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Dutch invest in Moldova
Are the Moldovans as keen on currency as the Bulgarians?
I was quite surprised when I read this week on RFE/RL that the Dutch are since 1994 a major investor in Moldova. The country is one of smallest, unknown and poorest in the Balkanregion, situated between Romania and Russia. Untill 1991 it was the most unknown Societ republic.
It is mainly known because of the conflict in Transnistria, Eastern Moldodva, where self-proclaimed president Igor Smirnov has a kind of post-Soviet iron fist, serving his 4th consecutive term..
Dutch investments are over $ 200 mln, which is about 20 pct of total investments in Moldova from 1994. Key investor is EasEur Holding. Though one has to a bit careful with those figures, They come from a Russian business new service, which has its information from unnamed sources in Moldova’s investments agency.
Levski - the Bulgarian Che
Levski felt his work was blessed
The whole world knows Che Guevara, Indonesian students for example used to wear T-shrits with his picture. The Bulgarian Che, Vassil Levski, was born on 18 July 1837 in the Balkantown of Karlovo.
In February 2007, the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) organized the final round of the oompetition The greatest Bulgarian. Levski was my personal favourite and therefore I was very happy that he wun.
Levski organised during the 1860's a chain of revolutionary committees to prepare the Bulgarian people for a liberation battle against the Turks. Bulgaria was since 1396 part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. Levski had a clear philosophy for a free Bulgaria. However, the Turkish authorities captured him and after a disputed trial he was beheaded in 1873. Only five years later Bulgaria became independent.
In 1908 the people of Karlovo erected the first monument for, as the Bulgarians call him, “Apostel”. To honour Levski, the BNT made a CD-Rom as a modern monument.
I was so happy to find in 1997 Mercia McDermotts great biography of Levski The Apostle of Freedom, a portrait of Vasil Levsky against a background of nineteenth-century Bulgaria (published by Allen and Unwin in 1967).
In 1997-1998 I travelled in Levskis footsteps through Bulgaria and discovered how deep the Apostle is rooted in the historical mind of the Bulgarians. For example numerous street and squares have been name after him. One of Sofia footballclubs wears his name, and also the national footballstadium. As a comparison - can you image the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, where the Dutch national footballteam plays its matches, to be named after Wilhelm Orange?
Max Havelaar
Maybe you can find at this shop a copy of Max Havelaar
Reorganising a library can sometimes lead to unexpected results. We found for example a Bulgarian translation of Max Havelaar, one of the greatest Dutch colonial novels It. was written by Dutch colonial civil servant Eduard Douwes Dekker, famous with his pseudonym Multatuli (I suffered much), and was published in 1860.
The Bulgarian translation is from 1984, which shows that the communist world at that time was not as closed as Dutch at that time thought. However, that is another topic that I will come back to some other time. It was a bit strange to see the title Max Havelaar in Cyrillic - Макс Хавелар
A couple of years ago I read Under the yoke (Pod igoto) by Ivan Vazov, published in 1893. It is one of the greatest Bulgarian - colonial - novels and in my view the Bulgarian version of Max Havelaar. Though of course the major difference is that Bulgaria in the 19th century was colonized, while The Netherlands was a colonial power.
As far as I know, Under the yoke was never translated in Dutch. We asked ourselves whether that could be possible. Of course it could, The Bulgarian translation of Max Havelaar starts with a 6-pages explanation about the Dutch colonial empire. Something similar could be done for the Dutch translation of Under the yoke, a 6-pages explanation about the Ottoman Empire.
Srebrenica
In the mountainvally Srebrenica was an easy target
On the eve of 12th anniversary of the July 1995 massacre in Srebrenica, the new High Representative Miroslav Lajcak showed his power by firing a number of Bosnian officials and taking the passports of some others who are suspected to protect alleged warcriminals Karadzic and Mladic.
