Fance-Rila Association announced the French president about the ilegal construction in Rila

Open letter to
Mister Nicolas Sarkozy,
President of the Republic of France



Dear Mr. President,
The most significant protected territory in Bulgaria – Rila Мountain- is at this very moment being totally wrecked by illegal works, in violation of Bulgarian and European laws. Despite all facts and documents that prove the unlawfulness of the construction works in the area of the Seven Rila Lakes in Rila National Park, Bulgarian state authorities do nothing to stop and investigate the crimes. This tragedy of Rila National Park is just one of the numerous ecological crimes that may ruin the beauty of Bulgarian nature forever.
France-Rila Association has been founded as an answer to the appeal for help sent by the Coalition LET NA TURE REMAIN IN BULGARA that consist of more than 30 Bulgarian NGOs. That’s why, supporting the Coalition and Bulgarian nation as a whole, we turn to You and ask to put environmental protection in the center of French – Bulgarian friendship. However our goals are clearly expressed in our statute:

“The aim of ‘France-Rila’ Association is the protection of Rila National Park in Bulgaria through media publications and organization of international happenings centered on Bulgarian natural, scientific, artistic and cultural heritage. This endeavour is deeply rooted in the construction of United Europe and sets itself as an opportunity to weave friendly links between peoples of Europe” /quotation from the constitutive deed of France-Rila Association/
On October 4th, You said to the French community in Sofia: “I wish France would really get involved in Eastern Europe”. On the same day You invited students from Sofia University to make of Europe “the place where respect of environmental rules is uppermost.” You also invited those students to take the opportunity “to put at stake the importance of environment in Europe.”
Mister President, Your appeal has been heard!
A signal starting from Bulgaria has been sent worldwide (appendix 1). We answered it creating our deeply involved association – side by side with young Bulgarians, working to save the incredible natural heritage of Bulgaria. Despite all incriminating facts and numerous protests of thousands of people in Bulgaria, the destruction of habitats and ecosystems still continues in an abrupt violation of law.
Bulgarian ecologists state that many “ecological massacres” are being made by shady off-shore companies with unidentified source of their finances, which invest money in the construction of illegal tourist resorts using corruption and undue influence (appendix 2). As Arte journalists underlined, being an environmentalist in Bulgaria is a risky task. (Focus Europe television broadcast, appendix 5 in the form of DVD)
On October 27th, 2007 ecological association ‘For the Earth’ took journalists to the place of the illegal construction in Rila Mountain. All of a sudden there appeared a group of men who threatened the environmentalists and journalists with death. Violence was committed against the some of the environmentalists, as one of them had to go to hospital. This act of violence was committed in the presence of policemen, who did not react. They did not say anything to the hooligans but managed to clearly explain to the environmental protectors that next time the police may not even come on time (appendix 4). Is it possible to tolerate such acts in Europe?

Such events have forced Bulgarian environmentalist to look for international support not only to protect the natural resources of their country but also to guarantee their own safety. If we do not help them soon enough we may allow an ecological and economical robbery to be committed at out threshold. Because the embezzling of Rila Mountain and the unscrupulous exploitation of its resources for private interests means exactly a robbery. At the same time there exist wonderful alternatives for environmental friendly tourism, a guarantee for Bulgaria’s sustainable development.

The struggle for saving Rila Natural Park is emblematic about the situation - it is a focal point where judicial and ecological questions are gathering. That is why nine international ecological organizations have been involved: Birdlife International, Scottish Natural Heritage, Mountain Protection Commission, International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation, Euronature and WWF. They have just placed before Bulgarian institutions a position paper against building projects in Rila. They demand that Bulgarian institutions take their responsibilities in putting illegal activities to an end both in Rila National Park and “Rila-buffer” zone which was supposed to be part of NATURA 2000 ecological network.
When a Bulgarian student was questioning You about political axis You thought to be a priority during the French term in European chairmanship You were referring to an ambitious environmental policy.
I have the pleasure to inform You that East and West got united around your vision about Europe. France-Rila Association is actively working on saving the largest national park in Bulgaria. Thus, we also insist that the illegal construction works be immediately stopped and that “Rila-buffer” be returned to NATURA 2000 network from which it was excluded because of shady investment interests and in contradiction to all scientific criteria for biodiversity preservation. (appendix 3)
Mister President, we ask You to use all the influence and political strength of France in order to save Rila National Park. Only one thing is necessary for the success of the campaign – law to be applied. This initiative will certainly strengthen friendship between France and Bulgaria. Today’s Bulgarians but also generations to come will remember this providential help from France that now affirms its universal principles directing social attention to the importance of environmental preservation, not only in Europe but worldwide.
We have strongly decided to do everything to protect natural treasures of Rila Mountain. Today crimes against nature threaten the vitality of our planet. The insolent looting of Rila is scandalous from an economical, political and ecological point of view. We hope that You will undertake brave political steps in this aspect to mark the future of Europe. Mr. President, in the name of the people of Bulgaria, being plundered by economically suspicious and ecologically felonious companies, which embezzle the national treasures, we personally ask You to step in and save Rila National Park from the devastation which is currently a fact.

We already contacted the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Paris and today will approach the European Parliament. We will also announce the media, environmental associations, winter sport federations, etc.

Very soon the current letter, translated in English and Bulgarian, will be in the hands of all people over the world, who work for the protection of Rila. Thousands of Bulgarians, Europeans, persons, are watching You with hope…

Regarding the numerous violations of the European law, we insist that the grants for environment from the European funds to be stopped for Bulgaria until the Bulgarian government fulfils all its obligations concerning environmental protection. The case with Rila National Park is the most urgent but unfortunately is just one of the many cases of this kind. According to the information we have from the Bulgarian ecological organizations and media publications, the enforcement of the European ecological directives has been vitiated both by the executive power, which has defined the envelopment of the NATURA 2000 network according to investment intentions but not scientific facts, and by the juridical power which is completely inactive despite the numerous evidence for abuse of public property, conflicts of interests and embezzling of means from the European funds. At the moment there is construction in protected territories which are already a part of NATUA 2000 and this does not provoke any reaction from the side of the competent authorities. Probably there should be made a warning of the strongest sanctions to provoke a particular reaction from the side of Bulgaria!

The corruption of state officials is question of interior policy of each member country, but the basic principles of the constitutional state are a question that concerns us all - in the name of our mutual future we are obliged to bravely protect them wherever on the territory of the European Union.

We strongly trust that France will once again make a brave step and manage to show to mankind a more equitable way to follow.

At the end, we ask You, Mr. President, to accept our sincere assurances for the deep respect we have towards You.


From the name of the Association:

David Morand,
President of France-Rila Association

Appendixes:

Appendix 1: Help Appeal from Bulgaria
Appendix 2: A letter from Coalition LET NATURE REMAIN IN BULGARIA, addressed to Europol and the Green Fraction of the European Parliament.

Appendix 3: Ecological and juridical information about the construction in Rila National Park.

Appendix 4: Corpwatch: Bulgarian ski complex threatens Rila National Park.

Appendix 5: DVD, Focus Europe broadcast on Arte television

N.B. : All appendixes are in French language except for appendix 4, which is in English.