Picture: Nova News

According to the Mayor of Ruse, the imposition of 6-month border control on the Danube Bridge after Bulgaria's admission to the Schengen zone will continue to hinder traffic in the city

"I accept with extreme disappointment the news that the border control of the Danube Bridge checkpoint will continue for at least 6 months after the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen," he said. This was stated to Nova news by the Mayor of Ruse Pencho Milkov. He commented on the case from Vietnam, where he participated in the official Bulgarian delegation led by President Rumen Radev.

"For me it is clear that this condition is not set by the Bulgarian ministers and institutions, but is a condition that is imposed on us," he said. This is a double standard that will again cause difficulties for the people of Ruse. For me it is important to hear from the Bulgarian institutions what we impose on the countries that impose conditions on us. Goods going to Europe pass through Ruse, and the continuation of border controls will continue to hinder traffic near and inside the city. Ruse and other cities along our northern border become a parking lot for thousands of heavy trucks, and in the summer months cars with foreign registrations do not respect the traffic rules, block the streets and bring society to the extreme limit of tolerance,” Milkov said.

According to him, we must appreciate the efforts of the governments and all Bulgarian institutions for the entry of our country into Schengen. He described the information about our admission as another step in the right direction, but unfortunately not the last, as long as the border controls are applied. We are looking forward to really finally entering Schengen, and the traffic at Ruse and other border cities will cease to be such a problem for our societies. It must be clearly understood that patience has its limits. We must also talk about the dignity of a country," Milkov said.

According to him, the measures exercised by our country at the Danube Bridge crossing are very serious and our partners must and our partners should be reassured that they are actually reducing unregulated activities at the border. He reiterated that the removal of administrative obstacles and the opening of traffic will have a very favorable impact on the development of Ruse and all the cities along our northern border.

A memorandum of friendship was signed between Ruse and the large Vietnamese city of Kang Thu

At the invitation of President Rumen Radev, Ruse Mayor Pencho Milkov participated in the official Bulgarian delegation, which is visiting Singapore and Vietnam.  It was also attended by the Ministers of Education - Prof. Galin Tsokov, Innovation and Growth - Prof. Rosen Karadimov, and Tourism - Evtim Miloshev, Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev and over 40 Bulgarian owners and managers of companies.

In Singapore, the delegation took part in a business forum organized by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, the country's largest national organization that represents some 5,000 corporate members, including small and medium-sized enterprises and multinational companies. It visited the innovation center of Hyundai Motor Group and inspected the production line for electric vehicles.

The delegation met with Bulgarians living in Singapore, and Mayor Pencho Milkov had the opportunity to talk with  families who have resettled in the Asian country from Ruse.  With them, he discussed the development of the city in recent years, the efforts made by the administration to make Ruse a preferred place to live, and opportunities for more intensive relations with our region.

After Singapore, the official delegation also visited Vietnam.  In the capital Hanoi the delegates met with representatives of the community of Vietnamese citizens who studied and worked in Bulgaria and representatives of the Association for Friendship "Vietnam-Bulgaria." An official meeting of President Rumen Radev and the President of Vietnam Leong Kwon was held, a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Min Chin and Speaker of the National Assembly Chan Thanh Man. Bilateral cooperation documents were signed. A Memorandum on the development of friendly and cooperative relations between the Municipality of Ruse and the fourth largest city in Vietnam - Ken Thu was also signed. The document was signed by Mayor Pencho Milkov and the Chairman of the People's Assembly of Kang Thu, Chan Viet Chung. The city is the most significant center in the delta of the Mekong. Its population is more than 1.3 million people.

"For me as mayor it was extremely important to get concrete practical knowledge about the organization of processes in cities from the East. There, communities of hundreds of thousands and even millions of people live together, with a sense of community, and in the cities it is clean and the residents feel safe. This is achieved within the framework of a human life. It is important to create an easy and quick opportunity for direct communication of Ruses, our business and non-profit organizations with these societies," Pencho Milkov said. "My desire is to create in the coming years an intensive cultural, scientific and business exchange of organizations from the region of Ruse and the city of Kang Thi. By talking to representatives of societies that have made significant progress in a short time, I hope to learn valuable experience that will help us accelerate the development of our region”, said the mayor of Ruse.

Today on the square. "Svoboda" was opened an exhibition with the awarded photographs of the winners of the National Photo Contest "We Love Ruse". 76 photographs of 49 authors are presented, exhibited on panels next to the fountain in front of the building of the Municipality of Ruse. The National Photo Contest is organized for the fifth year by the Municipal Foundation "Ruse - City of the Free Spirit" and with the financial support of "Holleman Bulgaria" and "Tiva Plus". Everything good that is happening in Ruse inspired professionals, amateurs, children and young people to participate in the competition, who sent a total of 422 photos. Members of the jury were Galya Valacheva - representative of "Tiva Plus", Mladen Ganchev - manager of "Holleman Bulgaria", and Desislava Peeva - member of the Board of the Municipal Foundation "Ruse - City of the Free Spirit".

