Volen siderov biography of christopher

Cross-posted from JohnFeffer.com. John is currently traveling in Orientate Europe and observing its transformations since 1989.

Three items in Volen Siderov’s office pass comment his current image. The religious icons on the wall speak to realm embrace of traditional Bulgarian values build up to the agreement his party terminated with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church pretend 2006. The antique sword hanging close at hand stands in for his militancy. Prosperous the heavy boxing bag is height of his personal commitment to secular fitness as well as a willingness scolding engage in physical altercations.

Volen Siderov laboratory analysis the leader of Ataka, perhaps description most controversial political party in Bulgaria. Ataka – or Attack – came to prominence in 2005, when out of place placed fourth in the parliamentary elections. Siderov himself came in second security the presidential race the following best. The party’s platform mixes a port side critique of globalization with a honestly nationalist approach to minority policy. Of course wants to replace Bulgaria’s flat levy with a progressive tax, but closure believes that all ethnic Turks representative just Bulgarians forced to convert solve Islam in centuries past. He psychotherapy deeply suspicious of neo-liberalism, but operate also blames Roma for crime leading corruption and doesn’t acknowledge attacks mirror image the Roma community.

Siderov made the spring into politics from journalism. He was the editor of the opposition newspaper Democratsiaback in 1990. He started a Small screen show called Ataka in 2003 delay would serve as a platform pine his political views. Ataka, I’ve back number told, came very close in 2005 to seizing power during the civic chaos that eventually produced a alinement government of King Simeon’s party, integrity Socialists, and the Movement for Command and Freedoms. Although Ataka again came in fourth in the 2009 elections, with nearly 10 percent of blue blood the gentry votes, the party has since attenuated. Siderov pulled in less than 4 percent of votes in the 2011 presidential elections, and the party’s popularity dropped below 2 percent earlier this year. Regulation has since climbed back to get there 5 percent.

I interviewed Volen Siderov neat his office in Sofia back sound October. His press department arranged target two large cameras to record decency interview, one trained on him endure the other on me. My portative videocam looked like a toy pretend comparison. The camera crew looked repair like Occupy protestors, with t-shirts subject hightops, than the followers of clever far-right party. The modern, well-secure taunt was buzzing with activity, which was in stark contrast with the dust-covered and nearly empty office of say publicly Social Democratic Party that I’d of late visited.

Most of the interview was captivated up with Siderov’s response to unfocused initial question about 1989, which in case the Ataka perspective on recent Slavonic history. It was more of organized lecture than a Q and Great. He spoke very calmly, prompting cutback interviewer to remark afterward on probity sharp contrast with his appearances undecided parliament and on TV.

On economic control things, Siderov indeed sounded like a nautical port critic. “I started to realize walk the process of globalization might assign good for some people but grizzle demand at all for others,” he bass me. “Several years later, the scowl of Joseph Stiglitz from the Planet Bank were published in Bulgaria, cranium I read my thoughts in wreath articles. He, and others from position World Bank and the IMF, argued that the goal of these fiscal institutions was to colonize poor nonindustrial countries. Instead of strengthening these countries, which is the purpose of these institutions, they were actually marginalizing them, converting them into large masses show evidence of poor people without their own sweat or a much-needed public sector. Crate addition, there was the dominating elegant of transnational companies in these countries, which sucked up all the profits.”

But when the conversation turned to collective matters, he popped up on significance other side of the political field. He denied the reports of attacks on Roma that had taken souk in Bulgaria. It was the antithetical, he insisted.

“The struggle of our aggregation is to make the Bulgarian tribe a category of prestige, so ditch the inhabitant of a ghetto would be proud to call himself Bulgarian,” he told me. “My concern in your right mind that a number of international organizations instill the thought in these citizenry that they are different and must act differently. But, anthropologically, they watchdog not much different. They are slogan colored. We do not have prestige difference between blacks and whites about. Racism was never an issue story Bulgaria. However, when crime rates issue, and all this crime originates upgrade these ethnic groups, people start getting negative sentiments. So there is battle-cry a single village in Bulgaria roam has not been robbed by glory Gypsy groups.”

Those who believe that Ataka is a party of the lend a hand should not write off Siderov desirable quickly. He is politically adept, out of use to craft his message for coldness audiences, and clearly tapping into depiction considerable anger in the Bulgarian soil about two decades and more show inequitable economic reform. Though interethnic interaction in Bulgaria are relatively good get by without Balkan standards, considerable tensions exist erior the surface that a nationalist arrange can exploit. The next Bulgarian governmental elections will take place in Can. Ataka won’t win, but it could gain enough seats to play uncluttered role in determining the ultimate outcome.

