Bulgaria 1

Bulgaria

Republic of Bulgaria
Република България

Motto: Съединението прави силата  (Bulgarian)

"Saedinenieto pravi silata"  (transliteration)
"Unity produces strength"1

Anthem: 
Мила Родино  (Bulgarian)
Mila Rodino  (transliteration)
Dear Homeland

Location of Bulgaria(dark green)

– on the European continent(green & dark grey)
– in the European Union(green)  —  [Legend]
Capital Sofia
(and largest city) 42°41′N 23°19′E

Official language(s) Bulgarian

Ethnic groups 85% Bulgarians, 9.4% Turkish, 4.7% Roma, 0.9% other
[1]
groups

Demonym Bulgarian

Government Parliamentary democracy

 -  President Georgi Parvanov

 -  Prime Minister Boyko Borisov

Formation

 -  Old Great Bulgaria 632–680 

Bulgaria 2

 -  Medieval Balkan state [2]

681

 -  First Bulgarian Empire 681–1018 

 -  Second Bulgarian Empire 1185–1396 

 -  Independence lost 1396 

 -  Self-government re-established (under nominal Ottoman 3 March 1878 

suzerainty)

 -  Bulgarian unification 6 September 1885 

 -  Independence 22 September 1908 from Ottoman Empire

 -  Recognized 06 April 1909 

EU accession 1 January 2007

Area

 -  Total 110,993.6 km  (104th)

2

42823 sq mi

 -  Water (%) 0.3

Population

 -  2009 estimate [3]

7,576,751  (95th)

 -  2001 census 7,932,984 

 -  Density 2
68.5/km  (124th)
168.2/sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2010 estimate

 -  Total [4]

$90.869 billion  (63rd)

 -  Per capita [4]

$12,066  (65th)

GDP (nominal) 2010 estimate

 -  Total [4]

$50.620 billion  (75th)

 -  Per capita [4]

$6,721  (69th)

Gini (2008) [5]
29.8  (low) 

HDI (2010) [6]
0.743  (high) (58th)

Currency Lev2 (BGN)

Time zone EET (UTC+2)

 -  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)

Drives on the right

ISO 3166 code BG

Internet TLD .bg3

Calling code 359

1
[7]
"Bulgaria’s National Flag" . Bulgarian Government. 3 October 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-01.

2 plural Leva.

3 In common with other European Union member-states, the .eu domain is also in use.
Bulgaria 3

4 Cell phone system GSM and NMT 450i

5 Domestic power supply 220 V/50 Hz, Schuko (CEE 7/4) sockets

[8]
Bulgaria (pronounced /bʌlˈɡɛəriə/ ( listen) Bulgarian: България, Balgariya, pronounced [bɤ̞ɫˈɡarijɐ]), officially
the Republic of Bulgaria (Република България, Republika Balgariya, Macedonian pronunciation: [rɛˈpublikɐ
bɤ̞ɫˈɡarijɐ]), is a country in Southern Europe. Bulgaria borders five other countries: Romania to the north (mostly
along the Danube), Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. The
Black Sea defines the extent of the country to the east.
With a territory of 110994 square kilometers (42855 sq mi), Bulgaria ranks as the 16th-largest country in Europe.
Several mountainous areas define the landscape, most notably the Stara Planina (Balkan) and Rodopi mountain
ranges, as well as the Rila range, which includes the highest peak in the Balkan region, Musala. In contrast, the
Danubian plain in the north and the Upper Thracian Plain in the south represent Bulgaria's lowest and most fertile
regions. The 378-kilometer (235 mi) Black Sea coastline covers the entire eastern bound of the country. Bulgaria's
capital city and largest settlement is Sofia, with a permanent population of 1,378,000 people.[9]
The emergence of a unified Bulgarian ethnicity and state dates back to the 7th century AD. All Bulgarian political
entities that subsequently emerged preserved the traditions (in ethnic name, language and alphabet) of the First
Bulgarian Empire (681–1018), which at times covered most of the Balkans and eventually became a cultural hub for
the Slavs in the Middle Ages.[10] With the decline of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396/1422), Bulgarian
territories came under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 led to the
establishment of a Third Bulgarian state as a principality in 1878, which gained its full sovereignty in 1908.[11] In
1945, after World War II, it became a communist state and was a part of the Eastern Bloc until the political changes
in Eastern Europe in 1989/1990, when the Communist Party allowed multi-party elections and Bulgaria undertook a
transition to parliamentary democracy and free-market capitalism with mixed results.
Bulgaria functions as a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic. A member of the European
Union, NATO, the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, it has a high Human Development Index of
0.840, ranking 61st in the world in 2009.[12]

History

Prehistory and antiquity

Prehistoric cultures in the Bulgarian lands include the Neolithic Hamangia culture and Vinča culture (6th to 3rd
millennia BC), the eneolithic Varna culture (5th millennium BC; see also Varna Necropolis), and the Bronze Age
Ezero culture. The Karanovo chronology serves as a gauge for the prehistory of the wider Balkans region.
The Thracians, one of the three primary ancestral groups of modern
Bulgarians, lived separated in various tribes until King Teres united
most of them around 500 BC in the Odrysian kingdom. They were
eventually subjugated by Alexander the Great and consecutively by the
Roman Empire. After migrating from their original homeland, the
easternmost South Slavs settled on the territory of modern Bulgaria
during the 6th century and assimilated the Hellenized or Romanized
Thracians. Eventually the Bulgar élite incorporated all of them into the
A golden rhyton, one of the items in the Thracian First Bulgarian Empire.[13] By the 9th century, Bulgars and Slavs were
Panagyurishte treasure, dating from the 4th to 3rd
mutually assimilated.[14]
centuries BC
Bulgaria 4

First Bulgarian Empire

Asparukh, heir of Old Great Bulgaria's khan Kubrat, migrated with several Bulgar tribes to the lower courses of the
rivers Danube, Dniester and Dniepr (known as Ongal) after his father's state was subjugated by the Khazars. He
conquered Moesia and Scythia Minor (Dobrudzha) from the Byzantine Empire, expanding his new kingdom further
into the Balkan Peninsula.[15] A peace treaty with Byzantium in 681 and the establishment of the Bulgarian capital of
Pliska south of the Danube mark the beginning of the First Bulgarian Empire.
Succeeding rulers strengthened the Bulgarian state – Tervel (700/701–718/721), stabilized the borders and
established Bulgaria as a major military power by defeating a 22,000-strong Arab army in 717, thereby eliminating
the threat of a full-scale Arab invasion of Eastern and Central Europe.[16] Krum (802–814),[17] doubled the country's
territory, killed emperor Nicephorus I in the Battle of Pliska,[18] and introduced the first written code of law, valid
for both Slavs and Bulgars. Boris I the Baptist (852–889) abolished Tengriism, replacing it with Eastern Orthodox
Christianity in 864,[19] and introduced the Cyrillic alphabet, developed at the literary schools of Preslav and
Ohrid.[20] The Cyrillic alphabet, along with Old Bulgarian language, fostered the intellectual written language
(lingua franca) for Eastern Europe, known as Church Slavonic. Emperor Simeon I the Great's rule (893–927) saw
the largest territorial expansion of Bulgaria in its history.[21] Simeon managed to gain a military supremacy over the
Byzantine Empire, demonstrated by the Battle of Anchialos (917), one of the bloodiest battles in the Middle ages[22]
as well as one of his most decisive victories. His reign also saw Bulgaria develop a rich, unique Christian Slavonic
culture, which became an example for other Slavonic peoples in Eastern Europe and also fostered the continued
existence of the Bulgarian nation despite forces that threatened to tear it apart.
After Simeon's death, Bulgaria declined during the mid-10th century,
weakened by wars with Croatians, Magyars, Pechenegs and Serbs, and
the spread of the Bogomil heresy.[23] [24] This resulted in consecutive
Rus' and Byzantine invasions, which ended with the seizure of the
capital Preslav by the Byzantine army.[25] Under Samuil, Bulgaria
somewhat recovered from these attacks and even managed to conquer
Baba Vida fortress in Vidin, built in the 10th Serbia, Bosnia[26] and Duklja,[27] but this ended in 1014, when
century Byzantine Emperor Basil II ("the Bulgar-Slayer") defeated its armies at
Klyuch.[28] Samuil died shortly after the battle, on 15 October 1014,[28]
and by 1018 the Byzantine Empire fully conquered the First Bulgarian Empire, putting it to an end.
Bulgaria 5

Byzantine rule and Second Bulgarian Empire

Basil II managed to prevent rebellions by retaining the local rule of the
Bulgarian nobility, who were incorporated into Byzantine aristocracy
as archons or strategoi,[29] guaranteeing the indivisibility of Bulgaria in
its former geographic borders and recognising the autocephaly of the
Bulgarian Archbishopric of Ohrid.[30] After his death Byzantine
domestic policies changed, which led to a series of unsuccessful
rebellions, the largest being led by Peter II Delyan. However, it was
not until 1185 when Asen dynasty nobles Ivan Asen I and Peter IV
organized a major uprising and succeeded in reestablishing the
Bulgarian state, marking the beginning of the Second Bulgarian
Empire.

The Asen dynasty set up its capital in Veliko Tarnovo. Kaloyan, the
third of the Asen monarchs, extended his dominions to Belgrade, Nish
and Skopie; he acknowledged the spiritual supremacy of the Pope, and The Bulgarian Empire under Tsar Ivan Asen II
received a royal crown from a papal legate.[13] Cultural and economic
growth persisted under Ivan Asen II (1218–1241), who extended Bulgaria's control over Albania, Epirus, Macedonia
and Thrace.[31] The achievements of the Tarnovo artistic school as well as the first coins to be minted by a Bulgarian
ruler were only a few signs of the empire's welfare at that time.[13]

The Asen dynasty ended in 1257, and due to Tatar invasions (beginning in the
later 13th century), internal conflicts, and constant attacks from the Byzantines
and the Hungarians, the country's military and economic might declined. By the
end of the 14th century, factional divisions between Bulgarian feudal landlords
(bolyari) and the spread of Bogomilism had caused the Second Bulgarian Empire
to split into three small tsardoms (At Vidin, Tarnovo and Karvuna) and several
semi-independent principalities that fought among themselves, and also with
Byzantines, Hungarians, Serbs, Venetians and Genoese. In the period
1365–1370, the Ottoman Turks, who had already started their invasion of the
Balkans, conquered most Bulgarian towns and fortresses south of the Balkan
Mountains and began their northwards conquest.[32]

Ivan Shishman, the last ruler of the

Tarnovo Tsardom (1371–1395)
Bulgaria 6

Fall of the Second Empire and Ottoman rule

In 1393, the Ottomans captured Tarnovo, the capital of the Second
Bulgarian Empire, after a three-month siege. In 1396, the Vidin
Tsardom fell after the defeat of a Christian crusade at the Battle of
Nicopolis. With this, the Ottomans finally subjugated and occupied
Bulgaria.[33] [34] [35] During their rule, the Bulgarian population
suffered greatly from oppression, intolerance and misgovernment.[36]
The nobility was eliminated and the peasantry enserfed to Ottoman
masters[37] while Bulgarians lacked judicial equality with the Ottoman
Muslims and had to pay much higher taxes than them.[38] Bulgarian
culture became isolated from Europe, its achievements destroyed, and
the educated clergy fled to other countries.[39]
The Battle of Nicopolis, 1396
Throughout the nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule, the Bulgarian
people responded to the oppression by strengthening the haydut ("outlaw") tradition,[14] and attempted to reestablish
their state by organizing several revolts, most notably the First and Second Tarnovo Uprisings (1598 / 1686) and
Karposh's Rebellion (1689). The National awakening of Bulgaria became one of the key factors in the struggle for
liberation, resulting in the 1876 April uprising —the largest and best-organized Bulgarian rebellion. Though crushed
by the Ottoman authorities – in reprisal, the Turks massacred some 15,000 Bulgarians[14] – the uprising prompted
the Great Powers to take action. They convened the Constantinople Conference in 1876, but their decisions were
rejected by the Ottoman authorities, which allowed the Russian Empire to seek a solution by force without risking
military confrontation with other Great Powers (as had happened in the Crimean War of 1854 to 1856).

