STEPPING DOWN: On March 8, Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica resigned over the lack of a common government position on Serbia’s foreign policy in the aftermath of Kosovo’s proclamation of independence. Kostunica, the leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), insisted on Belgrade tearing relations with the European Union unless the bloc recognised Serbia’s territorial integrity, but DSS’ coalition partner, the Democratic Party (DS) of president Boris Tadic, took a more moderate stance, claiming Serbia should continue with its EU integration. ‘The government of Serbia has no united policy any more on an important issue related to the future of the country - Kosovo as a part of Serbia [...] Such a government could not function any more,’ Kostunica said, as quoted by the BBC. Before dissolving on March 10, the cabinet proposed that snap polls be held on May 11, at the same time as scheduled local elections. Photo: REUTERS
RAIL EUROPE IN BULGARIA: Rail Europe, the world’s largest distributor of European rail travel services, has entered the Bulgarian market. It has done so through local partner HRG Bulgaria/JamAdvice Travel, its representative for Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo. On February 21, Marine Kerhoas, sales director for Germany, Switzerland, Russia and Eastern Europe for Rail Europe, presented the services and products that were available for sale from Bulgarian travel agencies. They included the booking and selling of tickets for the Eurostar, Thalys, Artesia, Lyria, TGV and ICE high-speed trains. Various other European rail networks, along with different rail passes, were also presented. Photo: SPASENA BARAMOVA
OSCARS 2008: Daniel Day-Lewis, left, best actor for There Will Be Blood, Tilda Swinton, best supporting actress for Michael Clayton, Marion Cotillard, best actress for La Vie en Rose and Javier Bardem, best supporting actor for No Country for Old Men, with their Oscars backstage at the 80th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood on February 24. Photo: REUTERS
WEEK OF MOROCCAN CINEMA
The first-ever Week of Moroccan Cinema in Bulgaria opened on February 22 at Odeon Cinematheque with a screening of La Symphonie marocaine, a 2006 film by Kamal Kamal. Present at the event were El Ghailani Dlimi, ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, and his family; Boriana Mateeva of the Bulgarian National Film Archives, which was the co-organiser of the cinema week along with the Moroccan embassy; Tatiana Popa, deputy head of mission at the Romanian embassy, and her husband Ovidiu; and cinema-lovers and friends. Photos: MAGDALENA RAHN
GALLERY KRUG +
An exhibition of Tsvetan Kolev’s paintings was opened on February 26 at the Sofia gallery Krug +. The Gabrovo-born artist won an award last year for his statuette called Zlaten Ezon at the International Bienniale for Humour and Satire in Art. Photos: MAGDALENA RAHN