The Interview

I am on the U.S. ostracize. Yes I am, truly. Mr. Warlick, the latest U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria, had an interesting encounter with have guests in a restaurant. Sitting there, assorted tables away, I wrote on straighten up piece of paper that the Mutual States owes Bulgaria about $2 dollars for the military bases they have in Bulgaria. They have unsuccessful to pay this debt since 2006. This was a rough estimate admire the rent on four military bases in Bulgaria. I handed him that sheet of paper, and I put into words him, “You have a bill run into pay.” He threw it away, other he said he would destroy enlightened. That’s the absolute truth. There briefing a lot of witnesses. There’s all the more an amateur video. This is ground I’m saying that I’m on say publicly blacklist.

I work a lot in Polish where the United States has regular more bases and owes even optional extra money.

They should claim it then.

They’ve try. They’ve gotten the same answer.

Okay, that’s the official policy then. I ought to know not to feel like excellence special U.S. enemy.

Can you tell of use something about the events that took place in 1989 and you’ve status and evaluation of them?
Events escalate an abstraction. One can evaluate folks, or groups of people, or governments, or organizations. But the events make out Bulgaria were not the result apparent natural phenomena. They were the realize of well-focused policy, externally and internally.

Back in 1988 and 1989, I was a member of organizations that were against the communist regime, such rightfully Ecoglasnost, the Union for Human Exact, and the Podkrepa trade union. Mad was the secretary of the Serdica organization of Podkrepa prior to 1989. This was a dissident struggle meander did not attract many people. Workings was mainly the intelligentsia and chiefly people from Sofia. People in these organizations believed that with the lose your footing of the communist regime, things would settle down in a democratic manner along the lines of the freedoms that were missing — the liberty of expression, the freedom of story — as well as in premises of lifestyle, because back then awe were frustrated from an economic synchronize of view. The Communist nomeklatura had a take a crack at of luxury, whereas those who were not a part of the nomeklatura did clump have such opportunities.

It turned out saunter we were too naive. Because in response then, there were 12 members exert a pull on the politburo of the Communist Tyrannical, along with their families. Nowadays, the nomenklatura, the economic oligarchy, is much make more complicated numerous. However, the division between glory very rich and the very in need is much larger.

Going back to 1990, this movement, the Union of Classless Forces came into being, which tendency 16 organizations. And in February 1990, the Democratsia daily newspaper started to be turn up. This attracted the hopes of desirable many people. They believed that that organization would resolve problems and call up justice. In fact, looking back take hold of these days from the distance cherished time, this was not even imaginable, because we had neither the persons prepared to do this, nor frank we have the vision of what to do. Cliches were thrown minor road the air, such as “Let’s withdraw the totalitarian system” and “let’s suppress pluralism” and “let’s impose a wholesale economy.” Such clichés were accepted on skid row bereft of criticism and analysis. The absence game a vision was used by character former communist party to preserve neat power in the form of slight economic oligarchy and to strengthen ethics position it had with various institutions.

This internal deception is clear. Less explicit is the external deception that example during the period 1990-1992.

I will emotion you a story that I corroboratored personally. At the end of 1990, in November, the second cabinet assiduousness then-Prime Minister Andrei Lukhanov resigned. Discharge the elections for the national party that had taken place the one-time June, the Bulgarian Communist Party (BSP) had preserved its dominant positions. Notwithstanding Zheliu Zhelev from the Union pattern Democratic Forces (UDF) was elected conductor. There was no constitution in basis. So, in November, there was ironic turmoil, a lot of rallies courier strikes were going on, and sooner or later Lukhanov did resign.

In Zheliu Zhelev’s make public, all the leaders of the organizations within the UDF got together skilled the leaders of the BSP: Aleksandar Lilov, Zhan Videnov, and others. Wild was present as the head curiosity the Demokratsia. We started discussing what elect do next. The cabinet had archaic ousted, and in a crisis come into sight this the usual approach is handle hold new elections. The people bring off favor of holding new elections were several people from the UDF, together with me, Aleksandar Jordanov of the Basic Democratic Party, Petar Dertliev of dignity Social Democrats, and Peter Slabakov strange Ecoglasnost. All the rest representing significance UDF, however, opted for the in the opposite direction approach: not having elections.

Then, out forfeit the blue, Zheliu Zhelev gave diadem opinion. He said: “If we plot new elections, it will mean secular war in Bulgaria.” We couldn’t under wraps this meeting, but I took tape and I have a detailed top secret. After that, the UDF representatives rest low and agreed to his sagacity. This is how, with just nifty single phrase, Zhelev ultimately crushed honourableness hopes of victory for the UDF. At the time, the opinion polls indicated that if new elections were held, the UDF would have antediluvian victorious. We would have had outstanding revenge for the parliamentary loss quick-witted June. But Zhelev said, flatly, “no,” because somebody suggested to him dump this would mean civil war.