Third Bulgarian State

The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, resulted in the defeat of Ottoman forces by the Russian army (supported by
Bulgarian and Romanian volunteer forces) and the Treaty of San Stefano (3 March 1878), which set up an
autonomous Bulgarian principality. The Western Great Powers immediately rejected the treaty, fearing that a large
Slavic country in the Balkans might serve Russian interests. The subsequent Treaty of Berlin (1878) provided for a
much smaller autonomous state comprising Moesia and the region of Sofia.[40] The Bulgarian principality
proclaimed itself a fully independent state on 5 October (22 September O.S.), 1908, after it won a war against Serbia
and incorporated the semi-autonomous Ottoman territory of Eastern Rumelia.
In the years following the achievement of complete independence
Bulgaria became increasingly militarized, and was referred to as "the
Prussia of the Balkans"[41] [42] In 1912 and 1913, Bulgaria became
involved in the Balkan Wars, first entering into conflict alongside
Greece, Serbia and Montenegro against the Ottoman Empire. The First
Balkan War (1912–1913) proved a success for the Bulgarian army, but
a conflict over the division of Macedonia arose between the victorious
allies. The Second Balkan War (1913) was a disastrous defeat for
Bulgaria, which was attacked almost simultaneously by its neighbors.
Bulgarian troops marching at a victory parade in
Sofia celebrating the end of World War II, 1945 In World War I, Bulgaria again found itself fighting on the losing side
as a result of its alliance with the Central Powers. Despite achieving
several decisive victories (at Doiran, Monastir and again at Doiran in 1918), Bulgaria lost the war and suffered
significant territorial losses.[14] The total amount of casualties from these three wars was 412,000–152,000 military
deaths and 260,000 wounded. A wave of 253,000[43] officially registered refugees, who represented 6% of the
Bulgaria 7

pre-war population of the country, and an unclear number of unregistered refugees put an additional strain on the
already ruined national economy.
Following these losses, in the 1920s and 1930s the country suffered political unrest, which led to the establishment
of a royal authoritarian dictatorship by Tsar Boris III (reigned 1918–1943). After regaining control of Southern
Dobrudzha in 1940, Bulgaria entered World War II in 1941 as a member of the Axis. However, it declined to
participate in Operation Barbarossa and never declared war on the USSR, and saved its Jewish population from
deportation to concentration camps by repeatedly postponing compliance with German demands, offering various
rationales.[44] In the summer of 1943 Boris III died suddenly, an event which pushed the country into political
turmoil as the war turned against Nazi Germany and the Communist guerilla movement gained more power.[45]
In September 1944 the Communist-dominated Fatherland Front took power,
following strikes and unrest, ending the alliance with Nazi Germany and joining
the Allied side until the end of the war in 1945. The Communist uprising of 9
September 1944 led to the abolishment of monarchic rule, but it was not until
1946 that a people's republic was established. It came under the Soviet sphere of
influence, with Georgi Dimitrov (1946–1949) as the foremost Bulgarian political
leader. Bulgaria installed a Soviet-type planned economy with some
market-oriented policies emerging on an experimental level[47] under Todor
Zhivkov (1954–1989). By the mid 1950s standards of living rose
significantly.[48] Lyudmila Zhivkova, daughter of Zhivkov, promoted Bulgaria's
Zhelyu Zhelev, the first
national heritage, culture and arts worldwide.[49] On the other hand, an
democratically elected president of
assimilation campaign of the late 1980s directed against ethnic Turks resulted in [46]
Bulgaria
[50] [51]
the emigration of some 300,000 Bulgarian Turks to Turkey, which caused
a significant drop in agricultural production due to the loss of labor force.[52] On 10 November 1989, the Bulgarian
Communist Party gave up its political monopoly, Zhivkov resigned, and Bulgaria embarked on a transition from a
single-party republic to a parliamentary democracy.

In June 1990 the first free elections took place, won by the moderate wing of the Communist Party (the Bulgarian
Socialist Party — BSP). In July 1991, a new constitution that provided for a relatively weak elected President and
for a Prime Minister accountable to the legislature, was adopted. Economic planning was scrapped and private
initiative was legalized. The new system eventually failed to improve both the living standards and create economic
growth — the average quality of life and economic performance actually remained lower than in the times of
Communism well into the early 2000s.[53] A reform package introduced in 1997 restored positive economic growth,
but led to rising social inequality. Bulgaria became a member of NATO in 2004 and of the European Union in 2007.
The US Library of Congress Federal Research Division reported it in 2006 as having generally good freedom of
speech and human rights records,[54] while Freedom House listed Bulgaria as "free" in 2010, giving it scores of 2 for
political rights and 2 for civil liberties.[55]
Bulgaria 8

Geography
Geographically and in terms of climate, Bulgaria features notable
diversity, with the landscape ranging from the Alpine snow-capped
peaks in Rila, Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny
Black Sea coast; from the typically continental Danubian Plain (ancient
Moesia) in the north to the strong Mediterranean climatic influence in
the valleys of Macedonia and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts
of Thrace.

A view of central Stara Planina Relief and natural resources

Bulgaria comprises portions of the separate regions known in classical
times as Moesia, Thrace, and Macedonia. About 30% of the land is
made up of plains, while plateaus and hills account for 41%.[56] The
mountainous southwest of the country has two alpine ranges — Rila
and Pirin — and further east stand the lower but more extensive
Rhodope Mountains. The Rila range includes the highest peak of the
Balkan Peninsula, Musala, at 2925 meters (9596 ft);[57] the Balkan
mountain chain runs west-east through the middle of the country, north
of the Rose Valley. Hilly countryside and plains lie to the southeast,
along the Black Sea coast, and along Bulgaria's main river, the
Danube, to the north. Strandzha forms the tallest mountain in the
southeast. Few mountains and hills exist in the northeast region of
Dobrudzha.
Raysko Praskalo waterfall

Bulgaria has large deposits of bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, bismuth and
manganese. Smaller deposits exist of iron, gold, silver, uranium,
chromite, nickel, and others. Bulgaria has abundant non-metalliferous
minerals such as rock-salt, gypsum, kaolin and marble.

Hydrography and climate

The country has a dense network of about 540 rivers, most of
them—with the notable exception of the Danube—short and with low
The Black Sea as seen from Bakurluka peak near
water-levels.[58] Most rivers flow through mountainous areas. The
Sozopol.
longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the Iskar, has a
length of 368 kilometers (229 mi). Other major rivers include the
Struma and the Maritsa River in the south.

Bulgaria overall has a temperate climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The barrier effect of the Balkan
Mountains has some influence on climate throughout the country–northern Bulgaria experiences lower temperatures
and receives more rain than the southern lowlands.
Precipitation in Bulgaria averages about 630 millimeters (24.8 in) per year.[59] In the lowlands rainfall varies
between 500 and 800 millimeters (19.7 and 31.5 in), and in the mountain areas between 1000 and 2500 millimeters
(39.4 and 98.4 in) of rain falls per year. Drier areas include Dobrudja and the northern coastal strip, while the higher
parts of the Rila, Pirin, Rhodope Mountains, Stara Planina, Osogovska Mountain and Vitosha receive the highest
levels of precipitation.
Bulgaria 9

Environment and wildlife

Bulgaria has signed and ratified the Kyoto protocol[62] and has
achieved a 30% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 to
2009, completing the protocol's objectives.[63] However, pollution
from outdated factories and metallurgy works, as well as severe
deforestation (mostly caused by illegal logging), continue to be major
problems.[64] Urban areas are particularly affected mostly due to
energy production from coal-based powerplants and automobile
traffic,[65] [66] while pesticide usage in the agriculture and antiquated
industrial sewage systems have resulted in extensive soil and water
pollution with chemicals and detergents.[67] In addition, Bulgaria
remains the only EU member which does not recycle municipal
waste,[68] although an electronic waste recycling plant was put in Some 20 nesting couples of the
operation in June 2010.[69] The situation has improved in recent years, Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila
heliaca) exist in Bulgaria, and their
and several government-funded programs have been initiated in order [60]
number is gradually growing.
to reduce pollution levels.[67]

Three national parks, eleven nature parks[70] and seventeen biosphere

reserves[71] exist on Bulgaria's territory. Nearly 35% of its land area
consists of forests.[72] The brown bear and the jackal[73] are prominent
mammals, while the Eurasian lynx, the Eastern imperial eagle and the
European mink have small, but growing populations.

Pirin mountain, which holds one of the world's

[61]
oldest trees – Baikushev's Pine.

Politics and law

The National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (Народно събрание) consists of
240 deputies, each elected for four-year terms by popular vote. The National
Assembly has the power to enact laws, approve the budget, schedule presidential
elections, select and dismiss the Prime Minister and other ministers, declare war,
deploy troops abroad, and ratify international treaties and agreements. The
president serves as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
While unable to initiate legislation other than constitutional amendments, the
President can return a bill for further debate, although the parliament can
override the President's veto by vote of a majority of all MPs. Boyko Borisov,
leader of the centre-right party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria,
became prime minister on 27 July 2009,[74] and Georgi Parvanov was re-elected
as a president in 2005.
Georgi Parvanov, current president
and head of state of Bulgaria
Bulgaria 10

The Bulgarian legal system recognizes the Acts of Parliament as a main source of law, and is a typical representative
of the Romano-Germanic law family.[75] The judiciary is overseen by the Ministry of Justice, while the Supreme
Administrative Court and Supreme Court of Cassation, the highest courts of appeal, rule on the application of laws in
lower courts. The Supreme Judicial Council manages the system and appoints judges. Despite some notable
progress,[76] [77] Bulgaria's judiciary remains one of Europe's most corrupt and inefficient.[78] [79] Law enforcement
organisations are mainly subordinate to the Ministry of Interior.[80] The National Police Service is responsible for
combating general crime and supporting the operations of other law enforcement agencies, the National Investigative
Service and the Central Office for Combating Organized Crime. The Police Service has criminal and financial
sections and national and local offices. The Ministry of Interior also heads the Border Police Service and the
National Gendarmerie, a specialized branch for anti-terrorist activity, crisis management and riot control. In 2008, a
State Agency for National Security, a specialized body for counterintelligence, was established with the aim to
eliminate threats to national security.[81] Bulgaria's police force numbers 27,000 officers.[82]

Foreign relations and military

Bulgaria became a member of the United Nations in 1955, and a
founding member of OSCE in 1995. As a Consultative Party to the
Antarctic Treaty, the country takes part in the administration of the
territories situated south of 60° south latitude.[83] [84] It joined NATO
on 29 March 2004, signed the European Union Treaty of Accession on
Paratroopers of the 68th Special Forces Brigade,
25 April 2005,[85] [86] and became a full member of the European
Thracian Spring exercise, April 2010
Union on 1 January 2007.[87] In April 2006 Bulgaria and the United
States of America signed a defence cooperation agreement providing
for the usage of the Bezmer and Graf Ignatievo air bases, the Novo Selo training range, and a logistics centre in
Aytos as joint military facilities. Foreign Policy magazine lists Bezmer Air Base as one of the six most important
overseas facilities used by the USAF.[88]

The military of Bulgaria, an all-volunteer body, consists of three services – land forces, navy and air force. As a
NATO member, the country maintains a total of 645 troops deployed abroad.[89] Historically, Bulgaria deployed
significant numbers of military and civilian advisors in socialist-oriented countries, such as Nicaragua[90] and Libya
(more than 9,000 personnel).[91]
Following a series of reductions beginning in 1990, the active troops today number about 32,000,[92] down from
152,000 in 1988,[93] and are supplemented by a reserve force of 303,000 soldiers and officers and paramilitary
forces, numbering 34,000.[94] The inventory includes highly capable Soviet equipment, such as MiG-29 fighters,
SA-10 Grumble SAMs and SS-21 Scarab short-range ballistic missiles. Military spending in 2009 cost $1.19
billion.[95]
Bulgaria 11

Administrative divisions

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
SOFIA

•
•
•
Bulgaria 12

•
•
•
•
•
Blagoevgrad
Burgas
Dobrich
Gabrovo
Haskovo
Kardzhali
Kyustendil
Lovech
Montana
Pazardzhik
Pernik
Pleven
Plovdiv
Razgrad
Ruse
Shumen
Silistra
Sliven
Smolyan
Sofia
Stara Zagora
Targovishte
Varna
Veliko Tarnovo
Vidin
Vratsa
Yambol
Black Sea
Danube
Rep. of
Macedonia
Greece
Romania
Serbia
Turkey
Bulgaria 13

Between 1987 and 1999 Bulgaria consisted of nine provinces (oblasti, singular oblast); since 1999, it has consisted
of twenty-eight. All take their names from their respective capital cities:

Arms Province Arms Province

Blagoevgrad Rousse

Burgas Shumen

Dobrich Silistra

Gabrovo Sliven

Haskovo Smolyan

Kardzhali Sofia City

Kyustendil Sofia Province

Lovech Stara Zagora

Montana Targovishte

Pazardzhik Varna

Pernik Veliko Tarnovo

Pleven Vidin

Plovdiv Vratsa

Razgrad Yambol

The provinces subdivide into 264 municipalities.

Economy
Bulgaria has an industrialized, open free-market economy, with a
large, moderately advanced private sector and a number of strategic
state-owned enterprises. The World Bank classifies it as an
"upper-middle-income economy".[96] Bulgaria has experienced rapid
economic growth in recent years, even though it continues to rank as
the lowest-income member state of the EU. According to Eurostat data,
Bulgarian PPS GDP per capita stood at 40 per cent of the EU average
in 2008.[97] The Bulgarian lev is the country's national currency. The
lev is pegged to the euro at a rate of 1.95583 leva for 1 euro.[98] Sofia, the financial heart of the country

In 2008, GDP (PPP) was estimated at $95.2 billion, with a per capita

value of $13,100.[99] The economy relies primarily on industry, although the services sector increasingly contributes
to GDP growth. Bulgaria produces a significant amount of manufactures and raw materials such as iron, copper,
gold, bismuth, coal, electronics, refined petroleum fuels, vehicle components, firearms and construction materials.
The total labor force amounts to 3.2 million people.[100] Since a hyperinflation crisis in 1996/1997, inflation and
unemployment rates have fallen to 7.2% and 6.3%, respectively, in 2008. Corruption in the public administration and
a weak judiciary have also hampered Bulgaria's economic development.[101]
Bulgaria 14

Amidst the Financial crisis of 2007–2010, unemployment rates increased to 9.1%

in 2009, while GDP growth contracted from 6.3% (2008) to −4.9% (2009). The
crisis had a negative impact mostly on industry, with a 10% decline in the
national industrial production index, a 31% drop in mining, and a 60% drop in
"ferrous and metal production".[103] The International Monetary Fund predicts a
0.2% overall growth for the Bulgarian economy in 2010, and 2% in 2011.[104]

Although it has relatively few reserves of fossil fuels, Bulgaria's well-developed

energy sector and strategic geographical location make it a key European energy
hub.[105] A single nuclear power station with two active 1,000 MW reactors
satisfies 34% of the country's energy needs,[106] and another nuclear power
station with a projected capacity of 2,000 MW is under construction. Thermal
Wind turbines near cape Kaliakra. power stations, such as those at the Maritsa Iztok Complex, also have a large
Bulgaria aims at producing 16 % of share in electricity production. Recent years have seen a rapid increase in
its electricity from renewable energy
[102] electricity production from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar
sources by 2020.
power.[107] Large-scale prospects for wind energy development[108] have spurred
the construction of numerous wind farms, making Bulgaria one of the
fastest-growing wind energy producers in the world.[109]

Bulgaria's mining industry is a significant contributor to economic

growth and is worth $760 mln.[110] In Europe, the country ranks as the
3rd-largest copper producer,[111] 6th-largest zinc producer,[112] and
9th-largest coal producer,[113] and is the 9th-largest bismuth producer
in the world.[114] Ferrous metallurgy, including steel and pig iron
production, takes place mostly in Kremikovtsi, Pernik and Debelt.

