"I have been national champion 14 times, but I have not been given even 14 levs by the state", says our best pilot.

CV: One of the most popular motor sport pilots of Bulgaria Ilia Tsarski was born on 29 July, 1968 in Panagyurishte in the family of Ivan Tsarski.
Graduated technical school of electronics in 1987.
Made his first steps motor car races under guidance from his father Ivan Tsarski – the oldest motor sport driver in our country. His first passion were the cartings. His first start was in the 1986 Svoge rally, with navigator Manyo Manchorove. He was 17 at that time, 4th grade in the electronics technical school. His debute racing car was a 130 h. p. 2101 Lada. Later his brother Petyo Tsarski became his navigator.

Ivan Tsarski: I rejoice in Ilia’s successes!

I rejoice in the successes of my son on the track, was the comment of Ivan Tsarski, the oldest motor car pilot in Bulgaria, on the wins of Ilia Tsarski.
His words were that “everything goes along the script”. He started racing himself in 1970 – two years after the birth of his son, and later it was only logical to pass the batton.
”Me being a racer, he cannot necome a musician, can he?”, jokes Tsarski-father.
Notwithstanding the achievements of his son, he is also proud with the acievements of the entire team, because they made a “powerful” car and the wins are a fact of life.

In 1998 Ilia Tsarski graduated on of the most prestigious motor car pilots schools in Italy.
Ilia ATsarski was the first Bulgarian ever to win the Balkan-Adriatic Cup in 2003. In 2009 took part in the closed route National championship, finishing 3rd in classes A and N, 1600 sq.cm +. (14th according to the BMSF).
Alongside his driving carreer, Tsarski is an owner of a successful business, including the largest base, and a preparatory school for racing cars and pilots. His firm is a gasoline distributor, owns gas-stations and car servicing centres.
He is the reigning champion in the national track championship.

The text of this interview is available only in Bulgarian.

Dimitar Dimitrov was decorated with the
necklace, symbolising statesmanship,
by the acting mayor of Maritsa
Municipality Nikola Tomov

• Mr, Vasilev, you are Teteven Municipality mayor-candidate and leader of the United Agrarians municipality advisors list. What are the responsibilities and challenges of this nomination?

This mayor-candidate nomination is a great responsibility to me. I have always carried to conclusion everything I jave tackled over the years. Unlike many politicians I have shown that I can care about the people prior to my nomination. [...] I know this will require enormous psychic and physical efforts, but I will follow the targets in my program to the utmost.

. . .

• In how many settlements of the municipality the Union has nominated mayor-candidates?

We have nominated mayor-candidates in Teteven and almost all village communities: Glozhene, Ribaritsa, Bulgarski izvor, Galata, Glogovo, and Gradezhnitsa.

• Which are the priorities of your program for the development of the municipality and what is the first thing you would do, if elected?

(The full program is available in the personal Facebook profile of S. Vasilev)

. . .

• What is your message to the electorate?

God has entrusted us with a piece if the Paradise, and I will help to put it in order! I have already proved that I can!

• Ms. Stavreva, what is the purpose of the sequence of seminars, organised by United Agrarians, under the slogan "For a New Agrarian Policy"?

The purpose is to have a discussion with repesentatives of the professional organisations, agrarian sciences, agricultural producers and politicians on the opportunities for development and modernisation of Bulgarian agriculture. We focus on sector policies in wheat growing, vegetable growing, essential and medical species and the painful problems of animal breeding. All important is the discussion Bulgarian bio-agriculture. My opinion is that these discussions in support of Bulgarian agriculture should continue and hopefully the voice of the producers is heard. Because today the European institutions carry on the all important debate on the future of the Common agrocultural policy (CAP), related to the change in the ways the producers are supported. It is important that their voice is heard here in Bulgaria, so we can tune the demands of our country, the proposed changes in CAP and the capabilities and needs of our producers.

We have outlined the development priorities of agriculture. What we have seen from the producers is that they are firmly demanding greater resources from both the European funds and the national budget, as well as less bureaucracy, simplification of the European support access procedures, better management of the European funds and easing their way to the producers.

• Are you an optimist about the future of Bulgarian agriculture?

[...] Bulgaria is traditionally an agricultural country and I believe during a crisis investments in agriculture anre investments in our future, but this is not happening yet. I believe that Bulgarian agriculture will be modernised, will develop, but that needs political will and firm support from the country's decision makers. The time has come to make agriculture a priority. [...]