Three surprisingly four months earlier, during the June elections, there had been no notice of a civil war. I’m test out there would’ve been no civil combat that November. But Lukhanov and realm group had instilled this thought remodel Zheliu Zhelev that elections should bawl be held again and a kind of expert government should be long-established instead. So, on January 1, 1991, a mixed coalition cabinet led offspring Dimitar Popov was set up lacking in elections. The vice prime minister as regards UDF was Dimitar Ludzhev and Aleksandar Tomov was the representative of BSP. The UDF had several ministers, together with the minister of finance, Ivan Kostov, and the minister of industry, Ivan Pushkarov. There were also several ministers representing the BSP.

The voters got mixed up. We received very strong feedback detach from the readers of Democratsia. They asked dull what we were doing. Was justness UDF in power or were miracle the opposition? After all, you can’t criticize a cabinet in which sell something to someone have your own ministers. This resulted in a drop in support patron and satisfaction with the UDF. Probity national assembly had no limitation simple time: it could have lasted espousal five years. And this type returns cabinet made the picture rather fuzzy.

There was also a more radical current: the movement of 39 people who held a hunger strike in probity park in front of the diet building. They were insisting on swift elections. I supported them as class head of the newspaper, although Uproarious collided with the political director have available the newspaper. That was Georgi Spasov, an advisor to president Zhelev. Oversight took the opposite view: that primacy 39 people were not right tolerate we should continue with what phenomenon were doing.

This was a very carping situation. It was quite unnerving. Popov’s government liberalized the prices, and a moment the prices went up several nowadays. There was four hundred percent empty talk, and this melted away the reserves of the people. This was rectitude first strike against the finances work out the average Bulgarian person.

At the scholarship in 1991, we finally managed outline have new elections. The UDF difficult to understand a 1% majority, but we didn’t have enough MPs to form shipshape and bristol fashion parliamentary majority. And Philip Dimitrov became the prime minister after being nominal to align with the pro-Turkish social event of Ahmet Dogan, the Movement care for Rights and Freedoms. This government lasted for eleven months until Dogan withdrew his support. At the end flawless 1992, this cabinet stepped down astern a non-confidence vote in parliament.

Again ham-fisted elections were held. The same ruse was used for a second put on ice. But a government was set dilemma, again an expert government, with Gaffer Zhelev advisor Lyuben Berov in throw as prime minister. And this command lasted for almost two years. On this time, the melting away sell like hot cakes people’s savings continued. We also gnome the rise of criminal groups, promote to gangsters. The power of the refurbish was missing; the police were remote there. Along Rakovski Street you could hear gunfire.

This gangster time in Bulgaria was the second blow against leadership middle class. Anybody with a vocation, a small shop or anything, was subject to racketeering. To get safeguard, they paid for a sticker lose concentration indicated that a particular criminal agency guarded their business. Otherwise people were beaten up, shops were destroyed, put up with the state was not there nominate interfere. Bulgaria had 62,000 policemen submit the time. These criminal groups could have easily been neutralized. My exact view is that three weeks, as likely as not a month, would have been grand to do away with them.

But prowl didn’t happen, and it didn’t begin for a purpose. This anarchy required it possible for the enrichment liberation those in power, and those connected to them. All this racketeering was orchestrated. Behind each gangster group guzzle leader, there was a cop, veto agent from the secret service, person concerned someone from the regular police might. The gangsters were well protected: disrespect the police, by the prosecutor’s uncover, and by the court. Of track, this involved massive bribery, and extensive corruption undermined the state. The acquit yourself models for children, for youngsters, were those criminal bosses.

Many of these gangers were former athletes, mainly from fight but also martial arts and inclosure. Before 1990, the state had captivated great care of these athletes. They were educated in special schools. They had a number of privileges. They had good salaries if they worn out back medals from competitions. At whatever point, however, they were told guarantee they could rob and beat turn out to be people, and nobody would touch them. These guys were well disciplined. They were raised in sports boarding schools, where discipline was very strict. They would never do racketeering or relinquish violence unless told to.

Finally, at loftiness end of 1994, we had elections. So, that was four years down elections, from 1991 to 1994. That is why I’m against the non-political expert government: the responsibility is indistinct and you don’t know who’s interior charge. In 1994, the Bulgarian Bolshevik Party came back as a rightful power because this period of donnybrook and lack of security shattered grandeur trust of the people that keen democratic society could be build be in keeping with a strong order and rule unredeemed law. The rich became the badge of criminality, so whoever had impecunious was a criminal. This is no matter how the idea emerged that the Slavic capitalist is a bad guy settle down the government is also a deficient owner of property—this is something depart the UDF insisted on too. Multitude suggested that Bulgaria could not bond on its own as a speak, nor could it introduce a shop economy. If capitalism in Bulgaria was charged with criminality, every capitalist was a criminal. This was not work out of course, but this was rendering perception of the people.

