The illegal complex 'Golden Pearl' in Nature Park Strandzha will be demolished after 6 years of lessons in democracy

The problem with construction within the nature park continues to be the topic of the day. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works refuses to change the General Spatial Plan of Tsarevo Municipality (even though this plan was suspended in court). The plan envisages large-scale construction of the coast line of the nature park - from Tsarevo to Rezovo. The Ministry of Environment and Waters takes avail of this situation and is quite expeditious in approving new vacation villages in the allegedly protected territories of Nature Park Strandzha every month on a case-by-case basis.

Meanwhile, the planned changes in the Forestry Law will facilitate the springing up of many more complexes like "Golden Pearl" in Bulgaria's nature parks and other protected areas.

A little bit of history

In 2006, thanks to the impertinent treatment of Bulgarian law and nature exhibited by the local government and the investor "Crash 2000", the "Golden Pearl" complex became quite popular among the public at large as one of the most emblematic illegal buildings in Bulgaria.

The environmentalists remind that "Golden Pearl" was the reason for the juridical obliteration Nature Park Strandzha in 2007. The local municipality, Tsarevo, and the investor "Crash 2000" instituted legal proceedings against the statute of the park which blew up the public discontent to unprecedented heights.

The legal claim was the municipality and investor's attempt to legalize the illegal building after many non-profit organizations, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Burgas, the Directorate of Nature Park Stranzdha and the Ministry of Environment and Waters attacked the illegal construction in 2006 through administrative and court mechanisms.

"The development of the "Golden Pearl" case through the years showed that a strong public interest is capable of not only limiting significantly the corruption mechanisms in the judiciary power, the state administration and the local governments, but can also protect civil servants and magistrates who are willing to apply the Bulgarian legislation impartially and objectively", commented the nature protectionists.

The "For The Nature" coalition clarifies that the beginning of the demolition of the illegal vacation village after 6 years of heightened public interest in the scores of prosecutors', administrative and court procedures is a proof that the Bulgarian state can fulfill its functions if there is an active and vigilant civil society at hand.

The demolition of "Golden Pearl" can be also construed as a turning point in the activities of the Directorate for National Construction Control (DNCC). Until the removal of its previous director Ivan Simidchiev the DNCC was one of the state institutions that overtly tolerated the illegal vacation village in Nature Park Strandzha, the "For The Nature" coalition reminds.

Additional information:

- Details about the "Golden Pearl" case is available at [url">http://forthenature.org/cases/10.