About 14% of the total industrial production relates to machine

building, and 20% of the workforce is employed in this field.[115]
In contrast with the industrial sector, agriculture in Bulgaria has A sunflower field in Dobrudzha, one of the most
marked a decline since the beginning of the 2000s, with agricultural fertile regions in Bulgaria

production in 2008 amounting to only 66% of that between 1999 and

2001.[116] Overall, Bulgaria's agricultural sector has dwindled since 1990, with cereal and vegetable yields dropping
with nearly 40% by 1999.[117] A five-year modernization and development program was launched in 2007, aimed at
strengthening the sector by investing a total of 3.2 billion euro.[118] Specialized equipment amounts to some 25,000
tractors and 5,500 combine harvesters, with a fleet of light aircraft.[119]

Bulgaria remains a major European producer of agricultural commodities such as tobacco (3rd)[120] and raspberries
(12th).[121]
Bulgaria 15

Tourism
In 2008 Bulgaria was visited by a total of 8,900,000 people, with
Greeks, Romanians and Germans accounting for more than 40% of all
visitors.[122] Significant numbers of British, Russian, Dutch, Serbian,
Polish and Danish tourists also visit Bulgaria.

Rila mountain is among Bulgaria's primary tourist

destinations.

Main destinations include the capital Sofia, coastal resorts Albena,

Sozopol, Nesebar, Golden Sands and Sunny Beach and winter resorts
such as Pamporovo, Chepelare, Borovetz and Bansko. The rural tourist
destinations of Arbanasi and Bozhentsi offer well-preserved
ethnographic traditions. Other popular attractions include the
10th-century Rila Monastery and the 19th-century Euxinograd château.

Infrastructure
A Siemens railcar of the Bulgarian State Bulgaria occupies a unique and strategically important geographic
Railways. Bulgaria's largely antiquated rail location. Since ancient times, the country has served as a major
transport system is gradually being
[123] [124] crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa. Five of the ten
modernized.
Trans-European corridors run through its territory.
Bulgaria's national road network has a total length of 102016 kilometers (63390 mi), of which 93855 kilometers
(58319 mi) are paved. Motorways, such as Trakiya, Hemus and Struma, have a total length of 441 km (274 mi).
Bulgaria also has 6500 kilometers (4000 mi) of railway track, more than 60% of which is electrified, and plans to
construct a high-speed railway by 2017, at a cost of €3 bln.[125] [126] Sofia and Plovdiv are major air travel hubs,
while Varna and Burgas are the principal maritime trade ports.

Science and technology

In 2008 Bulgaria spent 0.4% of its GDP on scientific research,[127]
which represents one of the lowest scientific budgets in Europe.[128]
Chronic underinvestment in the scientific sector since 1990 forced
many scientific professionals to leave the country.[129] Bulgaria has
traditions in astronomy, physics, nuclear technology, medical and
pharmaceutical research, and maintains a polar exploration program by
means of an artificial satellite and a permanent research base. The
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) is the leading scientific
institution in the country and employs most of Bulgaria's researchers in
Tower of the 200 cm (79 in) telescope at the
its numerous branches.
Rozhen Observatory.

Bulgarian scientists have made several notable discoveries and inventions, such as the prototype of the digital watch
(Peter Petroff); galantamine (Dimitar Paskov);[130] [131] the molecular-kinetic theory of crystal formation and growth
Bulgaria 16

(formulated by Ivan Stranski) and the space greenhouse (SRI-BAS).[132] [133] With major-general Georgi Ivanov
flying on Soyuz 33 in 1979, Bulgaria became the 6th country in the world to have an astronaut in space.[134]
Due to its large-scale computing technology exports to COMECON states, in the 1980s Bulgaria became known as
the Silicon Valley of the Eastern Bloc.[135] The country ranked 8th in the world in 2002 by total number of ICT
specialists, outperforming countries with far larger populations,[136] and it operates the only supercomputer in the
Balkan region,[137] an IBM Blue Gene/P, which entered service in September 2008.[138]

Demographics
The National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria estimates the country's
population for 2009 at 7,606,000 people. According to the 2001
census,[139] it consists mainly of ethnic Bulgarians (83.9%), with two
sizable minorities, Turks (9.4%) and Roma (4.7%).[140] Of the
remaining 2.0%, 0.9% comprises some 40 smaller minorities, while
1.1% of the population have not declared their ethnicity.

Bulgaria has one of the lowest population growth rates in the

world.[141] Negative population growth has occurred since the early Demographic changes from 1961 to 2009. The
[142] graph shows the sharp demographic decline that
1990s, due to economic collapse, a low birth rate, and high
occurs since 1989
emigration. In 1989 the population comprised 9,009,018 people,
gradually falling to 7,950,000 in 2001 and 7,528,000 in 2010.[3] Some
6,700,000 people (~85%) speak Bulgarian,[143] which belongs to the group of South Slavic languages and is the only
official language.

Most Bulgarians (82.6%) belong, at least nominally, to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which gained autocephalous
status in 927 AD[144] [145] and is the earliest Slavic Orthodox Church.[146] [147] Other religious denominations
include Islam (12.2%), various Protestant denominations (0.8%) and Roman Catholicism (0.5%); with other
Christian denominations (0.2%), and "other" totalling approximately 4%, according to the 2001 census.[148] Bulgaria
regards itself officially as a secular state. The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion, but appoints
Orthodoxy as "a traditional" religion.[149]

Education
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Science oversees education in Bulgaria. All children aged between 7 and 16
must attend full-time education. Six-year-olds can enroll at school at their parents' discretion. The State provides
education in its schools free of charge, except for higher education establishments, colleges and universities. The
curriculum focuses on eight main subject-areas:[150] Bulgarian language and literature, foreign languages,
mathematics, information technology, social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and ecology, music and art,
physical education and sports.
Bulgaria 17

Government estimates from 2003 put the literacy rate at 98.6 percent,
approximately the same for both sexes. Bulgaria has traditionally had
high educational standards,[150] and its students rate second in the
world in terms of average SAT Reasoning Test scores and I.Q test
scores according to MENSA International.[151]

Healthcare
Bulgaria has a universal, mostly state-funded healthcare system. The
National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) pays a gradually increasing
portion of the costs of primary healthcare. Employees and employers
pay an increasing, mandatory percentage of salaries, with the goal of Sofia University's rectorate
gradually reducing state support of health care. Between 2002 and
2004, health-care expenditures in the national budget increased from 3.8 percent to 4.3 percent, with the NHIF
accounting for more than 60 percent of annual expenditures.[152] In 2010, the healthcare budget amounts to 4.2% of
GDP, or about 1.3 billion euro.[153] Bulgaria has 181 doctors per 100,000 people, which is above the EU
average.[154] Some of Bulgaria's largest medical facilities are the Pirogov Hospital and the Military Medical
Academy of Sofia. Life expectancy remains below the European union level with an average of 73.4 years for both
men and women.[155]

Urbanization
Most of the population (71%) resides in urban areas.[156] Bulgaria's 20 largest cities have populations as follows:[157]

Rank Core City Province Pop. Rank Core City Province Pop.

Sofia
1 Sofia Sofia City 1,404,929 11 Pernik Pernik Province 84,479

Plovdiv
2 Plovdiv Plovdiv Province 380,130 12 Yambol Yambol Province 83,410

Varna
3 Varna Varna Province 364,968 13 Haskovo Haskovo Province 80,939

4 Burgas Burgas Province 229,250 14 Pazardzhik Pazardzhik Province 79,528

5 Rousse Rousse Province 175,058 15 Vratsa Vratsa Province 77,318

6 Stara Stara Zagora 162,416 16 Blagoevgrad Blagoevgrad Province 77,216

Zagora Province

7 Pleven Pleven Province 137,001 17 Veliko Veliko Tarnovo 72,111

Tarnovo Province

8 Sliven Sliven Province 115,758 18 Gabrovo Gabrovo Province 65,947

9 Dobrich Dobrich Province 114,990 19 Vidin Vidin Province 57,072

10 Shumen Shumen Province 103,016 20 Asenovgrad Plovdiv Province 55,323

Bulgaria 18

Culture
Traditional Bulgarian culture contains mainly Thracian, Slavic and
Bulgar heritage, along with Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Celtic
influences.[158] Thracian artifacts include numerous tombs and golden
treasures. The country's territory includes parts of the Roman provinces
of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia, and many of the archaeological
discoveries date back to Roman times, while ancient Bulgars have also
left traces of their heritage in music and in early architecture. Both the
First and the Second Bulgarian empires functioned as the hub of Slavic
The National Gallery of Foreign Art houses
culture during much of the Middle Ages, exerting considerable literary
numerous examples of European, Asian, and
African art. and cultural influence over the Eastern Orthodox Slavic world by
means of the Preslav and Ohrid Literary Schools. The Cyrillic
alphabet, used as a writing system to many languages in Eastern Europe and Asia, originated in the former around
the 9th century AD.[20]

A historical artifact of major importance is the oldest treasure of

worked gold in the world, dating back to the 5th millennium BC,
coming from the site of the Varna Necropolis.[161] [162]

World Heritage Sites

Bulgaria has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Madara Rider,
the Thracian tombs in Sveshtari and Kazanlak, the Boyana Church, the
Rila Monastery, the Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, Pirin National
Park, Sreburna Nature Reserve and the ancient city of Nesebar. Ancient Roman architecture in Plovdiv, the oldest
[159]
city in Europe and the 6th oldest settlement
in the world, continuously inhabited since at least
Art, music and literature 3,000 BC.
[160]

The country has a long-standing musical tradition, traceable back to the

early Middle Ages. Yoan Kukuzel (ca. 1280–1360) became one of the earliest known composers of Medieval
Europe. National folk music has a distinctive sound and uses a wide range of traditional instruments, such as gudulka
(гъдулка), gaida (гайда) – bagpipe, kaval (кавал) and tupan (тъпан). Bulgarian classical music is represented by
composers such as Emanuil Manolov, Pancho Vladigerov, Marin Goleminov and Georgi Atanasov, opera singers
Boris Hristov and Raina Kabaivanska, and pianists Alexis Weissenberg and Vesselin Stanev.

Bulgaria has a rich religious visual arts heritage, especially in frescoes, murals
and icons, many of them produced by the medieval Tarnovo Artistic School.[163]
One of the earliest pieces of Slavic literature were created in Medieval Bulgaria,
such as The Didactic Gospel by Constantine of Preslav and An Account of Letters
by Chernorizets Hrabar, both written circa 893. Notable Bulgarian authors
include late Romantic Ivan Vazov, Symbolists Pencho Slaveykov and Peyo
Yavorov, Expressionist Geo Milev, science fiction writer Pavel Vezhinov,
novelist Dimitar Dimov and postmodernist Alek Popov, best known for his novel
Mission London and its successful movie adaptation.[164] German-language
writer Elias Canetti was the only Bulgarian to win the Nobel Prize (Literature,
Bulgarian Symbolist poet Peyo 1981).[165]
Yavorov
Bulgaria 19

Media
The media in Bulgaria has a record of unbiased reporting. The written
media have no legal restrictions and newspaper publishing is entirely
liberal.[167] The extensive freedom of the press means that no exact
number of publications can be established, although some research put
an estimate of around 900 print media outlets for 2006.[167] The
largest-circulation daily newspapers include Dneven Trud and 24
Chasa.[167]

Non-printed media sources, such as television and radio, are overseen

by the Council for Electronic Media (CEM), an independent body with A performance at Spirit of Burgas, one of
the authority to issue broadcasting licenses. Apart from a Europe's most prominent summer music
[166]
state-operated national television channel, radio station and the festivals.

Bulgarian News Agency, a large number of private television and radio

stations exist. However, most Bulgarian media experience a number of negative trends, such as general degradation
of media products, self-censorship and economic or political pressure.[168]

Internet media are growing in popularity due to the wide range of available opinions and viewpoints, lack of
censorship and diverse content.[168] Since 2000, a rapid increase in the number of Internet users has occurred. In
2000, they numbered 430,000, growing to 1,545,100 in 2004, and 3.4 million (48% penetration rate) in 2010.[169]

Cuisine
Yogurt (кисело мляко kiselo mlyako), lukanka (луканка), banitsa
(баница), shopska salad (шопска салата), lyutenitsa (лютеница), sirene
(сирене) and kozunak (козунак) give Bulgaria a distinctive cuisine.
Owing to the relatively warm climate and complex geography affording
excellent growth conditions for a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits,
Bulgarian cuisine is diverse. Most dishes are oven baked, steamed, or in
the form of stew. Deep-frying is uncommon, but grilling - especially
different kinds of meats - is widely practiced. Pork is the most common
meat, followed by chicken and lamb. Oriental dishes such as moussaka,
gyuvech, and baklava are widely consumed. Bulgarian cuisine is also
noted for the quality of dairy products and salads, as well as the variety
of wines and local alcoholic drinks such as rakiya, mastika and menta.

Exports of Bulgarian wine go worldwide, and until 1990 the country

exported the world's second-largest total of bottled wine. As of 2007,
200,000 tonnes of wine were produced annually,[170] the 20th-largest
Rakiya brewed in Elena, central Bulgaria total in the world.[171] Among the more prominent local sorts are Dimiat
and Mavrud.
Bulgaria 20

Sports
Bulgaria performs well in sports such as volleyball, wrestling, weight-lifting,
canoeing, rowing, shooting sports, gymnastics, chess, and recently, sumo
wrestling and tennis. The country fields one of the leading men's volleyball
teams in Europe and in the world, ranked 6th in the world according to the 2010
FIVB rankings,[172] while the women's volleyball team finished second in
European League 2010.[173] [174]

Football has become by far the most popular sport in the country. Dimitar
Berbatov (Manchester United) is one of the most famous Bulgarian football
players of the 21st century, while Hristo Stoichkov, twice winner of the
European Golden Shoe, is the most successful Bulgarian player of all time.[175] Tsvetana Pironkova, Bulgaria's
[176]
Prominent domestic football clubs include PFC CSKA Sofia[177] [178] and leading female tennis player, reached
the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2010.
PFC Levski Sofia. Bulgaria's best performance at World Cup finals came in
1994, with a 4th place.