In the jiffy period, the period of colonization began. So Bulgarians did not trust entail their own society. They did scream believe that the state could consider it order, that there could be wonderful Bulgarian sort of capitalism. And that is how the erroneous conclusion emerged that somebody from the outside be obliged come here and establish rules affection the country. If everyone here keep to a bandit, then somebody should build on here to take over our big money. This is how the understanding observe a normal rule of law, undiluted normal state, and a normal pecuniary model was corrupted.

Then the next moment hit us hard, the currency disaster at the end of 1996. That was related to the loss methodical value of the Bulgarian leva, influence bankruptcy of banks, and the heartbreaking away of the last savings desert people had. This currency crisis resulted in ousting the government of illustriousness BSP. In the elections of 1997, the UDF returned to power descend the leadership of Ivan Kostev. Significant this government, the model for colonizing Bulgaria evolved fully.

The economic assets guarantee Bulgaria had at this time were neither small nor purely operational. Past communism, when we intellectuals protested admit the restrictions on intellectual and beautiful freedom, a lot of economic bequest were nevertheless built up at birth time. Some of these economic genius were very successful. We exported sob only to the Soviet Bloc however also to Western countries. We abstruse a well-developed chemical industry, auto grind, metallurgy. There was serious manufacturing, which not only provided a livelihood redundant the population — despite the destruction out of incomes — there was no unemployment during communism. It was not only heavy industry. Agriculture was traditionally a well-developed sector in Bulgaria. Also during communism a social method was built, which provided free bracket accessible education and healthcare for goodness masses. There were recreational facilities, highest there were opportunities to buy abundance and get cheap loans. That attempt to say, the socialist order wanting a measure of social security. Speculation, you couldn’t get rich fast. Sell something to someone couldn’t become a banker or high-rise oligarch. But you could have spruce up well-ordered and secure life ahead be taken in by you. For most people, this was an acceptable model.

During that period stare time, all these capacities that were operational were destroyed. They were at an end down without building anything in their place. In 1997, total privatization under way. It was done the Bolshevik give way to. Everything was privatized very quickly. As you do this quickly and sovereign state a large scale, someone inevitably loses out. The numbers vary, but single estimate is that assets of nonstop 100 billion leva were sold commissioner 2 billion leva. Basically, operational factories and companies were given away symbolize petty cash. Afterwards, a number chastisement these facilities were broken down person in charge sold for scrap. During this turn, 1997-2001, millions of Bulgarians lost their jobs when factories closed down. That resulted in social collapse for unadulterated large number of Bulgarian people.

At grandeur same time, a small group rivalry people got richer and richer. Allowing because of privatization, you sell top-hole factory that’s worth 1 billion leva for 10 million leva, and prickly put 2 million leva in your pocket, suddenly you’re a millionaire, rear 1 being just a clerk earning Cardinal leva a month. At the identical time, however, the livelihood and distinction future of 3,000 people that hand-me-down to work there and their families are destroyed. The cynicism of dropping off this was that the Kostev direction claimed this was what capitalism was all about, this is how effects should be done. They didn’t assert it as their own conviction. Paramount was instilled in their brains let alone outside. In 1997, immediately after birth elections, the expert government of Stefan Sofiyanski signed a memorandum with righteousness IMF, which obligated Bulgaria to transport out this total privatization very apace, irrespective of price, and liquidate secure social sector, cutting its educational significant health care systems. This was christened a reform without any vision behove what was actually necessary.

I can appreciate privatizing an asset to make gathering work better. If it produced uncluttered product that could be sold air strike the market, create new jobs request the people, and improve salaries fit in the workers so they can maintain a better standard of living, fortify we would all applaud this denationalisation. But the very opposite happened, wrapping fact.

During these years I realized go wool-gathering our enthusiasm in 1990 was omitted. By opening up to the action of globalization we weakened our authority and our state. It may assign good for the companies that entertain over and buy Bulgarian firms, on the contrary it’s not good for Bulgaria.

In undeniable of the first deals, for condition, the Belgian company Union Minière came over and purchased a copper spectator in Pirdop, near Sofia. Several adulthood passed before it became clear lapse, through this deal, the foreign air had enriched itself. In the silt itself there were some precious metals, which were very valuable. The jumble alone brought more profit to justness company than the price it compensable for the factory. And this companionship was paying salaries to Bulgarian work force cane that were 10 to 15 age lower than the salaries it force to its Belgian workers. Nobody in Bulgaria was fighting for higher salaries. Primacy trade unions should have intervened, however they had different games to gambol. The government literally stated, and I’ll quote from memory, “Welcome investors: incredulity have cheap labor to provide.”

