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Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO Director General: I am grateful to President Parvanov for his personal leadership, for the fact that he suggested the concept for cultural corridors, for the preparation of the forum in Varna, and formulating the highly productive Varna Declaration… The concept for cultural corridors is extremely important because it is designed to connect cultural and historic sites and monuments of high importance via cultural corridors, which would unite the states and peoples in the region. |
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Vili Tsankov, movie director: He is a bad actor. He cannot play anything. And it is great that he relies only on the content and meaning of what he says. At a first sight this is not very convenient for a president. But it turns out that this is namely the way he wins people on his side because he is very open and is always searching for the logic of the issue under discussion… When he had to be brave, he was brave. When they made him come up with a stance on the war in Iraq, he did not quibble and said utterly frankly: “I do not accept this war”. Then, as it often happens in Bulgaria, the majority of people forgot this and started accusing him of nearly being the factor for sending Bulgarian troops to Iraq. |
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Tsonko Tsonev, Mayor of the town of Kavarna: When President Parvanov commits himself to something he does it. With the power he has he is trying to support the local authorities, and he does it in deed. A political party nominated him. And at the end of his mandate one can hardly tell his affiliation to a party, he is rather a president of all Bulgarians. |
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Yordanka Blagoeva, athlete: We, the sportsmen, have one party – Bulgaria. Over the last five years he proved that this is his party as well, and that he works for all Bulgarians. I cannot but support him. He is concerned about his country and the future of Europe. He is a good statesman of his time, a person that is respected by everyone from our political family in Europe and the world. He represents a new Bulgaria. And it has always been a pleasure for me to meet him. |
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Luis Ayala, Secretary General of the Socialist International: I think very highly of President Parvanov. I’ve been watching his work closely – both at the time when he was a chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and now. He is very concerned about his country and for the future of Europe. He is a good statesman of his time, a man who is respected by everyone from our political family – in Europe and in the world. He represents the new Bulgaria. It is always a pleasure to meet with him. |
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António Guterres, President of the Socialist International (1999-2005): Georgi Parvanov is a good statesman, and is highly respected not only in Europe, but also throughout the world. His policy and actions represent the effective modernization of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). But I think he is rather a president of all Bulgarians, not only of socialists. |
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Vezhdi Rashidov, sculptor: He is a young person full of energy, who was quick to grasp that a nation without spirit is a nation without identity. For 20 years now the words “spirit” and “culture” have always been in his mouth. He did not forget to demonstrate the presence of the state that we need so much. All the rest have demonstrated that they are narrow-party presidents. He would be an even better president in his second term in office. |
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Evgeniy Zhelev, Mayor of Stara Zagora: We, the city mayors, have always counted on his support and commitment in the frames of the constitutional power that he has… In a moment, which was extremely hard for me as a person and a mayor, he committed himself to a highly important problem – the pollution of our region. With all the authority he has, he gave a chance to the civil association and the official power to become partners in solving this heavy issue. |
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Georgi Kitov, archeologist, chief of the Thracian expedition for mound exploration: I’m not much occupied with politics and I cannot comment. What impressed me in reference to our job is that he transported the bronze head of King Sevt III from the Golyama Kosmatka mound to Sofia by his office car… I like him. And I see that he can be impartial and is really a president of the whole people. He is a precious finding, a unique finding fro Bulgaria. |
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Ivan Granitski, poet and publisher: A president for our past, as we remember, used to take “Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya” (Slavonic-Bulgarian History) to a neighboring state of ours without even being asked to do so, while Georgi Parvanov undertook the initiative for bringing this precious national holy book back… In deed every Bulgarian knows what he defended as a president – the national specifics, national proud, the political independence of the institution. Besides, he was even trying to solve social problems, though he had little power in the field of social policy. |
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George Bush, President of the USA: We talked with the President about the important role that Bulgaria has and the leadership position of the country, as well as about its contribution to the strengthening and prosperity of young democracies. We laid the foundations of peace. Democracies are peaceful. They live in peace with their neighbors. The Balkan region needs peace; The Middle East needs peace. And working together with friends like Bulgaria, we are laying the foundations of this peace. I am proud that you are my friend. Thank you. |
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Lyubka Rondova, folk singer: Georgi Parvanov is a good image for Bulgaria. He doesn’t talk big and gives prominence to the Bulgarian national spirit. |
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Kiril Yordanov, Mayor of Varna: I have worked with him both as an MP and as a mayor, for a second mandate now. I know his style of work, his self-discipline, his self-exactingness, the way he treats people, and the composure he has in hard situations. All this is garnished with his human character, which however, does not prevent him from demonstrating firmness when necessary. |