Bulgaria participates both in the Summer and Winter Olympics, and its first Olympic appearance dates back to the
first modern Olympic games in 1896, represented by Swiss gymnast Charles Champaud. Since then the country has
appeared in most Summer Olympiads, and by 2010 had won a total of 218 medals: 52 gold, 86 silver, and 80 bronze,
which puts it at 24th place in the all-time ranking.

See also
• List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria
• List of Bulgarian monarchs
• Bulgarian resistance movement during World War II

Notes
[1] "Census 2001, Population by Districts and Ethnic Groups as of 01.03.2001" (http:/ / www. nsi. bg/ Census_e/ Census_e. htm). Nsi.bg. .
Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[2] "Bulgaria (07/08)" (http:/ / www. state. gov/ r/ pa/ ei/ bgn/ 3236. htm). State.gov. . Retrieved 2009-01-02.
[3] NSI population table as of 2010 (http:/ / www. nsi. bg/ otrasal. php?otr=19& a1=376& a2=387& a3=388#cont)
[4] "Bulgaria" (http:/ / www. imf. org/ external/ pubs/ ft/ weo/ 2010/ 01/ weodata/ weorept. aspx?sy=2007& ey=2010& scsm=1& ssd=1&
sort=country& ds=. & br=1& pr1. x=11& pr1. y=11& c=918& s=NGDPD,NGDPDPC,PPPGDP,PPPPC,LP& grp=0& a=). International
Monetary Fund. . Retrieved 2010-04-21.
[5] "Distribution of family income – Gini index" (https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ fields/ 2172. html). The
World Factbook. CIA. . Retrieved 2009-09-01.
[6] "Human Development Report 2010" (http:/ / hdr. undp. org/ en/ media/ HDR_2010_EN_Table1. pdf). United Nations. 2010. . Retrieved 5
November 2010.
[7] http:/ / www. government. bg/ cgi-bin/ e-cms/ vis/ vis. pl?s=001& p=0159& n=000006& g=
[8] Закон за транслитерацията, чл.6 (http:/ / bg. wikisource. org/ wiki/ Закон_за_транслитерацията)
[9] "Population table by permanent and present address" (http:/ / grao. bg/ tna/ tab01. html) (in Bulgarian). Head Direction of Residential
Registration and Administrative Service. . Retrieved 2010-01-15.
[10] Human Resource Development Centre. "Bulgaria in the European Union" (http:/ / euroguidance. hrdc. bg/ files/ public/ Publications/
BG_in_EU. pdf) (PDF). Sofia: EuroGuidance. p. 20. . Retrieved 2010-04-26. "[..] Bulgaria, the cultural center of the medieval Slavs[...]"
[11] Crampton, R.J., Bulgaria, 2007, pp.174, Oxford University Press
[12] Human development index trends (http:/ / hdr. undp. org/ en/ media/ HDR_2009_EN_Complete. pdf), Human development indices by the
United Nations. Retrieved on October 5, 2009
[13] s:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Bulgaria/History
[14] " Bulgaria (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ 84090/ Bulgaria)". Encyclopædia Britannica.
[15] Runciman, p. 26
Bulgaria 21

[16] C. de Boor (ed), Theophanis chronographia, vol. 1. Leipzig: Teubner, 1883 (repr. Hildesheim: Olms, 1963), 397, 25–30 (AM 6209)"φασί
δε τινές ότι και ανθρώπους τεθνεώτας και την εαυτών κόπρον εις τα κλίβανα βάλλοντες και ζυμούντες ήσθιον. ενέσκηψε δε εις αυτούς
και λοιμική νόσος και αναρίθμητα πλήθη εξ αυτών ώλεσεν. συνήψε δε προς αυτούς πόλεμον και τον των Βουλγάρων έθνος, και, ως
φασίν οι ακριβώς επιστάμενοι, [ότι] κβ χιλάδας Αράβων κατέσφαξαν."
[17] Runciman, p. 52
[18] s:Chronographia/Chapter 61
[19] Georgius Monachus Continuants. Chronicon, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinorum, Bonn, 1828—97
[20] Paul Cubberley (1996) "The Slavic Alphabets". In Daniels and Bright, eds. The World's Writing Systems. Oxford University Press. ISBN
0-19-507993-0.
[21] Fine, John V.A. (1991). The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century. University of Michigan
Press. pp. 144–148. ISBN 9780472081493.
[22] Bojidar Dimitrov: Bulgaria Illustrated History. BORIANA Publishing House 2002, ISBN 9545000449
[23] Reign of Simeon I (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ 84090/ Bulgaria/ 42725/ The-spread-of-Christianity), Encyclopaedia
Britannica. Under Simeon’s successors Bulgaria was beset by internal dissension provoked by the spread of Bogomilism (a dualist religious
sect) and by assaults from Magyars, Pechenegs, the Rus, and Byzantines.
[24] Browning, Robert (1975). Byzantium and Bulgaria. London. pp. 194–5.
[25] Leo Diaconus: Historia (http:/ / oldru. narod. ru/ biblio/ ldt6_10. htm) (full text in Russian) – Так в течение двух дней был завоеван и
стал владением ромеев город Преслава.
[26] Шишић [Sisic], p. 331
[27] Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (http:/ / www. vostlit. info/ Texts/ rus6/ Dukljanin/ frametext. htm), full translation in Russian. Quote: В
то время пока Владимир был юношей и правил на престоле своего отца, вышеупомянутый Самуил собрал большое войско и
прибыл в далматинские окраины, в землю короля Владимира.
[28] Ioannis Scylitzae: Synopsis Historiarum, Hans Thurn edition, Corpus Fontium Byzantiae Historiae, 1973; ISBN (978)3110022858. p. 457
[29] Zlatarski, vol. II, pp. 1–41
[30] Averil Cameron, The Byzantines, Blackwell Publishing (2006), p. 170
[31] Jiriček, p.295
[32] Jiriček, p. 382
[33] Lord Kinross, The Ottoman Centuries, Morrow QuillPaperback Edition, 1979
[34] R.J. Crampton, A Concise History of Bulgaria, 1997, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-567-19-X
[35] Hupchick, Dennis P. (2002). The Balkans: From Constantinople to Communism. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9780312217365.
[36] Schurman, Jacob Gould (2005) [1916]. The Balkan Wars: 1912–1913 (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=ubNGZQrvxHoC) (2 ed.).
Cosimo. p. 140. ISBN 9781596051768. . Retrieved 20`0–03–17. "There is historic justice in the circumstance that the Turkish Empire in
Europe met its doom at the hands of the Balkan nations themselves. For these nationalities had been completely submerged and even their
national consciousness annihilated under centuries of Moslem intolerance, misgovernment, oppression, and cruelty. [...] none suffered worse
than Bulgaria, which lay nearest to the capital of the Mohammedan conqueror."
[37] "Bulgaria" (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ 84090/ Bulgaria). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
2010. . Retrieved 2010-03-17. "The Bulgarian nobility was destroyed – its members either perished, fled, or accepted Islam and Turkicization
– and the peasantry was enserfed to Turkish masters.".
[38] Crampton, R.J. Bulgaria 1878–1918, p.2. East European Monographs, 1983. ISBN 0880330295.
[39] Jireček, K. J. (1876) (in German). Geschichte der Bulgaren (http:/ / books. google. com/ ?id=VBhThVLpc4MC& pg=PA88&
dq=isbn=3487064081). Nachdr. d. Ausg. Prag 1876, Hildesheim, New York : Olms 1977. ISBN 3-487-06408-1. .
[40] "Timeline: Bulgaria – A chronology of key events" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 2/ hi/ europe/ country_profiles/ 1061402. stm). BBC News.
2010-05-06. . Retrieved 2010-10-07.
[41] Dillon, Emile Joseph (February 1920) [1920]. "XV" (http:/ / www. mirrorservice. org/ sites/ ftp. ibiblio. org/ pub/ docs/ books/ gutenberg/ 1/
4/ 4/ 7/ 14477/ 14477-h/ 14477-h. htm). The Inside Story of the Peace Conference. New York: Harper. . Retrieved 2009-06-15. "The territorial
changes which the Prussia of the Balkans was condemned to undergo are neither very considerable nor unjust."
[42] Балабанов, А. И аз на тоя свят. Спомени от разни времена. С., 1983, с. 72, 361
[43] Mintchev, Vesselin (October 1999). "External Migration... in Bulgaria" (http:/ / www. ceeol. com/ aspx/ getdocument. aspx?logid=5&
id=473FBAEF-623D-4ADA-903A-17241B78BDDB). South-East Europe Review (3/99): 124. . Retrieved 2007-02-18.
[44] Bulgaria in World War II : The Passive Alliance (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0052)), Library of
Congress
[45] Bulgaria: Wartime Crisis (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0053)), Library of Congress
[46] Zhelyu Zhelev – The dissident president (http:/ / sofiaecho. com/ 2003/ 04/ 17/ 632148_zhelyu-zhelev-the-dissident-president) at the Sofia
Echo, by Ivan Vatahov, Apr 17 2003 . Retrieved January 27, 2010.
[47] William Marsteller. "The Economy". Bulgaria country study (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ bgtoc. html) (Glenn E. Curtis, editor). Library
of Congress Federal Research Division (June 1992)
[48] Domestic policy and its results (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0062)), Library of Congress
[49] The Political Atmosphere in the 1970s (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0068)), Library of Congress
Bulgaria 22

[50] Bohlen, Celestine (1991-10-17). Bulgaria "Vote Gives Key Role to Ethnic Turks" (http:/ / www. nytimes. com/ 1991/ 10/ 17/ world/
bulgaria-vote-gives-key-role-to-ethnic-turks. html). The New York Times. Bulgaria. Retrieved 2009-07-15. "... in 1980s [...] the Communist
leader, Todor Zhivkov, began a campaign of cultural assimilation that forced ethnic Turks to adopt Slavic names, closed their mosques and
prayer houses and suppressed any attempts at protest. One result was the mass exodus of more than 300,000 ethnic Turks to neighboring
Turkey in 1989 ..."
[51] Cracks show in Bulgaria's Muslim ethnic model (http:/ / www. reuters. com/ article/ lifestyleMolt/ idUSTRE55001C20090601). Reuters.
May 31, 2009.
[52] "1990 CIA World Factbook" (http:/ / www. umsl. edu/ services/ govdocs/ wofact90/ world12. txt). Central Intelligence Agency. . Retrieved
2010-02-07.
[53] Разрушителният български преход (http:/ / bg. mondediplo. com/ article181. html), October 1, 2007, Le Monde Diplomatique (Bulgarian
edition)
[54] Library of Congress – Federal Research Division (October 2006). "Country Profile: Bulgaria" (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ profiles/
Bulgaria. pdf) (PDF). Library of Congress. . Retrieved 2009-09-04. "Mass Media: In 2006 Bulgaria’s print and broadcast media generally were
considered unbiased, although the government dominated broadcasting through the state-owned Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and
Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and print news dissemination through the largest press agency, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. [...]Human
Rights: In the early 2000s, Bulgaria generally has been rated highly on the issue of human rights. However, some exceptions exist. Although
the media have a record of unbiased reporting, Bulgaria’s lack of specific legislation protecting the media from state interference is a
theoretical weakness."
[55] – Bulgaria country report for 2008 (http:/ / www. freedomhouse. org/ template. cfm?page=22& year=2008& country=7361),
freedomhouse.org
[56] Topography (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0072)), Library of Congress.
[57] "Мусала" (in Bulgarian). Българска енциклопедия А-Я. БАН, Труд, Сирма. 2002. ISBN 9548104083. OCLC 163361648.
[58] Donchev, D. (2004) (in Bulgarian). Geography of Bulgaria. Sofia: ciela. p. 68. ISBN 9546497177.
[59] Climate (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0074)), Library of Congress.
[60] Bulgarian NGO to Track 5 Imperial Eagles by Satellite (http:/ / www. novinite. com/ view_news. php?id=117950), novinite.com, 9 July
2010
[61] See List of oldest trees
[62] See List of Kyoto Protocol signatories
[63] Bulgaria Achieves Kyoto Protocol Targets – IWR Report (http:/ / www. novinite. com/ view_news. php?id=106682), 11 August 2009
[64] България от Космоса: сеч, пожари, бетон... и надежда (http:/ / www. ossem. eu/ article. aspx?pg=arl65), Petar Kanev, *8* Magazine,
2006.
[65] High Air Pollution to Close Downtown Sofia (http:/ / www. novinite. com/ view_news. php?id=89367), novinite.com, 14 January 2008
[66] Bulgaria's Sofia, Plovdiv Suffer Worst Air Pollution in Europe (http:/ / www. novinite. com/ view_news. php?id=117439), novinite.com, 23
June 2010
[67] Bulgaria's quest to meet the environmental acquis (http:/ / www. esiweb. org/ index. php?lang=en& id=379), European Stability Initiative,
10 December 2008
[68] Municipal waste recycling 1995 – 2008 (1000 tonnes) (http:/ / epp. eurostat. ec. europa. eu/ portal/ page/ portal/ waste/ documents/
Municipal_ waste_ recycled_1000t_ update_ website1801101. mht), Eurostat
[69] Първият завод за рециклиране на електроуреди вече работи (http:/ / www. dnevnik. bg/ pazari/ 2010/ 06/ 28/
924505_purviiat_zavod_za_reciklirane_na_elektrouredi_veche/ ?ref=rss), dnevnik.bg, 28 June 2010
[70] Бъдещето на природните паркове в България и техните администрации (http:/ / www. gorabg-magazine. info/ bg/ index.
php?option=com_content& view=article& id=14& showall=1), Gora Magazine, June 2010
[71] Ще има ли България биосферни резервати? (http:/ / www. gorabg-magazine. info/ old/ biosferni_rezerv_05_07. html), Gora magazine,
May 2007
[72] "Bulgaria – Environmental Summary, UNData, United Nations" (http:/ / data. un. org/ CountryProfile.
aspx?crName=Bulgaria#Environment). Data.un.org. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[73] Conservation Action Plan for the golden jackal (http:/ / www. lcie. org/ Docs/ Action Plans/ Greece Golden Jackal Action Plan 2004. pdf),
WWF, April 2004. An estimate for Bulgarian jackal population in the early ‘90s was put at up to 5000 individuals (Demeter & Spassov 1993).
The jackal population in Bulgaria increased till 1994 and since then it seems to have been stabilized (Spassov pers. comm.).
[74] Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria (http:/ / www. setimes. com/ cocoon/ setimes/ xhtml/ en_GB/ infoCountryPage/ setimes/
resource_centre/ bios/ borisov_boyko?country=Bulgaria), SETimes.com
[75] The Bulgarian Legal System and Legal Research (http:/ / www. nyulawglobal. org/ globalex/ Bulgaria. htm), Hauser Global Law School
Program, August 2006.
[76] Corruption in Bulgaria may delay EU entry (http:/ / www. transparency. org/ publications/ newsletter/ 2006/ may_2006/ in_the_news/
bulgaria_and_eu_entry), Transparency watch, May 2006
[77] Bulgaria, Romania legal systems need improvement: EU report (http:/ / jurist. org/ paperchase/ 2010/ 03/
bulgaria-romania-legal-systems-need. php), 24 March 2010, The Jurist
[78] Съдебната ни система – първенец по корупция (http:/ / news. ibox. bg/ news/ id_837429474), News.bg, 03.06.2009
Bulgaria 23