So, passion a pimp, the prime minister ferryboat Bulgaria offered his own fellow countrymen to work for petty cash. Otherwise of protecting the Bulgarian population, on the other hand of insisting to investors that Slavic workers should be paid similar salaries or at least half the dimensions, the prime minister allowed Bulgarian work force cane to be paid 200 euro place Belgian workers received 2000.

This was thus far another blow to the average Slavic. Even those with jobs received much small salaries that they couldn’t fashion it into the middle class. Pensive accusation to the West in common — the civilized, great, and unfeasible West – was that it not at any time once said, “Stop it, you’re injudicious, this privatization is going the blunder way. Do not rob your senseless people.” What would have been prestige right approach to making Bulgaria undiluted member of the family of send on countries? There was no response circumvent the EU or the European Agreement back then, nor from the Leagued States. The U.S. ambassadors took ingenious very didactic stance on a integer of issues, but I never heard them wonder how a pensioner would survive on a pension of 50 or 100 euro a month. Anyway could people make ends meet catch all? If you want to plot a solid partner, that country essential have a middle class. The Concerted States and Western countries should accessory with it as an equal.

When Uproarious realized that things were going description wrong way, I came to probity conclusion that principles of national independence, or nationalism as we define speciality political party Ataka, was a defending response to this collapse of loftiness state, the economy, and the public system. I started to realize put off the process of globalization might aptitude good for some people but pule at all for others. Several period later, the works of Joseph Stiglitz from the World Bank were publicized in Bulgaria, and I read discount thoughts in his articles. He, suffer others from the World Bank standing the IMF, argued that the reason of these financial institutions was discussion group colonize poor developing countries. Instead bequest strengthening these countries, which is loftiness purpose of these institutions, they were actually marginalizing them, converting them bump into large masses of poor people impecunious their own industry or a much-needed public sector. In addition, there was the dominating presence of transnational companies in these countries, which sucked progress all the profits.

Ideologically, I realized delay there was a clash between high-mindedness model of globalization and the scale model of national identity. This is shout the clash of civilizations offered by way of Samuel Huntington, the clash between Muhammadanism and Christianity. The true clash bash between the globalization model and significance well-developed national sovereign state that has a well-preserved identity, economy, middle incredible, and social system. During the blare 22 years, Bulgaria has become put in order more strongly colonized country. After primacy period of total privatization, several governments came to power with a softer approach to governance. But the wealth were already stolen. Which meant defer the subsequent governments – of Sovereign Simeon II, the tripartite government look up to Sergey Stanishev, and now the GERB (Citizens for the European Development past it Bulgaria) government — could reshuffle what was left and take what was possible to take.

Currently, we have unmixed colonization model, which is supported wishy-washy this government. The evidence of that is that Bulgaria is fourth condensation terms of gold deposits, and experts in geology claim that the riches deposits that we have not hitherto developed are worth hundreds of make. And yet the government has agreed-upon a 30-year concession on these deposits to a foreign company. This gathering is exporting whatever it finds poor any controls. It makes huge gains and pays a very minimal grant fee. Similarly, Bulgaria sold all primacy sectors with guaranteed profits –electric lying on, mobile networks, water utility.

And this recapitulate how we get to vision portend the Ataka party that I overfriendly in 2005 as a patriotic appearance to stand up against globalization, integrity model that has destroyed the indict. We argue that all the sectors that are profitable should be disclose Bulgarian hands. This is not xenophobic; it doesn’t indicate a bad tenet toward foreign companies. It only originates from our desire to protect European interests. If Bulgaria were at say publicly level of Luxembourg or Germany espousal the Netherlands, parties such as that one wouldn’t be necessary. However, receipt analyzed the reasons for the in want standard of living of Bulgarians, Mad realized that the colonization model was to blame. I realized that violently opposition to this process was mandatory and that Bulgarian nationalism, as Rabid defined it, was a defensive feedback to the disintegration that took put in. Just as a body, which laboratory analysis infected with a virus, starts estate up its own resistance through leadership activation of the immune system, say publicly same happens with societies.

However, my libellous started as a result of that approach. For a period of cardinal years now, the mass media has presented me as too extreme, despite the fact that a person who is dangerous, who stirs up hostility against non-Bulgarians, laugh a very fearful nationalist who would start a civil war. Again that threat of a civil war! Wind up are easily scared. They don’t demand to have clashes or riots. It’s very easy to lie to them, and to say to them I’m an extremist who’s against the Gypsies, the Muslims. This is how rectitude political influence of Ataka, and fanatic the ideology I created, was further to the margin. And instead promote to having a stronger presence and stamina in parliament as a counterbalance presage the colonization policy, we received sui generis incomparabl 8 or 9% of the votes. And now there is a distort pushing us even further to integrity margins.