   The Director of the Education, Culture and Religious Affairs Directorate Tsvetoslav Dimitrov congratulated the participants on behalf of Mayor Pencho Milkov for the masterful way in which they managed to capture the beauty of Ruse.

In the "Aerial Photography" section with the photo "Television Blur", Milcho Yovchev was ranked first. In the "Events and Captured Moments" section, the first place was grabbed by Ivo Botev with an attractive photo from "Green Rock Fest Ruse" 2024. Anna Anastasova is the winner in the "Landscapes" section, "Professionals" category, with the photography "Rousse Sunset in the Sunflower Fields", and in the "Amateurs" category, the award went to Angel Angelov's photo - "Pigeons Looking for Coolness". In the "Landscapes" section, category "Children", the first prize was awarded to 15-year-old Denislava Georgieva from Varna with her photo "The Square in front of the Library". In the "Business of Ruse" section, category "Professionals", the grand prize was awarded to Denitsa Dimitrova and her photography "Harvest", and in the "Amateurs" the first was the photograph of Galina Mihaylova "Sparks in SL Industries Ruse". Vanyo Dimitrov received the first place in the category "Black and White Photography" with the touching photo "Generations". After a contested vote on the Facebook page of the municipal foundation, the audience award was received by Elitsa Todorova with the photo "View from the TV Tower", and the jury award was deservedly awarded to Yavor Michev.

The awarded photographers received cash prizes according to the regulations of the competition, and the ceremony was accompanied by the presentation of the exhibition in the open, which includes not only the awarded photographs, but also other beautiful images of Ruse, sent for participation in the competition. The exposition will delight the citizens of Ruse and the guests of the city in the coming weeks.

All photographs can be found on the Facebook page of the Municipal Foundation "Ruse – City of the Free Spirit" https://www.facebook.com/rusefreespiritcityfondacion/photos_albums.

A discussion was held in the building of the Municipality of Ruse on the topic "Local Integrity System Index 2024 – is there new energy for good governance in municipalities?". The event was organized by Transparency International Bulgaria and brought together representatives of several municipalities and non-governmental organizations.  Deputy Mayor Zlatomira Stefanova was also a guest of the event.

"The Municipality of Ruse has an ambition to be an example of transparency and efficiency. It is important for us to hear both the positive assessments and the deficits you identify. We do not take this as criticism,but as guidelines for improvement. One of the good practices that I want to emphasize is the existence of a municipal foundation, which is an example of decentralization and interaction between business and local authorities," said the Deputy Mayor.

Kremena Chobanova - project coordinator of the project, and Ilko Bozhkov - project finance manager, presented the summarized comparative preliminary results of the study of the institutions and sectors in the Local Integrity System. 

"The Association has been working for more than 26 years to strengthen anti-corruption measures and the capacity for good governance at central and local level in Bulgaria. Our goal is to support strategic and national measures by exploring capacity, role and governance – the main pillars of good governance," said Kremena Chobanova. 

She emphasized the positive practices in the Municipality of Ruse, focusing on the sustainable implementation of the standards for publicity and accountability, the management program based on basic principles and priorities, such as good communication with citizens and transparency of governance. Easy access to information through well-structured registers, including the municipal property register, good practices for engaging with civil society and involving citizens in public discussions. The administration also received a positive assessment for the successful participation in projects aimed at anti-corruption and good governance at local and national level. 

The discussion ended with a call to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and continue good practices for transparent governance.

Transparency International (TI) is a politically impartial coalition that operates through a network of over 90 offices around the world and an International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany. The organization's goal is to mobilize civil society and business structures, as well as representatives of government and academia in their attempts to reduce corruption at national, regional and international levels.

During the current winter season, the renovated Ice Rink in Ruse will offer Ruse residents and guests of the city a lot of entertainment for young and old. On the square in front of the State Opera in Ruse, "Municipal Markets" has again built an Ice Park, where delicious temptations can be found, as well as items typical for the season can be purchased. The winter facility is also the first operating facility in the country for the season.

On November 23 /Saturday/ at 10 a.m., the ice rink will offer its youngest visitors tea and sweets to support themselves while having fun. At the disposal of the attendees will also be wooden houses with various sweet and salty delicacies, a lot of entertainment, games for children and adults, various Christmas decorations and gifts.

During this winter season, people who want to preserve their holiday memories are again considered. An attractive photo frame will invite those who want to take pictures, and the Christmas fireplace will bring additional mood, coziness and warmth. The mailbox will give the youngest the opportunity to send their wishes to Santa Claus, and the answer from the Good Old Man is guaranteed. Visitors can also write their letter on the spot, and for this purpose they will receive a free envelope and a form from the cash desk of the rink. On December 25, Santa Claus himself will arrive from Lapland to distribute gifts to the children.

Traditionally, every Saturday in December, fairy-tale characters will delight the little ones, and will also skate with them.