Bulgarian Gov't grants research funds for 14 sites

The Bulgarian Government is to give 120 000 leva (about 60 000 euro) each to 14 sites along the country’s Black Sea coast for "preliminary research" into archaeological sites, it was announced on January 4 2012. 

Sozopol [Credit: Ivan Angelov]

The announcement was made during a visit to the Black Sea city of Bourgas by Prime Minister Boiko Borissov, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Simeon Dyankov, Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov and Regional Development and Public Works Minister Lilyana Pavlova. 

The proposal for the Government to allocate financial assistance to the archeological sites was made by Bourgas mayor Dimitar Nikolov and the district administration after the Government quit the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, local news agency Focus said.

The local authorities suggest building a road linking the valuable archeological sites on the southern Black Sea coast. 

The sites are in the towns of Obzor, Nessebur, Pomorie, Bourgas, Sozopol, Kiten and Ahtopol and the villages of Emona and Debelt.

When the preliminary research is completed, the Government will decide which sites will be granted more funds. 

"With the studying, conservation and restoration of several archaeological and historical sites, the idea of year-round tourism will spread throughout the entire South Black Sea coast," National History Museum director Bozhidar Dimitrov said. 

Source: The Sofia Echo [January 04, 2012]