Srebrenica also remains the open Dutch wound. Dutchbat was supposed to protect the Bosnian town, declared as UN Safe Haven for Muslims, but in the end was not able to do, due to a weak mandate. In the late 1990’s a fierce debate went on in The Netherland whether or not the Dutch were (partly) guilty for the massacre. However, in recent peacekeeping missions like Afghanistan and Irak, the Dutch seem to have learned some tough lessons. IKV, a leading Dutch religious NGO, organizes since 1996 every year on 11 July a meeting to commemorate the Srebrenica victims and share thoughts on Bosnia’s future.
Dutch journalist Raymond van den Boogard explained the Dutch Srebrenica-policy in his 2005 study Zilverstad - Haagse verduistering van het drama-Srebrenica (Silvertown - Dutch unclear policy concerning the Srebrenica massacre). In 2002 the Dutch government resigned after a the NIOD, the Dutch scientific institute for war studies, published its Srebrenica-report. However, the government in the Hague never apologized.
Olympic spirit
Sofia airport will lead the Bulgarian athletes to the 2014 Wintergames in Sochi
Putin did it again! Not that I’m such a fan of the Russian president, but he managed to get the town of Sochi to be elected to host the 2014 Wintergames. To support to candidature, Putin was himself in Guatamala during the decisive IOC-meeting.
Once again a relative small city is selected to host to Wintergames, such as Lake Placid in 1980 and Albertville in 1992. However, it is maybe not that suprising given the fact that the Summergames have always been larger and bigger-scaled.
I had to look on the map of Russia to learn that Sochi is located in the very south of Russia, at the Black Sea, near to the Caucasian mountains. It seems an ideal location to host the 22nd Olympic Wintergames..
The Hungarians were apparently inspired by the Russian success, because just one day later Budapest announced to be interested to host the 2020 Summergames. The Olympic spirit clearly is present in Eastern Europe, because the Bulgarian capital Sofia was one of the candidates to host the 2014 Wintergames. I’m sure that if Sofia would have made it to the final round, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov would have been in Guatamala. Warsaw and Prague are also considering to compete for the 2020 Summergames.
The 2014 Wintergames will be the 4th time the Games will take place in an Eastern European country. Budapest was the first in 1920, followed by Moscow 1980, then Sarajevo in 1984.
Dutch ships in Serbia
And where can you find the Dutch companies?
I was quite surprised to read in the June 2007 edition of Buitenlandse Markten (Foreign markets), the monthly magazine of the Dutch Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (www.evd.nl ), that two Dutch companies are active in the Serbian maritime business. The Netherlands is international famous for that business, as the Dutch were among the first nations to explore the world. The Portuguese started in the late 15th century, but the Dutch soon followed and from 1602 they conquered the world with the VOC, the Dutch East India Company
However, Serbia does have a maritime industry, though rather small. Vahali Shipyards was a few years ago looking for a suitable location to build a ship’s casco. Director mr. Dekker landed in Serbia. After finishing the project, the Dutch company wanted to continue its business in the Western Balkans. Encouraged by EVD (financial) support it started a joint-venture with Belgrade-based employment agency CMS to start a shipyard. The Dutch-Serbian company currently employs about 150 people, 10% of the total Serbian maritime industry.
Papendrecht-based PSI Pijpleiding started a specialised factory in the town of Kladovo. Encouraged as well by EVD (financial) support, it started a joint-venture with Novi Sad-based designbureau CAM. The Dutch company mainly serves customers in The Netherlands, but is optimistic about possible Serbian customers. And as the market is expected to grow in Turkey and Greece, Serbian will have a strong geographical position.
Last international governor for Bosnia?
And when will Philips come to Bosnia?
Almost unnoticed, on 1 July Slovak diplomat Miroslav Lajcak took up his duties as High Representative. Since the end of the Bosnian civil war (1992-1995) every four years another international diplomat takes the post, every time declaring he will be the last one.
