site.btaDeputy PM Zaharieva: The Interest of the State Is to Preserve Beaches, But Without Driving Investors Away

Sofia, August 22 (BTA) - Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Regional Development and Investment Planning Ekaterina Zaharieva met Friday with representatives of the "Save Koral Beach" Civil Association, her ministry said. The association protests against the development of dunes at Koral beach which it calls "the last surviving beach without concrete along the Southern Black Sea coast" and
insists that the competent authorities declare Koral and the adjacent lands a protected territory.
      
Zaharieva underscored that the protection of Bulgarian nature is a priority for the government but the precise balance should be found between ecology, attraction of quality investors and the rights of private owners. Regarding the case of Koral beach, she noted that the Ministry of Regional Development will refer it to the prosecution asking to appeal the issued building permits because of grave violations in the process, which actually makes them null and void.
     
Zaharieva was adamant she will not allow construction on dunes. "While there is a breach of the law we shall act against those who violate it and will stop intentions for development," she said.
     
The problem with Koral beach dates from 2004-2006, when the regional governor of Bourgas (on the Black Sea) was responsible for the beach as property of which the state is sole owner. In this capacity he had to appeal the approved development plans which allowed construction in the properties bordering on the beach, the Deputy PM said. 
     
Dunes and beaches can only be protected from development with the adoption of cadastral and specialized maps which are currently in the process of being prepared, as they show clearly what is what - dunes, protected zone or reserve. To date there are no updated specialized maps and registers for 39 beaches
along the Black Sea coast, including Koral, and everything possible for this to happen within a month will be done. Specialists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences also took part in the measurements.
   
Zaharieva also declared herself in favour of the division of beaches in categories so that tourists may be informed what conditions which beach offers. In her opinion, designation of "green beaches" would be a good measure and Koral can be one of them.