24 Chasa Daily

Under a decree establishing the terms and procedure for providing EU funds, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plougchieva will direct the operation of the EU Funds Management Department of the Finance Ministry, "24 Chasa" writes. The purpose is to improve coordination.

"24 Chasa" runs an analysis headlined "BSP,GERB: Opponents of Convenience" which says that the opposition forces in Bulgaria hardly stand a chance to replace the Socialists in the next government because the Left, dominated by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), has a trick up its  sleeve, and it is the party GERB. The game of power-holders and opposition played by the BSP and GERB may lead the two parties to a coalition government, political scientist Dimiter Avramov says.

Monitor Daily

"Monitor" writes that President Georgi Purvanov and First Lady Zorka Purvanova expect 3,000 guests at the state reception on Bulgaria's National Day, March 3. By tradition, the reception is given in the Museum of History at the Boyana Residence. Attending it will be the prime minister, cabinet ministers, MPs, diplomats, intellectuals and public figures.

Standart Daily

On the eve of March 3, the mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, had the Bulgarian flag hoisted next to the US flag in front of the City Hall, "Standart News" reports. Over 100 000 Bulgarians who live in Chicago celebrated the 131st anniversary of Bulgaria's Liberation from Ottoman rule. Neshka Robeva's dancers performed in "Bulgarian-style Tango" for  Bulgarian expatriates in Paris, France. A concert is organized on march 3 for the Bulgarians living in Vienna.

Trud Daily

"Trud" says on its front page that Queen Elizabeth of Britain sent a message to President Purvanov giving her greetings on the celebration of March 3 and best wishes for the good fortune and happiness of Bulgarians.

"Trud" headlines its interview with Academician Georgi Markov, a historian, "We Have a State but We Have Not Got Statesmen," who advises the Bulgarian politicians to follow the example set by Andrei Lyapchev, politician and one of this country's prime ministers. In 1931, amidst a severe economic crisis, Lyapchev lost the elections but turned to his opponents and said that they should unite in order "to pull out the boat from the stormy sea of this ugly crisis," Markov says.

"Trud" reports that the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) will be ready with their agreement on running together in the general elections by March 14 when right-wingers will open their meeting in Cadenabbia, Italy. The agreement contains three clauses: according to the first, neither party can set conditions on its partner; the second concerns the distribution of election ticket leaders; according to the third clause, other parties may be attracted by mutual consent of the partners.

"At the backdrop of the alarming reports about recession all round Europe, Bulgaria is preparing for a soft landing in the crisis, Bulgarian and foreign economists told France Presse," "Trud" writes. The drop in lending may prove healthsome, they said. In 2009, the government expects an economic growth of 4.7 per cent but experts put it at 0 - 2 per cent.

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