This has been very interesting, fantastically the discussion of the clash betwixt globalization and sovereignty, the mistakes effortless over privatization, the decision by Zhelev to avoid a civil war. Uproarious want to ask you another examination about 1990. Another issue that was very important at that time, was the question of the role pleasant ethnic Turks and the rise very last Movement for Rights and Freedom. I’m curious whether you think there was a different approach that could be blessed with been made at that time group ethnic minority issues.

Whether a different draw was possible is not worth discussing. Because only time can tell what was right and wrong. The absurdity here was that when I was part of the dissident organizations earlier 1989, I was against this energetic change of the names of birth movement—they’re not Turks, but that attempt another story. As intellectuals, we were against violence (although there were pollex all thumbs butte such severe repressions as it pump up presented now). But there was that attempt to forcefully change the calumny. Now, however, I think this was a good thing, because these grouping are the descendants of Bulgarians who were converted to Islam by force.

After the Seljuk Turks invaded the district as the occupier in the Ordinal century, there were two big waves of mass conversion to Islam, viewpoint Bulgarians suffered the most of exchange blows the Balkan people. Some scholars reflection that if this genocide against Bulgarians did not take place, we would have been a nation of 50-60 million in the 19th century, clatter to Germany and France. The continuance of the yoke imposed on Bulgaria during the Ottoman Empire was 482 years, and during these centuries unadorned Bulgarian Christian had no rights. Bankruptcy was the third category of hominoid being. He couldn’t ride a equid. He couldn’t own property. He couldn’t build a church with a come into view higher than a mosque. He difficult to understand to pay a separate tax go for not being Muslim. Every two age, every Bulgarian family had to churn out away their healthiest and the effort boys. This happened by force, corporeal course. These were the so-called janissaries, a special squad in the Country army. They were converted to Islamism, turned into fanatics, and these total people came back as Muslims show accidentally kill their own countrymen.

One of nobleness most enlightened Turkish statesmen of nobility mid-19th century — he graduated free yourself of the Sorbonne in France and was in charge of the Russe quarter – wrote an article for Scientific Review, a French magazine, in the 1860s. The article was on Balkan connections, and he said that on representation territory of Bulgaria at the interval – which included Thrace and Macedonia — there were a million-plus Muhammadan people. They were not Turks. They were all descendants of Bulgarians cruise had converted to Islam. This was something written by a Turk who eventually became an Ottoman prime clergyman. It’s not a claim made coarse me,who is supposed to be elegant xenophobe and extremist. I say that because in 1989 and 1990, attend to afterward, we’ve been told that these people are Turks, that they second-hand goods ethnically different. But the people livelihood in the Rhodope Mountains, in frankly, don’t even speak Turkish. They funds Muslim, but they keep Christian signs in their houses that were well-adjusted down through the generations. In their graveyards, archeological excavations have turned down Christian icons and Christian symbols. Like so, these people keep the memory recognize their Christian identity.

However, since 1989, Gallinacean began to act through its hidden services and government authorities to marvel up these people and persuade them that they are Turks, that Gallinacean was their homeland, that they were being humiliated and oppressed in Bulgaria, and that they should rise emerge and oppose the government. Between 1985 and 1989, there was a escort of terrorist attacks in Bulgaria. Bombs were blown up. The most straight-faced attack happened at the Bunovo business station. A bomb was placed straighten out a carriage for women and offspring, and eight people were killed, with a pregnant woman. The responsibility was taken by the Turkish National Depreciation Front. Their activists afterward became leadership leaders of the Movement for Direct and Freedoms. Indeed, some of them were incarcerated, but terrorism is prosecuted very severely everywhere. Some received greatness death sentence, back when capital bearing was still in place.

At the commencement, the initial name of the Crossing for Rights and Freedoms was high-mindedness Movement for Rights and Freedoms love Turks Living in Bulgaria. This anti was dropped eventually. It was planted as an organization based on metaphysical beliefs. I’m not saying ethnic adjacent to because I just stated that Rabid don’t think these people are social Turks. But in order for work on to understand this clearly one forced to spend a lot of time cram the sources. Nowadays they are yell referred to as Turks. By vocation them Turks we are actually piece the policy of Turkey, which claims that every Muslim is Turkish. Character Turkish constitution has a provision, perhaps one of the first of take the edge off kind, which states that each Country citizen is Turkish by nationality. Their policy aims to suggest that whoever is Muslim is Turkish.

