Ministers

IVAN KOSTOV
PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF STATE ADMINISTRATION

Ivan Kostov was born on December 23, 1949in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 1974 he graduated from the Karl Marx Institute of Economics in Sofia with a degree in Political Economics. He also graduated as an extra-mural student from the Department of Physics and Mathematics at the Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. From 1974 to 1979 he was Assistant Professor at the Karl Marx Institute of Economics, and from 1979 until 1990 he was Senior Assistant Professor at the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electric Engineering in Sofia (now Technical University) where in 1991 he was made Associate Professor. Ivan Kostov was elected MP of the Union of the Democratic Forces (UDF) 1990 and has been represented in all National Assemblies since then. At the 7^th Grand National Assembly he served as Chairman of the Economic Commission. In two of the earliest post-transition governments - of Dimiter Popov and of Philip Dimitrov, he served as Minister of Finance. During the years in opposition he was first appointed Deputy Floor Leader of the UDF (March 1993, re-elected in March 1994), and later was elected Chairman of the National Co-ordinating Council of the UDF coalition (re-elected on April 30, 1995). Since February 16, 1997 he is Chairman of the UDF. Ivan Kostov was appointed Prime Minister by the 38^th National Assembly on May 21, 1997. Married, with two daughters.

PETER ZHOTEV
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF ECONOMY

Peter Zhotev was born on October 22, 1950 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Karl Marx Institute of Economics in Sofia with a degree in Industry Management. His post-graduate studies are in Application of Economics and Mathematics Models in Economic Studies. Peter Zhotev specialized Capital Markets in the UK, Market Economy in Prague, The Czech Republic, Commercial Banks Financial Evaluation, International Banking Audit, Investment Projects Financial Evaluation, Procurement and Consulting Tenders and Analytical Reports Production at the World Bank in Washington D.C., USA. Since July 1997 Peter Zhotev was executive manager of the Bank Consolidation Company. He was an expert at the Research Center for Economics and Mathematics Modeling and Forecasts and worked as a senior expert at the Institute of Analyses and Forecasts and as a senior expert and head of division at the Bulgarian National Bank. Peter Zhotev was Deputy Chairman and Chairman of Metalsnab Holding Supervisory Board. At the World Bank Resident Mission in Bulgaria he was project leader and senior manager of banking and corporate finance at Ernst and Young. Peter Zhotev speaks English, Russian and German. Married, with two children.

ALEXANDER PRAMATARSKI
MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

Alexander Pramatarski was born on June 7, 1963 in Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. In 1997 he was elected MP of the Union of Democratic Forces in the 38^thNational Assembly, 1^stBlagoevgrad Constituency ticket, where he was Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Economic Commission. In 1991 Alexander Pramatarski was elected MP in the 36^th National Assembly where he was Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Administrative and Regional Planning and Local Self-government and Member of the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Commission. Alexander Pramatarski was Minister of Trade in 1992. In 1990 he was elected MP in the 7^th Grand National Assembly. From 1986 to 1990 he worked as a Lawyer in Gotse Delchev. Alexander Pramatarski speaks Greek and Russian. Married, with two children.

ANTONI SLAVINSKI
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Antoni Slavinski was born on May 19, 1946 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated Radio Engineering at the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electric Engineering in Sofia (now Technical University). His post-graduate studies are in Frequency Planning and Management in Geneva and in Strategic Management and Control in Vienna. Since March 1997 Antoni Slavinski was Chairman of the Committee for Posts and Telecommunications. From the end of 1995 till 1997 he was a freelance consultant. Antoni Slavinski worked at the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company in the period 1992-1995, where he served as Deputy Manager for Network Planning and Networking and Executive Member of the Board of Directors. He was a research associate head of section and head of division at the Research Institute of Communications. Antoni Slavinski speaks English, French and Russian. Married, with one son.

BOIKO NOEV
MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Boiko Noev was born on July 13, 1954 in Zlatitza, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Institute of International Relations in Moscow. Since September 1996 he was Bulgaria’s Ambassador in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Boiko Noev was Minister of Defence in the period 1994-1995 and Deputy Minister of Defence in 1993 - 1994. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he held the positions of Adviser, Attache and Secretary in the departments of General International Affairs, European Regional Structures, International Organizations. Boiko Noev speaks English, Arabic, Russian and French. Married, with two children.

