent N. Deliev. The questions answered by the guests were asked in writing and orally, and many of the case studies were promised by the ministers with written answers. Minister Stankov undertook to get acquainted with the privatization of greenhouses, and Minister Kovachev - with the problem of el. the power supply of Asphalt base, although there the responsibility is on the local authority. Questions were also raised about the supply of firewood, the looting of the sports base, the treatment of Roma problems, the increased court fees, etc. The attendees also received the development made by the municipal organization of NMSS for the problems of each settlement in the municipality plus suggestions for their solution.
Elena Baeva