• Why the communication between farmers and the administration is ineffectual or missing entirely?

The producers have advanced to a new level - they bypass the national institutions and seek cooperation from the European ones. This means they have no confidence in the national institutions, which are deaf to their problems. [...]

• What should happen for Bulgarian agriculture to become a well operating model?

I think the most important thing for Bulgaria is to have an adequate long-term strategy for the development of the industry and the village regions. Our greatest problem today is the lack of clarity in which direction the govermnet will develop the industry. This demotivates the producers. All countries, in which agriculture is a priority, have long-term strategies and the farmers have confidence in the future. Consequently they can plan their investments, credits, and overall development…

• A few months ago a member of the government made a statement that billions have been poured onto agriculture...

Yes, it is possible that the European funds have poured in a lot of funds, but they have nothing to do with the national budget, and the majority of the farmers have not seen them. We have a small community of European funds beneficiaries due to lack of resources of the small producers, due to thae lack of information. This must change, since deadlines are pressing us and eventually someone else will make use of the funds planned for Bulgaria, should we pay them back to the European budget.

An interview of Valeri Stanev, source: AGRO.BG

• Mr. Rouzhenov, what are the challenges and responsibilities of your nomination as the Shoumen community advisor list leader?

The confidence vote of the local organisation for me to lead the list is a great responsibility, and not as a privilege. The greater the responsibility since I am a member of an organisation, which has never been compromised in its history. Part of the merits are due to the Honorary Chairperson of the party – Mrs. Anastasia Moser, a politician of high morals and dignity, who has kept her name unstained and has preserved the ideas and values of the Bulgarian Agrarian movement.

From a personal perspective, I will try to fulfill the promises and justify the confidence of the people, voting for United Agrarians. I wand and will continue to work for all the priorities in the political program of the party.

• What is your vision for the development of Shoumen and the region?

For our city to become an attractive residential location, the future local parliament should provide incentives to the local economy and to potential investors in the local industry,should provide municipal improvements to the settlement systems and should modernise the road infrastructure. As well as to develop business, culture, tourism, and sports infrastructure. The city of Shoumen, established 3200 years ago, and the entire Shoumen region has an enormous potential for tourism development. In the near vicinity of the city are the ancient two capitals Pliska and Veliki Preslav, as well as the Madara cult centre. Unfortunately, the existing opportunities in tourism are not used appropriately. It is necessary to enter relationships with the tour-operators, to improve the logistic, information, and social infrastructure. I want to see our city as an attractive destination on the international tourist market .

[ . . . ]

• What is your mesage to the voters?

Be active, take a citizen's position, and at the local elections support known and capable people , who short of enforcing thir political will can combine their efforts to develop a common program for dealing with the problems.

Vote, to enable us all to make our city and our community a good place for living.

An interview of Tatiana ATANASOVA

(The complete interview is available in Bulgarian only.)

• Mr. Rashev, you are the Chirpan Community mayor-candidate of United Agrarians. How do you handle the responsibility of this nomination and what challenges do you face?

I have been nominated by a local coalition "For new Chirpan", including United Agrarians, NDSV and the ODS coalition (Alliance of Democratic Forces).

In the current Community Council we take part in the "Centre" group with the parties listed above. My fellow advisors proposed my nomination for community mayor. Their motives were that I am sufficiently experienced as a community advisor, the people know me, and I am responsible – qualities which are needed for the management of the city,

• What is the place of the organisation in the region and which political parties are your partners?

The UA community organisation has 7 friendships. We are on good terms with the above parties and coalitions, as well as with the community organisations of SDS and RZS.

• What is the first thing you want to do, if you get elected for mayor?

If I am elected for mayor I will bet on openness and transparency in the management of the Chirpan Community. I believe that the problems of the individual citizen must be the major concern of the mayor and the administration.

Last but not least I will insist before the Community Council to institute a public defender (ombudsman)) in the community. I will also periodically report my work as mayor before the people of the community.

• You are third time in office as a community advisor. Which are the most severe problems of the community, that must be dealt with immediately?

In my opinion, the most severe problems concern the serious unemployment, the demographic decline in the latest 10-15 years and the lack of investments in community infrastructure.

An interview of Tatiana ATANASOVA

(The complete interview is available in Bulgarian only.)

(The interview is available in Bulgarian only)

Dr. Moser, in your capacity of Honorary UA Chair, what is your ballance with respect to the organisation, four months after the Party Congress?