[79] Questions arise again about Bulgaria's legal system – Europe – International Herald Tribune (http:/ / www. nytimes. com/ 2006/ 12/ 05/
world/ europe/ 05iht-bulgaria. 3792672. html?_r=1), NYTimes, 5 November 2006
[80] Interpol. "Interpol entry on Bulgaria" (http:/ / www. interpol. int/ Public/ Region/ Europe/ pjsystems/ Bulgaria. asp). Interpol.int. . Retrieved
2010-08-26.
[81] "State Agency for National Security Official Website" (http:/ / www. dans. bg/ ). Dans.bg. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[82] Официално: Близо 27 хиляди са полицаите в България (http:/ / www. vsekiden. com/ 63922), vsekiden.com, 19 January 2010
[83] The Antarctic Treaty system: An introduction (http:/ / www. scar. org/ treaty/ ). Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
[84] Signatories to the Antarctic Treaty (http:/ / www. scar. org/ treaty/ signatories. html). Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
[85] "NATO Update: Seven new members join NATO" (http:/ / www. nato. int/ docu/ update/ 2004/ 03-march/ e0329a. htm). 2004-03-29. .
Retrieved 2008-11-02.
[86] "European Commission Enlargement Archives: Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania" (http:/ / ec. europa. eu/ enlargement/
archives/ enlargement_process/ future_prospects/ negotiations/ eu10_bulgaria_romania/ treaty_2005_en. htm). 2005-04-25. . Retrieved
2008-11-02.
[87] Bos, Stefan (1 January 2007). "Bulgaria, Romania Join European Union" (http:/ / voanews. com/ english/ archive/ 2007-01/
2007-01-01-voa16. cfm). VOA News (Voice of America). . Retrieved 2 January 2009.
[88] The List: The Six Most Important U.S. Military Bases (http:/ / www. foreignpolicy. com/ story/ cms. php?story_id=3460), FP, May 2006
[89] See Military of Bulgaria#Deployments
[90] Arms Sales (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0225)), Library of Congress]
[91] Foreign Affairs in the 1960s and 1970s (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0066)), Library of
Congress
[92] Армията все по-уверено се движи към численост 24 000 (http:/ / www. mediapool. bg/ show/ ?storyid=165678), mediapool.bg, 26 May
2010
[93] "Bulgaria – Military Personnel" (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ r?frd/ cstdy:@field(DOCID+ bg0216)). Lcweb2.loc.gov. .
Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[94] "Bulgarian Armed Forces" (http:/ / www. md. government. bg/ en/ index. html). Md.government.bg. 2010-07-14. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[95] Official Military Expenditures List (http:/ / www. mod. bg/ bg/ doc/ programi/ 20090227_Budget_MO. pdf)
[96] "World Bank: Data and Statistics: Country Groups" (http:/ / go. worldbank. org/ D7SN0B8YU0). The World Bank Group. 2008. . Retrieved
2008-07-27.
[97] "GDP per capita in PPS" (http:/ / epp. eurostat. ec. europa. eu/ cache/ ITY_PUBLIC/ 2-25062009-BP/ EN/ 2-25062009-BP-EN. PDF).
Eurostat. . Retrieved 2009-06-25.
[98] Fixed currency exchange rates (http:/ / www. bnb. bg/ Statistics/ StExternalSector/ StExchangeRates/ StERFixed/ index. htm), Bulgarian
National Bank.
[99] CIA (https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ geos/ bu. html), Bulgaria entry
[100] Labour force rank list (https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ rankorder/ 2095rank.
html?countryName=Bulgaria& countryCode=bu& regionCode=eu& rank=100#bu), CIA The World Factbook.
[101] Miller, Catherine (2008-03-18). "Bulgaria's threat from corruption" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 2/ hi/ europe/ 7301316. stm). BBC News
Europe. . Retrieved 2010-08-30. "Critics have suggested the recent spate of apparent misuse of European funds shows that Bulgaria is
backsliding on reform, now that it has jumped the hurdles to win membership of the EU. [...] The European Union imposed a special
corruption monitoring scheme on Bulgaria and neighboring Romania when they joined the EU in January 2007, because it was felt they were
not yet up to EU levels.

If Bulgaria does not meet specified benchmarks, the EU can impose what it calls safeguard clauses."
[102] AES wind farm kicks off in Bulgaria (http:/ / www. physorg. com/ news174063976. html), physorg.com, 6 October 2009
[103] Economist: financial crisis brewed by U.S. market fundamentalism (http:/ / news. xinhuanet. com/ english/ 2009-03/ 12/
content_11000486. htm), Xinhua, March 12, 2009
[104] Bulgaria and the IMF (http:/ / www. imf. org/ external/ country/ BGR/ index. htm), Index
[105] Energy Hub (http:/ / www. oxfordbusinessgroup. com/ weekly01. asp?id=4141), 13.10.2008, Oxford Business Group.
[106] За централата. (http:/ / www. kznpp. org/ index. php?lang=bg& p=about_aec& p1=company_profile) "АЕЦ Козлодуй" ЕАД.
[107] "EU Energy factsheet about Bulgaria" (http:/ / ec. europa. eu/ energy/ energy_policy/ doc/ factsheets/ mix/ mix_bg_en. pdf) (PDF). .
Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[108] "Bulgaria Renewable Energy Fact Sheet (EU)" (http:/ / www. energy. eu/ renewables/ factsheets/ 2008_res_sheet_bulgaria_en. pdf) (PDF).
. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[109] Bulgaria set for massive growth in wind power (http:/ / www. ewea. org/ index. php?id=60& no_cache=1& tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1681&
tx_ttnews[backPid]=1& cHash=1c51ae8e8c), European Wind Energy Association, 2010
[110] Future of Bulgarian Mining Industry Looks Bright (http:/ / www. novinite. com/ view_news. php?id=118689), novinite.com, 30 July 2010
[111] See List of countries by copper mine production
[112] See List of countries by zinc production
[113] See List of countries by coal production.
[114] See List of countries by bismuth production
Bulgaria 24

[115] "Geography of machine building in Bulgaria Factsheet" (http:/ / geografia. kabinata. com/ 23. htm). Geografia.kabinata.com. . Retrieved
2010-08-26.
[116] "Bulgaria – Economic Summary, UNData, United Nations" (http:/ / data. un. org/ CountryProfile. aspx?crName=Bulgaria#Economic).
Data.un.org. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[117] Bulgaria – Natural conditions, farming traditions and agricultural structures (http:/ / www. fao. org/ regional/ seur/ Review/ Bulgaria. htm),
Food and Agriculture Organization.
[118] Еврокомисията наля 388 млн. лв. по сметките на фонд "Земеделие" (http:/ / www. dnes. bg/ evrointegracia/ 2010/ 02/ 05/
evrokomisiiata-nalia-388-mln-lv-po-smetkite-na-fond-zemedelie. 85537), dnes.bg, 05.02.2010
[119] Bulgaria – Agriculture (http:/ / www. nationsencyclopedia. com/ Europe/ Bulgaria-AGRICULTURE. html), nationsencyclopedia.com
[120] "FAO – Tobacco production country rank" (http:/ / www. fao. org/ es/ ess/ top/ commodity.
html;jsessionid=D12AE3755A99D2CFACE0D25461B6A51C?lang=en& item=826& year=2005). Fao.org. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[121] "FAO – Raspberry production country rank" (http:/ / www. fao. org/ es/ ess/ top/ commodity.
html;jsessionid=D12AE3755A99D2CFACE0D25461B6A51C?lang=en& item=547& year=2005). Fao.org. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[122] Mag Studio – Contemporary and practical approach to design. "Statistics from the Bulgarian Tourism Agency" (http:/ / www. tourism.
government. bg/ bg/ stat. php?menuid=3& id=3). Tourism.government.bg. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[123] Железниците почват да возят с автобуси (http:/ / www. mediapool. bg/ show/ ?storyid=142327), mediapool.bg, 11August 2008
[124] БЪЛГАРСКАТА ЖП МРЕЖА СЕ МОДЕРНИЗИРА С 580 МЛН.ЕВРО ЕВРОПЕЙСКИ СРЕДСТВА (http:/ / parliament. europe. bg/
htmls/ page. php?id=14017& category=5), 24 April 2008.
[125] "Влак-стрела ще минава през Ботевград до 2017 г" (http:/ / botevgrad. com/ news/ ?itemId=9124). Botevgrad.com. . Retrieved
2010-08-26.
[126] Железопътната линия Видин-София ще бъде модернизирана до 2017 г. (http:/ / www. investor. bg/ ?cat=5& id=71617), investor.bg,
13.11.2008
[127] Кабинетът одобри бюджета за 2008 г. (http:/ / www. vesti. bg/ ?tid=40& oid=1118233), Вести.бг
[128] "Research and development expenditure" (http:/ / epp. eurostat. ec. europa. eu/ portal/ page/ portal/ science_technology_innovation/
introduction). Eurostat. .
[129] Шопов, В. Влиянието на Европейското научно пространство върху проблема “Изтичане на мозъци” в балканските страни, сп.
Наука, бр.1, 2007
[130] Heinrich, M. and H.L. Teoh (2004) Galanthamine from snowdrop – the development of a modern drug against Alzheimer's disease from
local Caucasian knowledge. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 92: 147 – 162. (doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.02.012)
[131] Scott LJ, Goa KL. Adis Review: Galantamine: a review of its use in Alzheimer's disease. Drugs 2000;60(5):1095-122 PMID 11129124
[132] Six-month space greenhouse experiments—a step to creation of future biological life support systems. (http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/
pubmed/ 11541596), US National Library of Medicine, 1998
[133] Biomedical problems will need to be resolved to assure a safe human trip to Mars. (http:/ / www. space. com/ missionlaunches/ missions/
mars_biosystems_000829. html), 3 September 2000, space.com
[134] See Timeline of space travel by nationality
[135] IT Services: Rila Establishes Bulgarian Beachhead in UK (http:/ / findarticles. com/ p/ articles/ mi_m0CGN/ is_3689/ ai_54987368/ ),
findarticles.com, June 24, 1999
[136] www.OutourcingMonitor.EU (2006-08-06). "Bulgaria- Eastern Europe's Newest Hot Spot | Offshoring Business Intelligence & Tools | EU
Out-Sourcing Specialists Platform | German Market-Entry offshoring Vendor Services" (http:/ / www. outsourcingmonitor. eu/ articles/
outsourcing-to-bulgaria. html). Outsourcingmonitor.eu. . Retrieved 2010-04-15.
[137] "BAS now operates a supercomputer (in Bulgarian)" (http:/ / www. dnevnik. bg/ print/ arhiv_za_grada/ 2008/ 08/ 24/
541780_ban_veche_razpolaga_sus_superkompjutur_bez_analog_na/ ). Dnevnik.bg. 2010-04-29. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[138] IBM Supercomputer Boosts Bulgaria's Advance Towards Knowledge-Based Economy (http:/ / www-03. ibm. com/ press/ us/ en/
pressrelease/ 25068. wss), IBM Press Room, 9 September 2008
[139] National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (http:/ / www. nsi. bg/ Census/ Ethnos. htm). Retrieved 31 July 2006.
[140] The Ministry of Interior estimates various numbers (between 600,000 and 750,000) of Roma in Bulgaria; nearly half of Roma traditionally
self-identify ethnically as Turkish or Bulgarian.
[141] "CIA – The World Factbook = Population Growth Rate Rankings" (https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/
rankorder/ 2002rank. html?countryName=Bulgaria& countryCode=bu& regionCode=eu& rank=229#bu). CIA. 2010-05-07. .
[142] "Will EU Entry Shrink Bulgaria's Population Even More? | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 26.12.2006" (http:/ / www. dw-world. de/ dw/ article/
0,2144,2287183,00. html). Dw-world.de. . Retrieved 2009-01-02.
[143] Cultrual Policies and Trends in Europe. "Population by ethnic group and mother tongue, 2001" (http:/ / www. culturalpolicies. net/ web/
bulgaria. php?aid=421). . Retrieved 2008-12-02.
[144] Kiminas, D. (2009). The Ecumenical Patriarchate (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=QLWqXrW2X-8C& lpg=PA2&
ots=t4LMQbMa_B& dq=927 recognized constantinople bulgarian patriarch& lr=& pg=PA15#v=onepage& q=927& f=false). Wildside Press
LLC. p. 15
[145] Carvalho, Joaquim. (2007). Religion and power in Europe: conflict and convergence (http:/ / books. google. com/
books?id=jR98-Ata0CkC& lpg=PT257& lr=& pg=PT274#v=onepage& q=927& f=false). Pisa University Press. p. 257.
Bulgaria 25