Prof. Dr DIMITER DIMITROV
MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

Prof. Dr Dimiter Dimitrov was born on January 30, 1932 in Vidin, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the State Polytechnic. Since September 1999 Dimiter Dimitrov is Chairman of the State Energy Regulation Committee with the Council of Ministers. Prof. Dr Dimitrov worked at the Chemical Works in Kostinbrod, Izomat Mining Enterprise, Iron and Steel Works in Pernik. In 1962 Prof. Dr Dimiter Dimitrov became Assistant Profesor at the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Sofia (now Technical University). In 1969 he was made Associate Professor, in 1980 - Professor, in 1991 - Academic Council Chairman and in 1992 - Rector of the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Prof. Dr Dimitrov was Member of the Electrical Engineering and Automation Committee with the Higher Accreditation Committee, Member of the National Agency for Higher Schools Accreditation in Bulgaria and Member of the Bulgarian Economic Chamber Managing Board. Prof. Dr Dimitrov is the author of numerous publications, among which are over 100 research papers and reports in Bulgarian and international journals, 40 reports at international conferences, 2 textbooks. Holds 15 certificates of authorship. Prof. Dr Dimitrov speaks German. Married, with two children.

EMANUIL YORDANOV
MINISTER OF INTERIOR

Emanuil Yordanov was born on August 10, 1960 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Emanuil Yordanov worked as a lawyer in Kyustendil and was elected MP of the Union of Democratic Forces in the 38^th National Assembly,10^th Kyustendil Constituency ticket. Lately he was Member of the Parliamentary Commission for Legal Matters and Anticorruption Legislation and Member of the Parliamentary Commission for Local Self-government and Regional Policy and Public Works. Married, with one child.

EMMA MOSKOVA
MINISTER OF CULTURE

Emma Moskova was born on July 8, 1934 in Karlovo, Bulgaria. Holds degrees in Architecture from the Higher Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering in Sofia and in History and Archaeology from the Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Specialized in Restoration in Rome and Paris. Worked for many years at the National Institute of Cultural Monuments and headed the same institute between 1991and 1997. Has been lecturing in restoration at the University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy. On May 21, 1997 was appointed Minister of Culture in Ivan Kostov's Cabinet. Married, has one son.

EVDOKIA MANEVA
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND WATERS

Evdokia Maneva was born on March 20, 1945 in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 1969 she graduated from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Charkov, and in 1983 acquired a Doctorate in Economics in Moscow. Between 1971 and 1993 she completed several post-graduate studies on automated management systems (IBM programme, the Karl Marx Institute of Economics in Sofia), on environmental protection (Institute of Chemistry, Sofia), and on investment project assessment (EBPP programme, Sofia). She has worked with the Ministry of Environment since 1990. She was appointed Deputy Minister of the Environment during the caretaker cabinet of Stefan Sofianski and on May 21, 1997 was sworn in as Minister of Environment and Waters. Married.

EVGENI CHACHEV
MINISTER OF REGIONAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Evgeni Chachev was born on July 17, 1944 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated Civil Engineering and Finance and Credit. His post-graduate studies are in Data Programming and Processing, Investment Process Organization and Management and Mathematical Modeling. Since May 1997 he was Deputy Minister of Regional and Urban Development. Evgeni Chachev worked as designer, supervisor, development and investment policy expert and consulting company manager. He was Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Bank Managing Board and Chairman of the Commercial Bank Biochim Managing Board. Evgeni Chachev speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. Married, with two children.

ILKO SEMERDJIEV
MINISTER OF HEALTH

Ilko Semerdjiev was born on August 25, 1959 in Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Dental Faculty of the Higher Medical Institute (now Medical Academy) in Sofia. His post-graduate studies in Bulgaria are at the Institute of Public Health and the International Company Management Center in Sofia. He studied Social Security Administration in Washington D.C., the USA, Health Insurance Administration (Germany, University of Keele in the UK, the Hospital Management School in France and the Institute of Public Administration in Ireland) and International Health Management (Washington D.C., the USA and the Public Health Institute in Spain). Since March 1999 Ilko Semerdjiev was Director of the National Health Insurance Fund. He was Deputy Minister of Health in 1993 and from 1997 till 1999 - Member of the Higher Medicine Council, health institutions manager and a practicing dentist. Married, with two children.

