site.btaBulgarian Academy of Sciences' Meteorologists Stage Protest over Financial Problems

Sofia, June 21 (BTA) - Meteorologists from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) have been protesting in front of the BAS building in Sofia since Thursday morning over financial problems that might lead to the weather forecasts' discontinuation.

The Institute's director, Prof. Hristomir Brunzov, said that they will run out of financial resources on July 9, which will lead to the cessation of their activities one by one, starting with the civil weather forecasts and activities unrelated to national security and safety. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology services the army, the civil and military aviation, Irrigation Systems Inc., and the protection against natural disasters and averages, he recalled. The systems related to national security will be the last to be stopped, in case financial resources are not provided, he specified.

Prof. Brunzov also said that the Institute's representatives have requested a meeting with Education and Science Minister Krassimir Vulchev at 2 pm on Thursday.