[146] "Bulgarian Orthodox Church" (http:/ / www. kwintessential. co. uk/ articles/ article/ Bulgaria/ Bulgarian-Orthodox-Church/ 3127).
Kwintessential.co.uk. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[147] "Religious beliefs in Bulgaria" (http:/ / www. spainexchange. com/ guide/ BG-religion. htm). Spainexchange.com. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[148] Compare CIA. "[[CIA World Factbook|The world factbook (https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ fields/ 2122.
html?countryName=Bulgaria& countryCode=bu& regionCode=eu& #bu)]: Field listing: Religions"]. CIA World Factbook. . Retrieved
2010-01-31. "Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)"
[149] "The Bulgarian Constitution" (http:/ / www. parliament. bg/ ?page=const& lng=en). Parliament.bg. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[150] "Country Profile: Bulgaria." Library of Congress Country Studies Program. October 2006. p6. http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ profiles/
Bulgaria. pdf
[151] "OUTSOURCING TO BULGARIA – Danmarks ambassade Bulgarien" (http:/ / www. ambsofia. um. dk/ da/ menu/ Eksportraadgivning/
Markedsmuligheder/ Sektoranalyser/ Outsourcing/ ). Ambsofia.um.dk. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[152] Bulgaria country profile (http:/ / lcweb2. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ profiles/ Bulgaria. pdf). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (October
2006). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
[153] Образование, здраве, пенсии и пътища – приоритетни в Бюджет 2010 (http:/ / www. econ. bg/ news/ article169819/
obrazovanie_zdrave_pensii_i_putishta-prioritetni_v_byudjet_2010), econ.bg, 28 October 2009
[154] България е сред страните в ЕС с най-висок коефициент на болници (http:/ / www. econ. bg/ news/ article175683/
bulgariya_e_sred_stranite_v_es_s_nay-visok_koeficient_na_bolnici), econ.bg, 17 February 2010. Accessed 30 August 2010.
[155] Life expectancy at birth rankings (https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ rankorder/ 2102rank.
html?countryName=Bulgaria& countryCode=bu& regionCode=eu& rank=114#bu) – CIA The World Factbook, 2010
[156] "CIA – The World Factbook – Bulgaria" (https:/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ geos/ bu. html). CIA.
2010-05-07. .
[157] Head Direction of Residential Registration and Administrative Service. Population table by permanent and present address as of 15 March
2008 (http:/ / grao. bg/ tna/ tab01. html).
[158] Bulgaria's Gold Rush (http:/ / ngm. nationalgeographic. com/ 2006/ 12/ gold-rush/ williams-text), National Geographic Magazine,
December 2006.
[159] Plovdiv: New ventures for Europe’s oldest inhabited city (http:/ / www. acp-eucourier. info/ Plovdiv-New-venture. 1034. 0. html), The
Courier, January/February 2010
[160] The World's Oldest Cities (http:/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ travel/ picturegalleries/ 6242644/ The-worlds-oldest-cities. html?image=12),
The Daily Telegraph
[161] New perspectives on the Varna cemetery (Bulgaria) (http:/ / www. articlearchives. com/ reports-reviews-sections/ chronologies/ 545649-1.
html), By: Higham, Tom; Chapman, John; Slavchev, Vladimir; Gaydarska, Bisserka; Honch, Noah; Yordanov, Yordan; Dimitrova, Branimira;
September 1, 2007
[162] "The Thracian tomb in Kazanluk" (http:/ / www. digsys. bg/ books/ cultural_heritage/ thracian/ thracian-intro. html). Digsys.bg. . Retrieved
2009-01-02.
[163] Graba, A. La peinture religiouse en Bulgarie, Paris, 1928, p. 95
[164] „Мисия Лондон” чупи рекорди, твори история (Bulgarian) (http:/ / novinitepro. bg/ svejo/ scena/
zmisiya-london-chupi-rekordi-tvori-istoriya. html), novinitepro.bg, 27 April 2010
[165] Lorenz, Dagmar C. G. (17 April 2004). "Elias Canetti" (http:/ / www. litencyc. com/ php/ speople. php?rec=true& UID=725). Literary
Encyclopedia (The Literary Dictionary Company Limited). ISSN 1747-678X. . Retrieved 2009-10-13.
[166] The Times: Spirit of Bourgas amongst Europe's top 20 summer festivals (http:/ / sofiaecho. com/ 2009/ 04/ 02/
699275_the-times-spirit-of-bourgas-amongst-europes-top-20-summer-festivals), The Sofia Echo, 2 April 2009
[167] Media Landscape – Bulgaria (http:/ / www. ejc. net/ media_landscape/ article/ bulgaria/ ), European Journalism Centre
[168] Footprint of Financial Crisis in the Media, Bulgaria Country Report (http:/ / www. soros. org/ initiatives/ media/ articles_publications/
publications/ financial-crisis-media-20091201/ bulgaria-20091201. pdf), Open Society Institute, December 2009
[169] "Bulgaria Internet Usage Stats and Market Report" (http:/ / www. internetworldstats. com/ eu/ bg. htm). Internetworldstats.com.
2010-06-30. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[170] "Руснаците купиха 81 милиона литра българско вино" (http:/ / www. investor. bg/ ?cat=5& id=60913). Investor.bg. . Retrieved
2010-04-15.
[171] See List of wine-producing countries
[172] "FIVB official rankings as per January 15, 2009" (http:/ / www. fivb. org/ en/ volleyball/ Rankings/ Rank_men_2009_01. asp). Fivb.org.
2009-01-15. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
[173] Volleyball: Bulgaria wins second place in women’s European League (http:/ / www. focus-fen. net/ ?id=n226457), focus-nes.bg, 25 July
2010
[174] 2010 CEV European League – RESULTS (http:/ / www. cev. lu/ mmp/ online/ website/ main_menu/ volleyball/ european_league/ 2557/
17141/ 17164/ index_EN. html), Confédération Européenne de Volleyball official website
[175] Hristo Stoichkov – Bulgarian League Ambassador (http:/ / www. epfl-europeanleagues. com/ fao/ hristo_stoichkov. htm), Professional
Football Against Hunger
[176] Hristo Stoichkov: For sure Barcelona will win tonight (http:/ / bulgarian. ibox. bg/ news/ id_452784631), news.bg, 27.05.2009
[177] "Rankings of A Group" (http:/ / bgclubs. eu/ ranking/ points). Bgclubs.eu. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.
Bulgaria 26

[178] Ingo Faulhaber. "Best club of 20th century ranking at the official site of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics"
(http:/ / www. iffhs. de/ ?a413f0e03790c443e0f40390b41be8b01905fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb883ccb05ff1d). Iffhs.de. . Retrieved 2010-08-26.

References
• Crampton, R. J. A Concise History of Bulgaria (2005) Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press
ISBN 9780521616379
• Jiriček, Constantin Josef (2008) (in German). History of the Bulgarians (Geschichte der Bulgaren) (http://www.
dibido.eu/bookdetails.aspx?bookID=6162dbf4-b275-4287-8c36-f6e29ce2b5cb). Frankfurt: Textor Verlag
GmbH, digital facsimile of the book published in Prague, 1878. pp. 587 pages. ISBN 3-938402-11-3.
• Runciman, Steven (1930). A History of the First Bulgarian Empire (http://www.questia.com/library/book/
a-history-of-the-first-bulgarian-empire-by-steven-runciman.jsp). G. Bell & Sons, London. ISBN 0404189164.
• Zlatarski, Vasil N. (1934). "Medieval History of the Bulgarian State (История на българската държава през
средните векове, Част II, II изд.)" (http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/vz2/index.html) (in Bulgarian). Royal
Printing House, Sofia. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
• Шишић, Фердо (1928). Ljetopis popa Dukljanina. SKA.

Further reading
• Bell, John D., ed. (1998). Bulgaria in Transition: Politics, Economics, Society, and Culture after Communism.
Westview. ISBN 978-0813390109
• Chary, Frederick B., The Bulgarian Jews and the Final Solution 1940–1944. University of Pittsburg Press (1972).
ISBN 0-8229-3251-2
• Detrez, Raymond, Historical Dictionary of Bulgaria (2006) Second Edition lxiv + 638 pp. Maps, bibliography,
appendix, chronology ISBN 978-0-8108-4901-3
• Fox, Sir Frank, Bulgaria (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/22257) (1915) London: A. and C. Black, Ltd., book
scanned by Project Gutenberg
• Ghodsee, Kristen (2009). Muslim Lives in Eastern Europe: Gender, Ethnicity and the Transformation of Islam in
Postsocialist Bulgaria (http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9068.html). Princeton: Princeton University Press.
ISBN 978-0-691-13955-5.
• Ghodsee, Kristen (2005). The Red Riviera: Gender, Tourism and Postsocialism on the Black Sea (http://www.
dukeupress.edu/Catalog/ViewProduct.php?productid=11510). Durham: Duke University Press.
ISBN 0822336626.
• Hall, Richard C. Bulgaria's Road to the First World War (1996) New York: Columbia University Press ISBN
088033357X
• Hoppe, Hans-Joachim, Bulgarien - Hitlers eigenwilliger Verbündeter. Eine Fallstudie zur nationalsozialistischen
Südosteuropapolitik (Bulgaria - Hitler’s Self-willing Ally. A Case study on National Socialist Policy Towards
South East Europe), edited by Institut für Zeitgeschichte, Munich, dva, Stuttgart (1979), ISBN 3 421 01904 5
• Lampe, John R. The Bulgarian Economy in the Twentieth Century (1986) London: Croom Helm ISBN
0709916442
• MacDermott, Mercia (1962). A History of Bulgaria, 1393–1885 (http://www.questia.com/library/book/
a-history-of-bulgaria-1393-1885-by-mercia-macdermott.jsp). London: Allen & Unwin.
• Miller-Yianni, Simple Treasures in Bulgaria (2008) UK; Lulu Inc. ISBN 978-0-9559-8490-7
• Miller-Yianni, Bulgarian History - A Concise Account (2010) UK; Lulu Inc. ISBN 978-1-4457-1633-6
• Perry, Duncan M. Stefan Stambolov and the Emergence of Modern Bulgaria, 1870–1895 (1993) Durham: Duke
University Press ISBN 0822313138
• Stepanov, Tsvetelin (2010). The Bulgars and the steppe empire in the early Middle Ages : the problem of the
others. East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450–1450. 8. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004180017.
Bulgaria 27

• Todorov, Tzvetan The fragility of goodness: why Bulgaria’s Jews survived the Holocaust: a collection of texts
with commentary (2001) Princeton: Princeton University Press ISBN 0691088322

External links
Government
• Official governmental site (http://www.government.bg/)
• President of The Republic of Bulgaria (http://www.president.bg/en/index.php)
• National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria (http://www.parliament.bg/?page=home&lng=en&r=n)
• Chief of State and Cabinet Members (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/
world-leaders-b/bulgaria.html)
General information
• Bulgaria (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bu.html) entry at The World
Factbook
• Bulgaria (http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/bu/) information from the United States Department of State
• Portals to the World (http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/european/bulgaria/bg.html) from the United States
Library of Congress
• Bulgaria (http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/bulgaria.htm) at UCB Libraries GovPubs
• Bulgaria (http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/Bulgaria/) at the Open Directory Project
• Wikimedia Atlas of Bulgaria
Travel
• Bulgaria travel guide from Wikitravel
• Large Image Gallery of Bulgaria (http://raskoll.com)
• Pictures from Bulgaria (http://photo-forum.net/joro/enbulgaria.htm) mountains, rivers and towns
• Pictures from Bulgaria (http://www.picturesfrombulgaria.com)
• Sight-Seeing in Bulgaria – user albums and photo sharing related to Bulgaria (http://ibulgaria.info/thumbnails.
php?album=2)
Art
• Catalog of modern Bulgarian artists (http://www.modernbulgarianartists.com)
• Bulgaria fine arts gallery (http://www.bulgarianfinearts.com)
koi:Бöлгария
Article Sources and Contributors 28

