BULGARIA COLLAPSES TO 68TH PLACE IN WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2009
Bulgaria has continued its free fall in the WorldPress Freedom Index 2009 released Tuesday by Reporters without Borders.
Bulgaria’s press freedom has continued to worsen as it occupies 68th place in the 2009 ranking.
After being 48th in 2005, Bulgaria had its best ranking in 2006 when it was 35th. Ever since its press freedom has declined tremendously – 51st in 2007, 59th in 2008, and 68th in 2009.
Countries such as Togo, Tanzania, Malawi, Liberia, Botswana, Lebanon, and Haiti are ranked before Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s neighbors Romania and Serbia are ranked 50th and 62nd respectively.
For the third consecutive year the last three spots in the Press Freedom Index are occupied by Turkmenistan, North Korea, and Eritrea (173rd, 174th, 175th). Iran is 172nd. The first three spots in the 2009 index belong to Denmark, Finland, and Ireland.
Reporters without Borders has pointed out the decline of press freedom in Europe including in established democracies such as France and Italy.
The USA has climbed up 20 positions to reach 20th place largely as a result of the election of Barack Obama, who is a lot less war-like towards the media than his predecessor was.
Koos Jan Schouten's Blog 
Unfortunately this is true and we are afraid that it will take many more years until this problem, amongst others, can be solved. On the other hand there are so many people in this beautiful country which are honest, educated, and willing to build up a new Bulgaria.
Oposite ther is still an old ”nomen clatura” which tries to rule and to control it, and as it seems – successfuly! As an example: We developed on our expense many energy saving and environmental protecting projects to the benefit of the bulgarian people during the last years. Just recently some officials asked us ”just send the money for the cost of project and we will take care of it” – since this was an EC supported project we were not able to fulfill such wishes. Project development cost for us was approx. 240.000 Euro over approx. two years. But as an english saying tells: The worse is yet to come! Still we say – the last which dies is ”HOPE”. See you later.