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Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: Today, an important step was made in the history of Bulgarian-Russian relations. We’ve just put an end to the decades-long period of lack of contacts on high level and we’ve started building our relations on a new constructive and positive basis… High quality changes have been made recently in the bilateral relations of Russia and Bulgaria. The relations have improved and I attribute this mainly to the personal efforts of President Parvanov. |
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Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria (1991 – 1997): I think that the moderate and balanced policy that President Parvanov is crafting is the best thing to be done in the current situation. I approve of the fact that he firmly defends the two main foreign political priorities of Bulgaria – NATO and the European Union, and that he works for them. This is very important not only because he is a head of state and must defend the national interests of Bulgaria, but he also seems to be doing this to the best of his belief. I think this might be very useful for the Bulgarian Socialist Party as well of it follows these priorities and works for their realization. |
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Anton Donchev, writer: I find it very important that he hasn’t change for five years. He hasn’t change in a bad direction. I think this would be the only case when a mandate on high level is prolonged. He remained kind and amiable, he know how to communicate with people with his heart, and not in a hypostatic manner. He made his best to lay some pebbles in the paving on our track to Europe. |
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Svetozar Marovic, President of Serbia and Montenegro: I would really like all Serbs and Montenegrins, and all Bulgarian to feel as much friends as we do with Mr. Parvanov. I think we’ll remain friends even when we step off the posts we occupy now. Because we consider personal trust and closeness between people are sometimes much more important than anything else. |
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Ivan Asparuhov, Mayor of Mezdra: Georgi Parvanov has stated his support for the local authorities and the decentralization of the local self-government at the very beginning of his rule. He laid the foundations of political tolerance. Parvanov is the President that has visited the greatest number of municipalities during his mandate. |
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Nedyalko Yordanov, poet: I don’t think there are faultless people. Parvanov is not a saint but he is able of showing character. And he will show it, according to me, even more after January 1st because now he is high and dry to a great extent. Yet, Bulgaria is quite a dependent country right now. When we become a full-fledged EU member state we’ll be able to exhibit more will and show resistance when something contravenes our national interests. |
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Nikolina Chakardakova, singer: Many people accuse him about handing the government formation mandate to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), but I often tell myself: “These people are far away”. Let’s go back to our region – in Gotse Delchev. Perhaps 60% of the people in the municipality are Muslims, or ethnic Turks. Ethnic people are extremely necessary for people like us, living in regions with mixed population. Besides, I would like to see a handsome, intelligent, lettered, and imposing man representing Bulgaria. And I see this in him. |
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Bozhidar Dimitrov, historian, and director of the National Museum of History: He has grown up from a politician to a statesman. Politicians in Bulgaria are many, but the statesmen are few. That is why I think that such a précis capital should not be wasted. His actions during his first term in office showed that is capable of going beyond personal and party passions and to find decisions that respond to the Bulgarian national interests…. One of the reasons for me to support him is his ability to act in time of crises. I will remind of February 4th 1997 when Bulgaria was facing a civil war. He did is also in August in 2005, when Bulgaria ought to have a government at all costs, and the politicians from the winning parties had seized themselves by the throat, as they were unable to distribute the ministerial posts, and the talks were in very deep crisis. |
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Yordan Yovchev, athlete: I see a good political perspective in Georgi Pavanov. He has already proved this in practice and this is quite clear in Bulgaria. I think he is the right political figure – laudable and eligible. |
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Mladen Chaushev, Mayor of Zlatograd: There is no faultless person, but during his first term in office we’ve seen more positive things in the present head of state. We’ll all remember his visit on August 2004 during the celebrations on occasion of 170 year of church activities in our municipality. He cooperated to the opening of the border with Greece and for the solving of other problems that he took to heart. |
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Stefan Dobrev, Mayor of Zlataritsa: I consider Georgi Parvanov is the most reasonable variant for a president. His family and himself represent the traditional Bulgarian family, and this is very important for the Bulgarian people. |
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Dora Yankova, Mayor of Smolyan: President Parvanov epitomizes the unity of the nation. He was behind the citizens of Smolyan in times of success and in times of disasters and hardships. He was also participating in the cultural and historical events, and has even given directions for a better development in both national aspect and on a local level. |
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Stefan Damyanov, Myor of Kazanlak: Georgi Parvanov is popular among the people in Bulgaria because he often visits different towns and villages throughout the country. In the rest of the institutions there are many examples of bureaucratic attitude to people who need to meet with high standing officials… As far as Kazanlak is concerned, Georgi Parvanov gives an extensive support for our cultural institutions and researches in the Valley of the Thracian Kings. |
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Ahmed Bashev, Mayor of Garmen: Georgi Parvanov completely meets my idea about a successful and laudable president of Bulgaria. He is a good president because he says close to people. The President and mayors are the only rulers that are elected on the basis of the majority principle. The Parliament and the municipal councils put constantly pressure on the president and the mayors, which makes them very much alike. |
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