Article Sources and Contributors

Bulgaria  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=395365169  Contributors: -- April, -Majestic-, 1111tomica, 1297, 2007apm, 21655, 2help, 334a, 3rdAlcove, 5ko, 7121989,
===ScottishCow===, ABF, AHands, ARC Gritt, Abhijay, Abhijitsathe, Academic Challenger, Accurizer, Achangeisasgoodasa, Adi4094, AdjustShift, Adrianski, Aecis, Aero1980,
Aerospace1980, Ag453, Ago Dobrev, Ahmetyal, Ahoerstemeier, Airbornebg, Aitias, Aivazovsky, Ajaynmoorthy, Ajh16, Akanemoto, AlJoseph, Alagemo, Alansohn, Aldux, Aledeniz, Aleenf1,
AlefZet, Aleksd, Alensha, Alex '05, Alex earlier account, AlexBG72, Alexandra Hewett, Alexandrafol, Alexandrovgeorge, Alexandru Busa, Alexf, Alexikoua, AlexiusHoratius, Alomani,
Amakuru, Amaranthine J, AmiDaniel, Anacon, Andonic, Andre Engels, AndreasJS, Andreev, Andy Marchbanks, Angela, Angelbaby54992, Angr, Angusmclellan, Annaninna, AnonEMouse,
Anonymi, Antandrus, Anthony Appleyard, Anton Tudor, Apcbg, Arcayne, ArglebargleIV, ArielGold, Arienh4, Arkirias, Armanos, Arnegjor, ArnoldPlaton, Arobbins100, Art LaPella, Asparukh.,
AtanasoffBerri, Atlantima, Attilios, Auntof6, Avala, Avatarion, Avaya1, Avidius, Avitohol, AvocadoRevenge, Avono, AwesomoPhx, AxG, Backslash Forwardslash, Badhip, Bakilas, Balgariya e
po-bedna ot Rumaniya, BalkanFever, Balkanfolk, Barbov, Bare Neck, Baristarim, Barneca, Baronnet, Barryob, Bart133, Batman tas, Battoe19, Bduffek, Beagel, Beetstra, Belligero, Benjaminba,
Berland, BernardaAlba, Betacommand, Beyond silence, Bg007, Bg07, Bgpatriot, Bios, Biruitorul, Bitola, Bjarki S, BlaiseFEgan, Blehfu, Bman94, Bobblewik, Bobo192, Boby, Bogdan0407,
Bogdangiusca, Bollweevil, Bomac, Bonaparte, Bongwarrior, Boomer44, Boraczek, Borat fan, Borislav, BraikoT, Brandon, Brec, Breeezee, BrendelSignature, Brentm, Brest, Briaboru, Brian0918,
Brianski, BritishWatcher, Bry444, Bsroiaadn, Budalata, Bugyman, Bulgariainfo, BulgarianMacedon, Bulgariensofia, Bulkhan, Burto88, Bushavko, Bydand, Bücherwürmlein, C filev, C philev,
C.Fred, CDThieme, CO, Caiaffa, Caknuck, CalJW, Calliopejen1, Caltas, Calvin 1998, Cameltrader, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Cantus, Caper13, Caponer, Capricorn42, Captain-Supervisor
Grammel, Capzloc, Carl.bunderson, CarlKenner, Cassini83, Catgut, Cdwc, Cellmaker, Celmaitare22, Cenarium, Cff12345, Ch473, ChKa, Chamal N, CharlotteWebb, Chaser, Chavdarbg,
Chessman, Chief White Halfoat, ChiragPatnaik, Chochopk, Cholmes75, Chris the speller, ChrisRuvolo, Chrislk02, Chrisnortham, Chun-hian, Chuunen Baka, CieloEstrellado, Ckatz,
Closedmouth, Cloxy, Cluttrell, Cnn lies, CoJaBo, Codex Sinaiticus, Colbert junior, Colchicum, ComUSSR, CommonsDelinker, Confession0791, Connel MacKenzie, Constantzeanu,
Contemporary, Conversion script, Cooldude1111, Corpx, Cortezz, Corvus13, Cosika, Cpbaherwani, Credema, Cryout, Cryptic C62, Curiouskitten11, Cybercobra, D6, DStoykov, DSuser, DVD R
W, Daggerstab, Dakata, Dalakov, Damian Radu, Danielsavoiu, Danny, DarkKunai, Davenbelle, David Eppstein, David Gerard, David Kernow, David Liuzzo, Davogones, Dbachmann, Dcabrilo,
Debelankovci, Debelez, Debresser, Defufna, Dekisugi, Delldot, Deltabeignet, Delyan, Demmy, Dendodge, Deor, DerHexer, Dereporter, DesiMD, Deutsch-Türkçe-English, Devmars, Dewet,
Dffgd, Dick Into Putka, Dictouray, Diddlyman2004, Diego de Sequeira, Dimitar Nonkov, Dimitarp, Dimovi, Directorstratton, Dirkbb, Disagi, Discospinster, Ditirambo, DivineAlpha,
DivineIntervention, Dlohcierekim, Dlrohrer2003, Dobmit, Docu, Dog on a log, Dogface, Doink9731, Domaleixo, Domitius, Donarreiskoffer, Dondrakona, Dougweller, Douu, Downgrader,
Download, Dpaajones, Dragowiki, Dragster10, Drass, Drbug, Druffc, DutchSupremacy, Dwart, DwightKingsbury, Dysepsion, Dysprosia, E Pluribus Anthony, EIFY, EJF, Echtoran, Ed
Fitzgerald, Eddie6705, Edroppontiii, Edwy, Ehaugo, Ejército Rojo 1950, El C, Electionworld, ElevatedStork, Eliade, Elmondo21st, Elockid, ElockidAlternate, Embecahipara, Ember of Light,
Emmedi1962, Emoxer, Encoder888, EncycloPetey, Ender's Shadow Snr, Energyfreezer, Enviroboy, EoGuy, Epbr123, Epolk, Eponymous, Ericoides, Erik9, EscapingLife, Esemono, Estoy Aquí,
Eu.stefan, Euzpr, Evanescenceboy, Evecho, Evil Monkey, Evlekis, Excowboy 80, F.chiodo, FDAU, FF2010, FQuist, Fabhcún, Faradayplank, Fatso314, Favonian, FayssalF, Fdewaele, Fellix,
Fiftwekid, Fireaxe888, Firefoxerbg, Firsfron, Flatterworld, Flauto Dolce, Fleurstigter, Flyingcheese, Flywaii, ForeignerFromTheEast, Formeruser-81, FoscaraErika, Francs2000, Freakofnurture,
Fredrik, Fritzpoll, Fromgermany, Froztbyte, Fugong1992, Fullobeans, FunkyFly, Future Perfect at Sunrise, G Ingilizov, G. Campbell, Gabr-el, Gacharat 11, Gadfium, Gaius Cornelius, Galabg,
Garry Saint, Esquire, Garrysaint, Genestanley, Georgi Genchev, Georgii94, Gerald depardie, Gfdgh, Gggh, Ghibliii, Gickaria, Gilgamesh, Gimme danger, Giorgos Tzimas, Givenchy de Paris,
Givern, Giving is good, as long as you're getting, Gligan, Gmerihy, Gogo Dodo, Gogo3, Golbez, Good Olfactory, GorillaTheater, Gottago, Gpetrov, Gr8opinionater, Graham87, Grahamec,
Gramaic, GrandfatherJoe, Great Cthulhu, Green Giant, Grendelkhan, Grimreaperbg, Grubtatorship, Grunners, Grunt, Gryffindor, Guanaco, Guchev, Guilherme Paula, Guliolopez, Guoguo12,
Guppie, Gurch, Guusbosman, GvmBG, Gvtalev, Gz33, Gzornenplatz, H thorn07, HDCase, HJ Mitchell, Hadal, HaeB, Haemo, Hammer1980, Harmil, Harryboyles, Hellosandimas, Helmandsare,
Helpihaveh1n1, Helsinkicommission, Herostratus, Herzliyya, Heyachicken, Heyitspeter, Hhaarryy, Historian19, Histrydude, Hittit, Hmains, Hmusseau, Hobartimus, Hondro, HoodedMan,
Hooperbloob, Hoshie, Hottentot, Hu12, Hubertgui, Huldra, Hurmata, Husond, Hustead, Hxseek, Hydraliska, I am my own Master, I like smut, IW.HG, IZAK, Ian Pitchford, Idib, Ief, Ik2009,
Ikar.us, Ikonact, Ilia, Iltever, Imdaking813, Indexxs, Infestor, Inner Earth, Intelati, Interfector, Internedko, Ioustinianou, Ipso2, Iridescent, IslandShader, Ivan Štambuk, Ivan99999896, Ivanbosh,
Ivanicov, Ivanov P., Ivant, Ivaylo92, Ivo Angelov, Izehar, Izmir lee, Izzedine, J-boogie, J.delanoy, J04n, JDoorjam, JForget, JLaTondre, JP9314, JaGa, Jacek Kendysz, Jackanapes, Jagged 85,
Jake Wartenberg, JakeMBeddoe, James Brian Ellis, JamesBWatson, Jameswilson, Jan1nad, Jankaspar, Janneman, Jasoko, Java7837, Jay Litman, JayHenry, Jebba, Jecar, Jeff3000, Jensboot,
JerryPont, Jersyko, Jgritz, Jhendin, Jiang, Jibbajabba, Jingiby, Jiwonast, Jj137, Jmlk17, JoanneB, Joffeloff, John, Jokes Free4Me, Joliax, Jonathan.s.kt, Jooler, Joonekhodet, Jose77, Joseph Solis
in Australia, Joseph031164, Joy, Joyous!, Jpeob, Jrt989, Jsqb, Jumbuck, Jusdafax, Just4ivaylo, Jvmills, K. Lastochka, Kahraman, Kaihsu, Kaloyan, Kansas Bear, Kappadoodles, Kapustin,
Karkachev, Karl, Kassabov, Keilana, Kekibec, Kenyon, Kerne, Ketiltrout, KevinBullock, Khatru2, Khoikhoi, Kiejstut9, Kiinslayer, Kilhan, Killer4o, Kilo-Lima, Kimov77, Kintetsubuffalo,
Kjkolb, Kneiphof, KnowledgeOfSelf, Koal4e, Koliooo, Kolyooo, Koosjan, Kopeleto, Korenyuk, Kosiosl, Kosovar, Kostja, Kotniski, Koyaanis Qatsi, Koyaanisqatsi, Kozuch, KrakatoaKatie,
Kralizec!, KrisS, Kroum, Krum Stanoev, Kumioko, Kungfuadam, Kuru, Kurykh, Kusma, Kutrigur, Kwamikagami, Kyosev.dimitar, KyraVixen, LA2, LAz17, Landroo, Lantonov, Lapsed Pacifist,
Lara flint, Latka, Laveol, Ldingley, Lear 21, LeaveSleaves, Lectonar, Lennonist, Leoadec, Leventcik, Levineps, Lfh, LightDemon, Lightmouse, Lights, LilHelpa, Lilac Soul, Littenberg, Little
Professor, Liverpoolfan, Llama poop123, Lozhani buditel, Lubaka17, LugPaj, Luna Santin, Lysandros, M sotirov, MBisanz, MER-C, MJCdetroit, MPS, MPerel, Macedon23, MacedonianLights,
Mad Hatter, Madcat87, Magister Mathematicae, Magul, Magyarubal, Makedonija, Malcolmxl5, Malhonen, Malleus Fatuorum, Man vyi, Man with one red shoe, Mandarax, Mangostar, Mani1,
Marcost, Marek69, Marianne34, Markussep, Martijn faassen, Martin451, Martinwilke1980, Marvao, Mashford, Master&Expert, Mastermindsro, Mastikamastika, Matthead, Maximus Rex, Maxl,
Mboverload, McDogm, McSly, Megistias, Melsaran, Mentatus, Meredyth, Mesgul82, MesserWoland, Metrio, MetroStar, Mfa fariz, Mic, Michal Nebyla, Mickey gfss2007, Miguel.mateo,
Mihailov, Mike Rosoft, Mikko Paananen, Miltcho, Mircha, Mirko30, Mirraga, Mishobg12, Mishonio, Misiekuk, Mistymiss, Mithridates, Mlhawken, MoiraMoira, Monedula, Monkbel, Monor,
Monroem, Monshuai, MontseBL, Montymark, Moosh88, Mormegil, Morwen, Mr Adequate, Mr. Neutron, Mr.vergara, MrOllie, MrTree, Mrazikk, Mrdie, MureninC, Mwilso24, Myanw, N
Jordan, NIR-Warrior, Nagoer, Nakon, Namajkaviupicka, Nassy85, Nathan19941994, Nationaljazz, Nautilator, NawlinWiki, Nburden, Nd24, Nealmcb, Negotino33, Nehrams2020,
Nemakoristodime, NeroN BG, Netsnipe, Neverquick, Newyorxico, Ngruev, Ni to il, Nicholai, Nick, Nicke L, Nickrds09, Nickydude, Nicolasdupond, Nightbolt, Nightstallion, Nightwish90,
Nikai, NikolayIliev, Ninav, Nitrobulgarine, Nivix, Nkojuharov, Nkrazor, Nlsanand, Noah Salzman, Noisettes, Noli turbare circulos meos, Nomád Terv, Noodles Paine, Nostradamus1, Notheruser,
Novaguy1968, Nproser, Ntsimp, Ntzolov, NuclearVacuum, NuclearWarfare, Nuggetboy, Numbo3, Nv8200p, Nérostrateur, O Fenian, Obekt, Obscure22, Ocatecir, Oceanseleven, Ohnoitsjamie,
Olahus, Oleg Alexandrov, Omertop, Onco p53, OneGuy, Optimus82, OrgasGirl, Orkhan ankara, Oscarsbg, OwenBlacker, Owenozier, PANONIAN, PCV Zlataritsa, PENEV 20, PFHLai, PM
Poon, PMK1, PaePae, Paffka, Pagrashtak, Panarjedde, Panoptical, Parmaestro, Patka, Paul Barlow, Paulkappelle, PauloColacino, PaunchyPaul, Paweł ze Szczecina, Pax:Vobiscum,
PaxEquilibrium, Pbwinter, Pde, Pearle, Pedant17, Peeperman, Peraperic, Peregrine981, PericlesofAthens, PetaRZ, Peteark, Peter Horn, PeterisP, Pethr, Pgan002, Pgk, Phanar, Phantomsteve,
Pharos, Phil Boswell, Phil Bridger, PhilKnight, Philip Trueman, Philve90, Picaroon, Pinethicket, Piskov, Pkadrev, Plam12, Planetdust, Plasticup, Plig, Pmaas, Pne, Poath, Poddugata,
Poemsnewly, Polaron, Polin4eto, Politis, Pontiaka Trağodia, Popoff, Porfyrios, Praktiker iunie, Presidentman, Preslav, Prestonmcconkie, Prilade, Primarycontrol, Princess-pink95, Prolog,
Proxima Centauri, Pryde 01, Pschemp, Ptolion, Pumabeast, Purgatory Fubar, Pylambert, Quatro1, QuestBulgaria, Quibik, Qutezuce, Quuxly, Qxz, R parker jr, R'n'B, RB972, RFerreira,
RSieradzki, RTucker, RVLTNR, RWhite, Radoslavpaskalev, RainbowOfLight, Rama's Arrow, Ran, RandomP, Randyc, Ranveig, Rarelibra, Raskoll, Raskoll wiki, Raven in Orbit, Rbatic,
Rclocher3, Realbg, Reconsider the static, Red Winged Duck, RedWolf, Reindeergal, Reisio, Rembrandt van Rijn, Renato Caniatti, Retired username, RexNL, Rflesher, Riana, Rich Farmbrough,
Rick Block, RickK, Riversidepr, Rjensen, Rjwilmsi, Rkarlsba, RoadTrain, Rob.derosa, Robert K S, Robertito1965, Rocket71048576, Romanm, Ronhjones, Ronline, Ronz, Roreek, Rory096,
Rossen3, Rossen4, RotartSinimda, RoyBoy, Rudjek, Ruhrjung, Runner5k, Ryangadd, Ryulong, S.BULLET., SLi, SOMNIVM, Saalstin, Saiyuki456, Sallicio, Salt Yeung, Samantha555,
Samirdada, Samrolken, Sapii, Sardanaphalus, Sashe, Sbrianhicks, Scapler, Schaengel89, SchfiftyThree, Schluejo, Schneelocke, Scipius, Scoobycentric, ScottishGunner, Screensaver, Scroch,
Scythian1, Sdrawkcab, Seancdaug, Seb az86556, Secfan, Seidenstud, Semmler, Seraphim, Serblood, Sfahey, Sgeureka, Shadowjams, ShakingSpirit, Shalom Yechiel, Shanel, Shanes, Sharkb,
Shawnxxx, Sheppa28, Shimgray, Shiridupe, Shoeofdeath, SidP, Siddiqui, Silvanus42, SimonP, Simplonicity, Sinders, SiobhanHansa, Sir Nasco, Sir Vicious, Sjö, Skinsmoke, Slakr, Slarre,
Slayer93, Sleigh, Slimarkov, Slivatree, Smartech, Smartpersonandbob, Smith03, Smokizzy, SmolderinCorpse, Snowolf, SofiaSoGood, SofieElisBexter, SomeHuman, South Bay, SouthernNights,
Spade laa, Spartan-James, Spellcast, SpookyMulder, Squids and Chips, Ssault, Ssyakimova, StanProg, Stefan sof, Stefan.vatev, Stenley7, Stephen B Streater, Stevesaccount, Stickee, Stoichkov8,
Stonepillar, Storeye, Storkk, Stormboyt, Stoykova, Stoytcho, Strom, Sunray, Supertask, Suriel1981, Suruena, Svetlozar12, Svetlyo, Svetulco1997, Svik, Szabunov, TAfricanski, TERIKATA,
TUF-KAT, Tabletop, Tadramgo, Tamfang, Tar7an, Tasc, TastyCakes, TastyPoutine, Tbeditor, Tea with toast, Teddy4u, Tehninjaness, Tekleni, Telex, Template namespace initialisation script,
Teumo, ThaGrind, The Anome, The Font, The Rambling Man, The Thing That Should Not Be, The Transhumanist, The Z UKBG, TheGrimReaper NS, Theilert, Themata, Therequiembellishere,
Thetruthonly, Thingg, Thiseye, Thomais, Thricecube, Thulium, Thumperward, Thuresson, TiTis, Tidying Up, Tim1357, TimBentley, TimComm, Timir2, TimothyBourke, Timurberk, Tkma,
Tnikolov, To lead you in the summer to join the black parade!, Tobby72, Toddst1, TodorBozhinov, Tokek, Tom2we, Tomatoman, Tomeasy, Tomhormby, Tommiks, Tommy2010, Tone, Torrr,
Tothebarricades.tk, Tourbillon, Toxicroakk, Tpbradbury, Trafford09, Travelbird, TravisMunson1993, Trialsanderrors, Trilobite, Tripod86, Triwbe, Trubye, Trudelstein, TrueColour, Trusilver,
Tslocum, Tukitam, Turgonbg, Tvoz, Twooars, Tyrc, Uannis, Ucucha, Ulmanor, Uncle Dick, Unixer, Untick, Ur jealous77, Urban011, Ursul pacalit de vulpe, Urururururu, Usergreatpower,
Utcursch, V6g3h7, VMORO, Valchev, ValenShephard, Valentinian, Valepert, Valkov, Vam 1, Van helsing, VanessaG, Vanished user 03, Vanka5, Vardion, Varlagas, VashiDonsk, Vasilken,
Vassilka63, Vbb-sk-mk, Veledan, Veridicus auxiliaris, Versageek, Versus22, Vesi.kracheva, Vesselin, Vessikitty, Vice regent, Viewfinder, ViktorG, Vladibo, Vladislavs, Vladko, Vnikolchev,
Vortexx, Vsdrumev, Vsmith, Vthehot, Vthills, WTucker, Waggers, Wangi, Ward47, Warofdreams, Wassamatta, Watertroll, Wavelength, WegianWarrior, Welshleprechaun, Wet Putka, WexTac,
Weyes, WhisperToMe, Whitejay251, WiiVolve, WikHead, Wiki Wikardo, Wiki alf, Wikiacc, Wikimachine, Will Beback, William Allen Simpson, William Avery, WilliamThweatt, Wipsenade,
Wissahickon Creek, Wknight94, Woohookitty, Writtenright, Xahm2307, Xaosflux, Xenovatis, Xiahou, Xligon, Xr 1, Y, YOYOKER, Yamaguchi先生, Yamaka122, Yamamoto Ichiro, Yanche,
Yar2, Yellowneck, Yoenit, Yonas29, Yorkshirian, Yucata.C, Z y, Zahical, Zaian, ZankoIR, ZapThunderstrike, Zaparojdik, Zigger, Zizzzo, Zman the douch, Zoney, Zyqqh, Zzuuzz,
Δρακόλακκος, ΚΕΚΡΩΨ, Александър, Методије, Николов, Парванов, Питър, Сабин, 2742 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 29

