site.btaNew Executive Director Appointed at NDK

New Executive Director Appointed at NDK

Sofia, June 30 (BTA) - A new executive director has been appointed at Sofia's NDK convention centre which will be the venue of most local events on the programme of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU. Angel Mitev comes to fill the vacant office after his predecessor, Miroslav Borshosh gave it up amid a funding mismanagement probe.

The new appointment was announced Friday by Culture Minister Boil Banov.

Borshosh was dismissed June 26 by a ministerial order over alleged systematic noncompliance with instructions from the NDK owner and with decisions by the NDK Board of Directors. The sanction further said that Borshosh's actions put to question the sound financial management of the convention centre and jeopardized the ongoing refurbishment of the NDK building to make it suitable for the needs of the EU Presidency. Borshosh reacted in a Facebook post saying that he refused to sign any public procurements connected with the preparation of NDK for the EU Presidency under pressure and in conditions which are at odds with the rules and the law. He also said there has been a chaos in the management of the EU Presidency preparation in the past couple of months, and warns that it threatens to fail the Presidency. The next day he was reinstated to his post after a meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and appeared to be accepting the reinstatement - only to announce the next day that he was coming down to allow an undisturbed probe of the NDK management.

Until his appointment to the top position at NDK, Mitev was CEO of the state-owned company in charge of restoration of monuments of culture.

Banov said that his choice of a new executive director was not based on artistic considerations and mainly aims to ensure the timely completion of the NDK refurbishment.

He said he appreciates Borshosh' work at NDK in the recent years and is full supportive of his cultural policies. He also said that in the event of "a positive outcome from the ongoing probe", he hopes to be able to invite him to work with the Culture Ministry again.