More than 10 000 people signed a petition in Razlog to protest against the inclusion of Bulgarian territories in Natura 2000 ecological network and the manner in which Bulgaria’s Cabinet handled the issue.

A protest declaration will be sent to President Georgi Purvanov, Parliament spokesperson Georgi Pirinski and Environment and Water Affairs Minister Djevdet Chakurov.
 
Chakurov was given huge authority to take a decision concerning 37 per cent of the Bulgarian territory, the declaration said. This authority came into contradiction with the Bulgarian constitution and could create corruption opportunities, it said as quoted by Darik Radio.

A declaration will be addressed as well to Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.

People from Razlog were not opposing the ecological network but were against the restrictions to come with the inclusion of territories in it, said the statement.

In case officials failed taking into consideration the petition, strikes and protests were possible in the future, the initiative committee from Razlog said.