Since the 1995 Datyon Peace Agreement, Bosnia is divided into two entities: the Republika Srpska (RS), dominated by Serbs, and a federation of Bosnian Muslims and Croats. “Dayton” created a complex state structure, which in principle gives equal rights to Serbs, Muslims and Croats. Though the hostilities of the late 1990’s are history, the two entities still difficultly go together. Only since 2002 Bosnia has a federal Defence Minister, but police reforms are still hard to tackle.
However, there are some positive signs. In 2006 Bosnia and the EU negotiated a “stabilisation and association agreement”, the usual first step on the road to full membership. And in June, the US announced to close Eagle Base, its largest Bosnian military basis near Tuzla..
Not less important, Bosnia is economically moving upwards. The introduction of VAT strengthened federal finances. GDP grows at 6% a year. Mittal Steel is a big investor, as are companies from Serbia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania
Egypt
Bulgaria has also its own classics, for example the Bachkovo monastery
Bulgarian papers are quite inventive in marketing. The economical weekly "Capital" (www.capital.bg) for example started on 30 June an 8 DVD summerserie Dive into history about the antique world, based on a BBC-serie and sponsored by UniCredit Bulbank (www.bulbank.bg). Amongst others Egypt, Pompeï, Alexander the Great and the Collosseum will be presented.
Earlier this year the popular dailies "Trud" (www.trud.bg) and "24 chasa" (www.24chasa.bg) had a similar initiative about countries of the world, which were presented in eight full-colour books. Though the serie’s title Big world encyclopedia did not quite reflect the eight books, but then again as PR-slogan, I would say it is allright.
Die hard 4
A Bulgarian-language commercial for the website www.friends.bg
In our local cinema Cineplex (www.cineplex.bg) in the City Center Sofia is amongst others Bruce Willis’ movie Die Hard 4. Personally, I’m not a big fan of that serie, but I write this piece because I noticed that in the Bulgarian marketing the movie is announced with its Bulgarian title Умирай трудно 4.
In Dutch cinema’s, American movies are usually marketed by their original English title. It would seem very strange to me to watch in the Dutch marketing Bruce Willis’ movie being announced as Sterf hard 4.
However, it can also the other way around. Because of the high temperatures these days in Bulgaria, the evening news Po Sveta I U Nas invites (www.bnt.bg ) people to send their own reports to the Bulgarian news, mail mynews@bnt.bg .
If the Dutch eveningnews Journaal (www.nos.nl/nosjournaal ) would have something similar, the mail would be certainly in Dutch, something like mijnnieuws@nosjournaal.nl
Ню Йорк or New York
Макдоналдс or McDonald's?
Some time ago, I gave a few nice examples of Cyrllic transliteration of English words. During the past weeks, I came across some nice other examples:
From business:
лизинг - leasing
аутсорсинг - outsourcing
бизнес - business
From technics:
инженер - ingenieur
оператор - operator
телефон - phone
And for some reason, I like the transliteration of Western towns.
For example Dutch:
Хага - The Hague
Лайден - Leiden
Утрехт - Utrecht
But also American:
Вашингтон - Washington
Ню Йорк - New York
Лос Анджелис - Los Angeles
Serbia on its way to the EU
Zoran Drakulic (DSS) said it already in 2004- moving forward with Belgrade!
This week Serbia and Brussels resumed the negotiations for an SAA (Stabilisation and Association Agreement), which is the first step towards a future EU-membership. One can regard this as a reward for Belgrade after having formed a pro-Western coalition following the January 2007 parliamentary elections. ICT Prosecutor Carla del Ponte is hopeful that Belgrade will seriously start looking for alleged warcriminals Karadzic and Mladic. Though Kosovo remains a tough issue. In other words - the new government faces old issues
The atmosphere in Serbia seems rather optimistic. I was a couple of times in the western Balkancountry. Travelling around and meeting with colleagues and friends it reminded me of Bulgaria in the mid-1990’s. Looking towards the European/western future, but still not completely free of the old system. Neo-communist Zhan Videnov launched Bulgaria in 1995-1997 towards an economical catastrophy, which lead to the 1997 Velvet Revolution. The assault on western-orientated Zoran Djindjic in 2003 was a severe blow for Serbia. I think that a couple of years later Serbia is ready to leave that drama behind and move towards the EU,
Copa America
In the shopping mall City Center Sofia you can buy your TV to watch the games
Does any Western TV-channel broadcast the Copa America, the South American equivalent of the European Championship Football? Not as far as I know. The Bulgarian TV does. From 27 June untill 10 July, the BNT (Bulgarian National Television) will broadcast the major American football event
The Copa América was held for the first time in 1916 to celebrate Argentina's independence centenary. Therefore, it is the oldest football competition worldwide, as the World Championship took off in 1930 and the European Championship only in 1960.
