Slavi Binev MEP, member of the Independence Group in the European Parliament: The European Commission will soon pronounce itself on the concessionaire's rights granted to Dundee Precious Metals Inc.

- Mr. Binev as an MEP, you approached the European Commission with regard to the environmental issues concerning the concessionaire's rights granted to Dundee Precious Metals Inc. and gold extraction near the village of Chelopech. What was the result?
- Yes, nearly a year ago, I approached the European Commission and insisted that it come up with a decision on this concession and the extent of its harmonisation with EU environmental legislation. Currently, the Commission is carrying out its studies, and I believe that it will grasp and assess the whole picture in detail, because it comes down indeed to very serious violations. I have become convinced in this after holding numerous meetings with the people of the district and as a result of conducting talks with experts and environmentalists. It is important to know that the EC will analyse every detail concerning this concession contract and the gold extraction not only in ecological terms but also because of the serious doubts of corruption.

There are serious problems which are not associated solely with Dundee Precious Metals Inc. This method of working with Dundee seems to reflect the overall rule of the country - arrogant, without establishing any dialogue with civil society organisations, without complying with the entities which express a different opinion. This is extremely dangerous, as well as harmful, because it creates a very bad image of the government.

- You argue that the gold mining concession granted is economically unprofitable for Bulgaria. Why?
- This is a fact. The price of gold went up 5-6 times over the last 6-7 years. As a result, the terms and conditions of concession contracts cannot remain unchanged. In 2004, the value of one troy ounce stood at about $400, while last year its price reached $ 1,720. I sent letters to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Minister of Economy, Traicho Traikov, and asked them why the GERB government has failed to demand a revision of the concession contract, despite the fact that the concession fee in Bulgaria is twice lower than in other countries. Furthermore, there is evidence that the gold deposit is operated in a barbaric manner, which is inconsistent with environmental standards. I have collected extensive photographic material proving the brutal style of operation of the Chelopech gold mine, which is in conflict with all environmental standards. I have also mailed these photos to Borissov and Traikov. But I do not trust the GERB government and I do not think that it is interested in any evidence, even if it turns out to be the irrefutable truth.
The current Bulgaria government refuses to face the real problems.

- Did you receive answers to your letters sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy?
- The only person who is trying to have a dialogue with me is the Minister of Economy, Traicho Traikov. But I am sure that he is acting as the executor of another person's will and lacks the necessary powers to change the current unfavourable situation. The fact that he avoids answering some of my questions also confirms my statement, as well as the fact that he reiterates all responses already released by the press centre of the Prime Minister. It is strange that even the letter I received from the PM was not signed by him, which actually shows that Borissov lacks the competence to answer my questions. The latter is not mandatory but he must assume the political and moral responsibility for what is happening at the Chelopech gold mine.

- You also went your own way by setting up the political movement GORD (Civil Alliance for Real Democracy) , followed by the establishment of the party ''KPD of Success ( efficiency coefficient of success) ." What are you actually aiming at?
- Yes, this is my party project - the Conservative Party "Movement for Success'' or ''KPD of Success''. You know that my major political project was the setting up of the political movement GORD (Civil Alliance for Real Democracy). Why am I doing that? Because, pursuant to Bulgarian laws, you must set up your own party in order to participate actively in political life and fight for people's trust, which will enable you to control and change things. The other option is to resort to revolution but, nowadays, changes can be achieved without being rebellious.

- Many people will ask what your personal motivation is. Besides, you might also be suspected of craving power?
- No, I just feel obliged to give a personal example. Someone needs to be steadfast and finally say: That is enough! We are alert and intelligent people, and we cannot bare to be constantly lied to since this is an insult against our intelligence and our work, as well as our aspirations. Again, I repeat, that in a normal civilised society, the media acts as the fourth power, the eternal opposition and the authority which reveals the weak points of the government. This is not how things stand in our country.

- Is this the real aim of your newly-formed political movement ''KPD of Success '' - to reveal the shortcomings of the current government?
- This is what I am trying to do. And I can even tell you that I am laughing at those, who following some rational approach, are asking whether my political project is right-wing or left-wing. This is the trap set by sociologists; this is their coordinate system. But it does not serve for anything else than enabling political parties to gain technological orientation for the actual actions to be followed by them. In fact, ideological, political doctrines have been dead for a long time since they are absent in real political life. There, the only thing that matters is the people's standard of living.

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