The road structure maintenance does not require privatization of the Sinite Kamani Nature Park

It is the obligation of the municipality to maintain municipal roads irrespectively of the ownership type of the property they are located in.

- The building up of sewerage and the purification of the water from the huts and resting houses is an obligation of these latter’s owners and not of the municipal administration, otherwise it would be state aid accorded to these owners.

- The building up of road lights system in Sinite Kamani Protected Area, part of the Natura 2000 ecological network is very disputable and such practice is not existent as it would have an adverse impact on certain populations of species, such as for example, butterflies and birds. In Sinite Kamani Nature Park more than half of all butterfly species in Bulgaria can be found, as well as 60% of all bird species.

The Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria Coalition supports the efforts of Sliven Municipality aimed at the building up of sewerage in the town but it considers it is appropriate first to accomplish the sewerage and afterwards to specify further objectives related with waste water management.

The environmentalists are seriously alarmed by the possibility of recognition of the expenses made by the municipality up to the moment under the projects financed under ISPA and the Environment Operative Program, following which the absorption of the funds accorded by European tax payers will decrease. The state needs to terminate the utilization of European funds for projects which have lost or have not absorbed money from the pre-accession funds because in this way finance gets blocked by Bulgaria and it is possible that these financial means be blocked anew within the Structural and Cohesion Funds.

The representatives of the Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria Coalition express their willingness to participate in meetings dedicated to this issue with the Sliven District Governor but the implementation of the lawful obligations of the central and local authorities and observance of Bulgarian laws is not subjected to discussions.

The Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria Coalition believes that the Sliven District Governor will be subjected to control also regarding his own strategic plan for activities for the period 2010-2013 as in this plan it is written down that the “change of the ownership on Sinite Kamani Nature Park” is a priority action, which is not compliant with the law. According to the Coalition, the laws should be respected by all citizens and institutions and especially by those that exert control on the likewise actions of others. As per Article 7 of the Structural Regulation of the district administration the District Governor is responsible for the protection of state ownership in the district and not for its abolishment.

For contacts:
* Yordanka Dineva, Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, 089/6798902
* Katerina Rakovska, WWF, 02/9505040

Translated by Prolet Ilieva