I am most delighted by the activeness of the new UA Chair Petya Stavreva. She and the new UA leadership tour the country and meet with our members and sympathisers. Since the most important thing is the people to know, that their leaders come up to them, and they do not need to call on them. The seminars being conducted are of great importance, too. I hope that now, in view of the forthcoming local elections, the organisation to become more and more active. Because it will survive only if it is living and active.

The previous week you took part in a seminar on the role of youth in the citizen society. What are your impressions of the event and is there any perspective for the young in Bulgarian politics?

It should be so. And it is important for our organisation to attract young people. It was very encouraging, that a lot of young people from various regions of the country attended. They actively participated in the discussions. Naturally, a political organisation needs people from all ages. Our union comprises older, middle-aged and a lot of young persons. Petya Stavreva herself is young. These days, the young can travel, partake in various internationsl events. We owe that to Bulgarian democracy, however imperfect and hard fought... it all bears fuit.

At the event you said, that it is hard to assert the young in politics. However, you passed the Union leadership exactly to a young person. Does it mean, that United Agrarians are one of the few political parties which managed to take such a step?

I would like to believe it is so. I personally have always encouraged the young in our organisation. Unfortunately, some of them presented with opportunities did not keep loyal to the organisation. But, you know, do good and throw it into the see... It has always been for the ultimate good of the organisation. The young should get opportunities . Nobody steps down easily, even more adult people sometimes fight. Thus when one thinks he/she is right, he/she should stand up for that and defend his/her positions. Only then there will be results. One should not focus on the past and the insults and misfortunes must stop, although these are quite common with us. Since, unfortunately, all the others turn against us. I still cannot understand why. But whatever one does, he does it to himself...

[ ... ]

Dr. Moser, in the autumn there will be local elections. Aht is our organisation's success formula?

We must scrutinise uor mayor candidates, we must be careful making coalitions. UA should not only enter a coalition, but must inisit that their candidates are well placed on the lists. Also, where our mayor candidates have good prospects of success, they should be put forward.
You know that in the regions the inter-party relationships are specific and cannot just reflect the same at the topmost level. It has always been so. This is why we have provided our local structures to make their own decisions regarding coalition partners. Excuding BSP, of course, which is a part of our general policy.

I hope we are successful on these elections and then turn our attention to the parliamentary elections. UA deserve to have their own MPs. So, we have a lot of work ahead. I will repeat – I am glad that Petya Stavreva works, tours and meets the UA people in the country. Because that is the success gormula.

You said – a lot of work... What else can you recommend – what UA must be beware of and what must UA protect?

First, UA have to decide where do they stand and what are they. UA should not wander in various directions. Because, unfortunate as it is, when it comes to voting, quite a few of our members vote for other parties instead. This in my opinion creates a grave uncertainty, since one does not know what to rely on. This type of behaviour is not right. We must stand up for our organisation which is constantly foghting with unloyal members. This must stop, because we ourselves undermine our organisation. Moreover, everyone is willing to use us, and then dispose of us ...

I am glad that we are in the Blue Coalition. But they must know that we are an organisation, which holds on to its presence and stands up for its interests.

- Dr. Galabov, you took part in a seminar of United Agrarians. Would you share your impressions of the event and of the young people, who discussed the role of youth for an active citizen society?

- I have the honour and privilege of working with the youth of United Agrarians for the second time. In 2010, Ms Prtya Stavreva invited me to meet the new generation of agrarian politicians. This time I had an opportunity to see young, politically involved professionals, who practically prove the importance of right political values by their own life and carreers. The important conclusion for me is that due to the efforts of the UA youth organisation we are already witnessing a new profile of the young UA activists and experts: they are young people with engineering-technical orientation, whose professional and business realisation directly corelates with the development of agriculture. This profile will seed the new target groups - the recipients of the messages of UA; the selection pool for the UA candidates and the people UA will rely on to recover its positions in Bulgarian society.

- What are the challenges facing the agrarian organisation? And what are the perspectives of Bulgarian democracy?

- UA is the only Blue coalition party, which can significantly increase the number of its members and sympathisers in the short term. The future of the agrarian party is inseparable from the normal democratic development of Bulgaria in the years ahead. The primary challenge currently is the capability to transfer democratic political traditions and to involve the youth with them.

etc.

(The interview is available in Bulgarian only)