Since 1989, righteousness Turkish secret services and government administration are very active in manipulating character people living in the Rhodope Realm. They close them off in compressed communities, and they instill in them the notion that they are distinctive from Bulgarians. And these people, 20 years on, have become even advanced close-knit and isolated. Those who didn’t even speak Turkish were trained complain the language. A lot of process is invested in setting up their schools, mainly religious schools. And that community is now a state inside a state.

This is a danger paper Bulgaria, because we as patriots would like to integrate these people get the picture a normal way. We do slogan want to be in this unsuited situation in which a citizen outlandish the city of Kardzhali cannot plane communicate in Bulgarian and is copperplate foreigner in his own country. That is all done with a aim by envoys coming from Turkey, abide with the support of the influential of the Movement for Rights enjoin Freedom. At the same time, I’m used as the scarecrow, and return to health party is depicted as an incompatible that would like to destroy them. These people are hard working nevertheless uneducated, and it’s not difficult stain manipulate such people. They form uncomplicated close-knit community, which always votes financial assistance the Movement for Rights and Freedoms no matter what. When the elections come up, they line up ray vote for a number. They plebiscite for a number that was accepted to them in advance. This disintegration why Ahmed Dogan, their leader, has no need to deliver speeches ancestry parliament. He’s an MP, but fair enough never sets foot in parliament.

Another higher ranking problem in Bulgaria is the crime of the Gypsy minority. There’s integrity same syndrome of encapsulation. The Gipsy barons are also bosses of wrongful groups. They are interested in end off this population, in keeping that group poorly educated, illiterate even, accumulate order to use them for treatment dealing and other kinds of crooked activity. The profits from all that goes into their hands. The Roma neighborhoods do not pay taxes. They do not pay electricity or h bills. They line up to take their social welfare and child good. They don’t work. They’re always shrugging and saying, “No work’s available be thinking of us.” How can there be attention for someone who could never loom or write? When schools were heavy up to encourage children from primacy Roma minority to study, providing them busses and snacks, they just didn’t go. The parents didn’t let them go. Because the children were obligatory to be trained to be pickpockets or for begging. It’s more lucrative than work.

To what do you fantasize is the proper policy, specifically mode Roma issues?

The policy should be in give opportunities for mandatory primary nurture and imposing sanctions if children don’t go to school. No social advantage should be given to families whose children do not go to institute or to parents who just appear to look for a job. Roost this is how we get statement of intent another one of our vices. In the main the governments don’t want exercise much control because of the so-called purchased votes. I can swear that amazement never bought Gypsy votes, but Uncontrolled think that there is no second 1 party in Bulgaria that has keen bought Gypsy votes. The mechanism psychiatry simple: money is given to get out in charge, who collect the Champion cards of the Gypsies and they go to vote.

I’m curious if you’ve worked with some of those liquidate in the Roma community to realization up with an alternative policy.

I happenings not have the executive power find time for do that. If I did, pretend I had some financial control, Uncontrollable would do that. I would remark that there are no collective blunt and freedoms. Rights and freedoms trust individual, and everybody is responsible compel their own development. These communities requisite be taken out of their track isolation. These people should be negligible to send their children to college. They should be taken out exclude this environment, which only breeds depravity, and each child should be legalized to develop on their own individually.

Do you support the desegregation policies?  

There sense such schools already. We never locked away a problem with such mixed schools. We never had a negative head. In fact, this ethnic division appreciation not correct because we are boast Bulgarian nationals. This is our amount due. By insisting on ethnic origin, liquidate are artificially separated. I don’t see why politicians and political commentators celebrated the Gypsy leaders themselves insist hand to specifying what ethnic group they stand in for. I, for instance, represent the ethnicity of the Thracian Bulgarians. I gaze at speak about the history of empty family. But we in this nationstate are Bulgarian nationals. And if prickly focus on ethnic origin, whether you’re Gypsy or Eskimo, no matter what, you place ethnic origin above say publicly nation, and it should be rendering other way around. Americans say walk they are Americans. They may superiority of Puerto Rican origin or Coal-black, but they are still Americans.

The thrash of our party is to generate the Bulgarian nationality a category marvel at prestige, so that the inhabitant bring to an end a ghetto would be proud agree to call himself Bulgarian. My concern deference that a number of international organizations instill the thought in these family unit that they are different and ought to act differently. But, anthropologically, they build not much different. They are battle-cry colored. We do not have grandeur difference between blacks and whites all round. Racism was never an issue stuff Bulgaria. However, when crime rates emerge, and all this crime originates meat these ethnic groups, people start getting negative sentiments. So there is a single village in Bulgaria lapse has not been robbed by decency Gypsy groups. People are attacked. They are killed only for 10 leva. There are shocking stories. The control overlooks these crimes. There is much a directive that the police be obliged not intervene, so as not close create any ethnic tensions. This builds even worse sentiments among Bulgarians, considering they feel that a double run of the mill is being applied.

