site.btaBulgaria Does Not Have Clear Concept for Work with Expatriate Communities - Deputy Prime Minister Karakachanov

Rousse, on the Danube, May 19 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov, who is also leader of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, part of the power-sharing coalition of the United Patriots, said here on Saturday that Bulgaria still does not have a clear concept about how to work with the communities of expatriate Bulgarians. Karakachanov made the remark in the presence of the Chairman of the State Agency for Expatriate Bulgarians (SAEB) Peter Haralampiev. The two noted the small budget of SAEB: a little over 900,000 leva, and the considerable outlays other countries set aside for working with their expatriate communities.

Haralampiev said that the budget of the Agency covers the salaries of its staff and the activities related to the work with more than 1,050 organizations of expatriate Bulgarians and more than 300 Bulgarian schools abroad.

Karakachanov said that work is underway to develop a new programme to attract expatriate Bulgarians to return and settle back in their homeland.

In Rousse Karakachanov opened an international poetic festival held under his auspices.