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Bulgaria, together with six other eastern European countries, were welcomed into NATO Friday as their national flags were hoisted for the first time at an official ceremony in front of Brussels headquarters.

Bulgaria's national flag was the first to be raised under the sounds of the national anthem. The moment brought tears of joy in the eyes of Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, one of the country's staunchest supporters for accession to the Alliance.

Bulgaria, together with six more former Soviet-dominated nations, became full-fledged NATO member in the most ambitious expansion in the Alliance history.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg was the first to submit the accession document to the US government in Washington March 29.

Europeans would rather become Bulgarians, than vice versa. The research of “Trud Daily” shows that foreigners in large numbers buy realties in our villages, and the greatest part of them is people from Great Britain. The subjects of Her Majesty have already settled in the villages around Elhovo, Tarnovo and Varna. A Japanese family lives in the town of Shipka for years and awaits followers. According to the demography experts, Bulgaria should prepare for a new wave of Bulgarian wannabes after we enter the European Union.
The analysis of the National Statistic Bureau show that in 6-7 years time more foreigners will settle in Bulgaria, than Bulgarians will immigrate abroad.

Three new pistes with total length of 5 kilometers and two modern four-men lifts will be constructed in Pamporovo till the start of next winter season, announced the management body of SIBANK. As a major creditor and shareholder in “Pamporovo” Plc, the bank has developed an investment project for the sum of 10 million Euro.

Foreigners will be able to purchase real estate properties without special licenses from the government. Members of the Parliament Economic Commission voted down on second reading, the text of the Investments Encouragement Law, according to which the foreigners had to ask the cabinet for such a license. Irrelevant became also the requirement for special license from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for purchasing real estate properties in the interior areas of the country, close to the national security objects.

The Irish businessmen who arrived in Bulgaria to examine the real estate market in Bulgaria's Black Sea towns of Burgas, Kiten, Primorsko and Lozenetz have been "shocked" by the high prices, Bulgarian 24 Hours daily reported.

Jeremy Hill, who last week presented his credentials as UK ambassador to Bulgaria, spoke to VELINA NACHEVA about bilateral relations and the possibility of expanding business links.
What were your expectations when you arrived in Bulgaria, and what have been your initial impressions regarding Bulgaria since your arrival?

All NATO member states have deposited their enlargement ratification protocols in Washington, Alliance's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer informed Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Solomon Passy with an official letter sent on Monday.

It has made the protocols enter into force and Bulgaria was officially invited by NATO's Chief to step into the Alliance as a full member as soon as the country also deposits its ratification protocol.

The growth of Bulgarian economy since 2001 has outstripped the average rate achieved by other Central and Eastern European countries, the UN Economic Commission for Europe revealed in its annual economic overview for 2004, presented Thursday in Geneva.

Bulgaria, along with Romania, has recorded a steady pace of 4-5 % growth over the last years, accompanied with an ever-increasing interest by foreign investors, the UN report said.

Making an overview of the economic development of Central and Eastern European Countries, the UN Economic Commission has pointed out that Bulgaria is in pursuit of a 5.3 % growth in 2004.

Bulgaria is on its way to turn into the Riviera on the Balkans, seeing a steady growth in recent years, according to Neli Sandalska, Deputy Chief of Bulgaria's Association of Tour Operators.

She stated on Wednesday that the 18-percent increased tourist flow to Bulgaria means 3,35 million tourists more have visited Bulgaria in 2003. The main contribution to the boost in the tourism sector is the development of sea and mountain tourism.

Bulgaria is one of Europe's fastest developing destinations, a report of the tourism commission with the European Union revealed on Tuesday. Its fast developing speed puts it ahead of Italy, according to Economy Ministry's latest data on tourism sector.