IVAN NEIKOV
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL POLICY

Ivan Neikov was born on April 17, 1955 in Haskovo, Bulgaria. He is a lawyer and a labour code expert. He joined the caretaker government of Stefan Sofiyanski as Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, and retained this position in the present government of Ivan Kostov. In the period 1993-1997 he was appointed head of the CITUB delegation to the National Council for Tripartite Co-operation. Between 1985-1993 he participated in task forces responsible for drafting the Labour Code and its amendments, as well as the Act on Collective Bargaining and Collective Labour Disputes. He was head of the Legal Department since the establishment of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). He was a workers' delegate at the 79^th, 80^th, 81^st and 82^nd Sessions of the International Labour Conference and Vice President of the CITUB from 1992 till 1997. Ivan Neikov worked as an inspector at the National Labour Directorate till 1990. Married, with two children.

MOURAVEI RADEV
MINISTER OF FINANCE

Mouravei Radev was born on May 6, 1947 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Higher Institute of Economics in Varna and worked as Chief Accountant with various enterprises. Between 1988 and 1991 he was Assistant Rector for Economic Policy at the Technical University in Plovdiv. He was Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Democratic Forum Party. Between 1992 and 1993 was Deputy Chairman of the Coordination Council of UDF in Plovdiv. He is a member of the National Coordination Council, and was elected a member of the party's National Executive Council at the Ninth National Conference of the UDF in February 1997. He was also Deputy Chairman of the Budgetary and Finance Commission of the 37^th National Assembly. On May 21, 1997 he was appointed Minister of Finance in Ivan Kostov's cabinet. He is also Bulgaria's Governor at the World Bank and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank Consolidation Company. Married, with two children.

NADEZHDA MIHAILOVA
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Nadezhda Mihailova was born on August 9, 1962 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She graduated from the Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia in 1985 and in 1991-1992 went on to specialize in foreign policy and public relations at the US Congress and at Harvard University. Between 1986-1988 she worked as a freelance journalist. She is also a member of the Union of Translators, having published over 3000 translations of Spanish verse. She began her political career in the Liberal Party. During the electoral campaign Sept.-Nov. 1991 she was Chief of the Press Centre of the Union of Democratic Forces and after the elections she was appointed Spokeswoman for the Government of Philip Dimitrov and Chief of the Government Press Centre. As an MP in the 37^th National Assembly she was a member of the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Commission and of the Bulgarian Delegation to the Council of Europe. Chairperson of the Commission for Parliamentary and Public Relations. She was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Union of Democratic Forces in 1995 and re-elected in 1997. In May 21, 1997 she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ivan Kostov's cabinet. Married, with two daughters.

TEODOSSIY SIMEONOV
MINISTER OF JUSTICE

Teodossiy Simeonov was born on August 12, 1946 in Pleven, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. He worked as a legal adviser in Pleven, 1995-1990 was Lawyer and Chair of the Bar in Pleven and 1984-1990 - a lawyer in Nikopol. Teodossiy Simeonov was elected MP of the Union of Democratic Forces in the 38^th National Assembly, 15^th Pleven Constituency ticket. Lately he was member of the Parliamentary Commission for Legal Matters and Anticorruption Legislation, the Parliamentary Commission for Agriculture, Forests and Agrarian Reform and the Parliamentary Commission for Crime and Corruption Prevention. Married, with two children.

VENTSISLAV VURBANOV
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Ventsislav Vurbanov was born on April 16, 1962 in Dolni Dubnik, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Institute of Veterinary Medicine in Stara Zagora and began his career as a veterinary expert at a cow- and pig-breeding farm in his native town. Later he went to the US where he specialized first in "Marketing and Management in Agriculture" and later in "Public Administration" at the University of Southern Illinois. First elected mayor of Dolni Dubnik in 1991, he was re-elected in 1995. He was also elected to the 38th National Assembly. He is a BANU representative of the Standing Committee in the Popular Union Coalition (since May 1997), and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Agrarian Reform (now Minister of Agriculture and Forestry) on May 21, 1997. Married.