Uruguay was back in 1916 the first champion, though Argentina has won the cup non less than 14 times. Brazil wun the 2004 edition.
Bulgaria promotion
The library's children's choir
The villages of Burgum and Sumar, in the Dutch province Friesland, are this week active in Bulgaria promotion. Burgum hosts its biannual International Dance Festival (www.dansfestivalburgum.nl ). The Bulgarian dancegroup from the town of Stara Zagora stays in the nearby village of Sumar.
The village’s Cultural Committee has organised a lot of promotional activities:
- Dutch writers Hellen Kooijman and Maria Genova sign their books about Bulgaria
- You can taste Bulgarian wine
- You can get information on holiday in the Balkancountry
- And much more.
The Bulgaria promotion has another goal – fundraising for a libraryproject in the Bulgarian town of Sliven. The “Edinstvo” library in the town was founded in 1939 and served for decades as cultural centre for the Novo Selo neighbourhood. In 1996, however, it burnt down. Buruma Company and the Dutch Eastern Europe Foundation STOEP (www.stoep.org ) started a project to revive the library.
The current humble library bullding
Flying White House
The Bulgarians are eager to work and study in Bush' country
The Flying Dutchmen has a worldwide fame, but the Flying White House? That is the nickname for the Air Force One by the Bulgarian evening news Po Sveta I U Nas (At the world and with us), giving a report on the airplane, which basically serves as office for the US President. After the G8-summit, George Bush jr. makes a tour in Eastern Europe, Today he arrived in Sofia.
Giving my background as librarian, I was pleasantly surprised that the Bulgarian libraries got some attention during the ten minutes report. Director of the Haskovo library was selected to have a meeting with First Lady Laura Bush, who is librarian. Since about two years, the US and Bulgaria have some joint library programmes.
Not everyone, however, is glad because of Bush’ visit. Housewives in downtown Sofia are told not to dry their laundry on their balconies for a couple of days. The Bulgarian capital has to look spotlessly clean and laundry doesn’t fit into that image.
European elections - and now?
NDSV has its European face - though just one seat ...
Bulgaria is in a political chaos after the 20 May 2007 elections for the European Parliament. Two minsters have resigned - Ovcharov (BSP-Energy and Economy) and Petkanov (NDSV-Justice). Another five vice-ministers have resigned. PM Stanishev already looks for new governments officials.
Is it not quite unexpected. During the elections campaign is was public secret that changes within the BSP would follow. The socialists can’t keep part of their 2005 elections promises and now pay the price.
Quite unexpectedly, Simeon Saxecoburggotski’s NDSV also is in troubled water. The party may fall apart in two or three fractions, but maybe the tsar can hold it together after all.
Right-wing parties SDS and DSB still wonder what went wrong. From 2004 they had a number of representatives in Brussels, but lost them all. Partyleaders Stoyanov and Kostov resigned.
... but the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria are without European representation
Sofia Mayor Boyko Borrisov is the glorious winner (5 seats, equal to the BSP), but also Ahmed Dogans DPS once again did the trick and got also 5 seats in Brussels. Dogans DPS has been in power ever since 1990 and the online newspaper Sofia Morning News called him “the best backbench ruler in Bulgaria”.
Borissov has called for early parliamentary elections, but Stanishev has declined. The cabinet’s ship is going through a heavy storm, but is most likely to continue with a number of new ministers.