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Avala, Denelson83, Fry1989, Homo lupus,
Ikonact, Kallerna, Klemen Kocjancic, Martyr, Mattes, Neq00, Pumbaa80, SKopp, Scroch, Serjio-pt, Spacebirdy, Srtxg, Ultratomio, Vonvon, Zscout370, 9 anonymous edits
File:Coat of arms of Bulgaria.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Coat_of_arms_of_Bulgaria.svg  License: unknown  Contributors: User:Пакко
File:EU-Bulgaria.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:EU-Bulgaria.svg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: User:NuclearVacuum
File:Increase2.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Increase2.svg  License: unknown  Contributors: Sarang
File:Speaker Icon.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Speaker_Icon.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Blast, G.Hagedorn, Mobius, 2 anonymous edits
File:Panagyurishte gold.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Panagyurishte_gold.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sitomon/
File:Baba Vida Klearchos 1.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Baba_Vida_Klearchos_1.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0  Contributors: Klearchos
Kapoutsis from Paleo Faliro, Athens, Greece.
File:Campaigns of Ivan Assen II.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Campaigns_of_Ivan_Assen_II.png  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Kandi
File:Ivan shishman preobravenski manastir.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ivan_shishman_preobravenski_manastir.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:
User:Dragostinov
File:Siège de Nicopolis.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Siège_de_Nicopolis.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: BeatrixBelibaste, PatricePanaget, 2
anonymous edits
File:BGSoldiers1945.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:BGSoldiers1945.png  License: unknown  Contributors: Unknown
File:Zhelyu-Zhelev-20090423.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Zhelyu-Zhelev-20090423.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: User:Spiritia
File:Centralbalkan.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Centralbalkan.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Original uploader was Evgord at
bg.wikipedia
File:Raysko-praskalo-cc-karalamov.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Raysko-praskalo-cc-karalamov.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0  Contributors:
Captain-tucker, Eola, FlickreviewR, Kilezz, Leoboudv, Martyr, PM, Para
File:Sozopolivanpetarkirik.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sozopolivanpetarkirik.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Original uploader
was Evgord at bg.wikipedia
File:Kaiseradler Aquila heliaca 2 amk.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kaiseradler_Aquila_heliaca_2_amk.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike
2.5  Contributors: user:AngMoKio
File:Sveshtnik IMG 3782.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sveshtnik_IMG_3782.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: User:Dido3
File:Georgi S. Parvanov.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Georgi_S._Parvanov.jpg  License: Creative Commons AR-Presidency  Contributors: No mention
File:68thSFB Paratroopers.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:68thSFB_Paratroopers.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: MSgt Quinton T. Burris
File:Bulgaria_Provinces_Map_Blank.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bulgaria_Provinces_Map_Blank.png  License: GNU Free Documentation License
 Contributors: Conscious, Mircea, PM, Walden69, 1 anonymous edits
File:Emblem of Blagoevgrad.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Emblem_of_Blagoevgrad.svg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:Пакко
File:Rousse-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rousse-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Ilyaroz, Lokal
Profil, Пакко
File:Burgas-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Burgas-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Ilyaroz, Lokal
Profil, Spiritia, Пакко, 1 anonymous edits
File:Emblem of Shumen.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Emblem_of_Shumen.png  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:Пакко
File:Dobrich-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dobrich-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Ilyaroz,
Lokal Profil, Пакко
File:Silistra Coat of Arms.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Silistra_Coat_of_Arms.gif  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:MrPanyGoff
File:BG Gabrovo coa.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:BG_Gabrovo_coa.svg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5  Contributors: Brosen, Bulgarian Herald,
Frombenny, Lokal Profil, Пакко, 10 anonymous edits
File:BUL Сливен COA.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:BUL_Сливен_COA.png  License: unknown  Contributors: en:TodorBozhinov
File:Haskovo-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Haskovo-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Ilyaroz,
Lokal Profil, Mattes, Пакко
File:Smolyan Coat of Arms.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Smolyan_Coat_of_Arms.png  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:MrPanyGoff
File:Kardzhali-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kardzhali-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Amikeco, Bulgarian Herald,
Cameltrader, Ilyaroz, Lokal Profil, Пакко
File:BG Sofia coa.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:BG_Sofia_coa.svg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5  Contributors: Brosen, Bulgarian Herald,
Frombenny, Ilyaroz, Lokal Profil, Martyr, Пакко
File:Kyustendil-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kyustendil-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader,
Ilyaroz, Lokal Profil, Пакко
File:Lovech-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Lovech-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Ilyaroz,
Lokal Profil, Shizhao, Пакко
File:Stara-Zagora-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Stara-Zagora-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader,
Ilyaroz, Lokal Profil, Sevela.p, Пакко
File:Coat of Arms of Montana (Bulgaria).png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Montana_(Bulgaria).png  License: Creative Commons
Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:Пакко
File:Gerba targovishte.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Gerba_targovishte.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: targovishte
File:Emblem of Pazardzhik.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Emblem_of_Pazardzhik.svg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:Пакко
File:Varna-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Varna-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Пакко
File:Pernik-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pernik-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: AnonMoos, Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader,
Ilyaroz, Lokal Profil, Пакко
File:Veliko-Tarnovo-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Veliko-Tarnovo-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald,
Cameltrader, Ilyaroz, Lokal Profil, Пакко
File:Pleven-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pleven-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Ilyaroz, Lokal
Profil, Skipjack, Пакко
File:Coat of arms of Vidin.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Coat_of_arms_of_Vidin.svg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:Пакко
File:Plovdiv-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Plovdiv-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Ilyaroz,
Lokal Profil, Predavatel, Пакко
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 30

File:Vratsa-coat-of-arms.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Vratsa-coat-of-arms.svg  License: Attribution  Contributors: Bulgarian Herald, Cameltrader, Пакко
File:Emblem of Razgrad.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Emblem_of_Razgrad.png  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:Пакко
File:Yambol Coat of Arms.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Yambol_Coat_of_Arms.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5  Contributors: ChristianBier
File:Downtown Sofia Boby Dimitrov 1.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Downtown_Sofia_Boby_Dimitrov_1.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike
2.0  Contributors: Boby Dimitrov from Sofia, Bulgaria
File:Kaliakra wind turbines.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kaliakra_wind_turbines.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0  Contributors: Radoslav
Rusinov
File:Dobrudja.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dobrudja.JPG  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Original uploader was Svik at bg.wikipedia
File:Maliovitca 05.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Maliovitca_05.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors: Beyonder
File:BDZ Baureihe 9452.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:BDZ_Baureihe_9452.JPG  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Wiki05
File:Rozhen dome.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rozhen_dome.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors: Daniel
File:Bulgaria-demography.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bulgaria-demography.png  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0  Contributors: Demmo, Ivanko,
LokiiT, Valérie75, 1 anonymous edits
File:SofiaUni.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:SofiaUni.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Original uploader was Kosigrim at en.wikipedia
Image:Bulevard Cherni Vruh 06 - Sofia.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bulevard_Cherni_Vruh_06_-_Sofia.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike
2.0  Contributors: Nikolay Angelov (Николай Ангелов)
Image:Plovdiv Kapana.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Plovdiv_Kapana.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Predavatel
Image:Varna Bay, View from Sveti Nikola.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Varna_Bay,_View_from_Sveti_Nikola.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
 Contributors: Vladislav Bezrukov
File:Gallery for Foreign Art TodorBozhinov 041009.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Gallery_for_Foreign_Art_TodorBozhinov_041009.jpg  License: Creative
Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: Todor Bozhinov / Тодор Божинов / Martyr
File:Theater Plovdiv.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Theater_Plovdiv.JPG  License: unknown  Contributors: N. Lazarov
File:Peio Yavorov.jpeg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Peio_Yavorov.jpeg  License: anonymous-EU  Contributors: www.slovo.bg
File:Spirit of Burgas Sisters of Mersy Perroto.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Spirit_of_Burgas_Sisters_of_Mersy_Perroto.jpg  License: Creative Commons
Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors: djidji.perroto
File:ЕленскаСливова.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:ЕленскаСливова.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Original uploader was Blue
at bg.wikipedia
File:Tsvetana Pironkova Allianz Cup 1.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Tsvetana_Pironkova_Allianz_Cup_1.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike
3.0  Contributors: User:Nadina

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
http:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/