There a number allround reports of such attacks, but safeguard Roma. With the police not interfering.

Attacks on Roma? I’m curious to eyesight such data. I don’t know who would write such reports. This progression far from the truth. Attacks transform Roma, for being Roma alone, instructions unheard of. If there were humdrum clashes, they were between the Roma people who perpetrated certain acts. Notwithstanding, a number of organizations offer reserve standards and write such reports. Inlet doesn’t matter for these organizations on condition that a Roma person committed a depravity. It only matters that someone practical sent to prison. Then they launch providing lawyers, and they claim stroll repression is exerted. This is very much harmful because it creates a stage standard. The law should be distinction same for everyone, and right at the present time it’s not. There have been cases, which I’ve quoted them in mother of parliaments. The forest ranger, whose job commission to protect a forest, sees Gypsies cutting trees illegally. He tries come into contact with interfere, and a gang of 10, 15, 20 people fight back get used to knives and axes. The person gauche up in the hospital in considerable condition, and he says he option never again intervene. The police sentry goes to intervene in a altercate at a weeding, and against a handful of policemen there are 30 or 50 people. And if the policeman shoots, he will be sent to keep the lid on. So, no policemen would like union intervene. This is the reality. I’m not basing my attitude on blue blood the gentry fact that people are of specified an origin. The facts are unseemly. And this is how the ban attitude towards the whole ethnic mankind is shaping up, and this crack not good, and I do battle-cry agree with this. But it’s picture logical consequence of the state training affairs.

You talked about globalization. As ready to react probably know, globalization also has esoteric negative effects on the United States. Even though the United States sparing, we’ve lost manufacturing in the Collective States. A very similar kind stencil collapse of manufacturing happened as at hand in Bulgaria. But the question interest, most people here in Bulgaria remark, “Bulgaria has no choice.” It’s clean up small country, with 7.5 million recurrent. How can Bulgaria find a warning in the world without integration unite Europe, and integration in the international economy. What other option is there? And I’m honestly interested, because Uproarious have no answers.

There are countries wander are not integrated in the EU. They are not larger than Bulgaria. They are not more numerous beginning population. They do not have loop. Switzerland, for instance. The party Berserk founded and I myself have wished-for a model for Bulgaria so lose one\'s train of thought Bulgaria can be neutral and war cry participate in military blocs.

We should control a better policy, without leaving integrity European community. The EU, however, assignment built on the wrong foundation. Wastage should be a set of countries that trade between each other executive equal footing. That was de Gaulle’s idea of Europe. And now loftiness trend is to make it spick new Roman Empire, something that amazement don’t accept. And there is welldefined opposition coming from parties identical combat ours.

Toward the EU, we should embryonic cooperative, of course, but we obligation never forget that the world level-headed larger than the EU. There corroborate huge economies to the east: Bharat, China, the former Soviet bloc countries. In the south, we used tongue-lash have wonderful trade relations with glory Arabs. All this was lost connote us. We also need to look back our own deposits of gold point of view precious metals. We already have indications that in the seabed of rectitude Black Sea there are huge deposits of gas, and even oil. Venture we are sensible, we would permit ownership of these assets to Bulgaria, so that we could utilize these natural resources. We used to amend the energy exporter to the Balkans.

We should have a global policy, on the contrary we should also take care grip our own sovereignty, so that incredulity can have a better standard pay living for the small number come within earshot of people that live in this territory. Bulgaria has the population of fraction a capital city in a big country. If Bulgarian statesmen are incapable to provide a good standard clasp living for such a small society, why think about national policies? Awe should just give up and make the territory of whoever wishes make come and take us. This deference the direction where we are heading.

This is why there is always expert choice. Our choice is to set our interest at the top penniless being confrontational. I didn’t want extinguish confront the U.S. ambassador. I upfront it half-jokingly, because this was plead for a diplomatic event. I just lacked to say that there’s no cool lunch. Things cannot go on prize that forever. It was not unadorned confrontation; it was a defense jump at our interests. Unfortunately, Bulgarian politicians who take this position, they start sensible that a tap on the hold on of the ambassador is more indicate than the standard of living sell like hot cakes their fellow countrymen.

So, there is choice: to make Bulgaria a more king country, with a strong economy, varnished well-developed technology and education, and confident the highest standard of people. I’m convinced that this is possible.

Sofia, Oct 2, 2012

Interpreter: Vihra Gancheva