The Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: Bulgaria

immediately challenged this decision in court. In September the same year the Kardjali District Court invalidated the Minicipal Council decision on the grounds of Decree 1315 (see above).

In July 1994 again at the request of the Haskovo District Prosecutor, the Kardjali District prosecutor invalidated the Turkish names (Aktash, Cabiller, etc.) of 16 settlements in the Fotinovo mayoralty, which had been appointed by a decision of the Kirkovo Municipal Council at the beginning of the year.

In July 1995 the Haskovo District Governor continued the practice of his predecessor forbidding a decision to rename streets with Turkish names to enter into force. Such a decision was reached by the Municipal Council in the Mineralni Bani, by virtue of which 3 streets in the Karamantsi village were renamed using Turkish names: Stara Planina became Djamiyska and Gabaach, Svetlina became Assar, and Iskar - Olu Dere. The motives given by the District Governor point out again at Decree 1315.

In June 1996 the Municipal Council of Momchilgrad decided to rename one street from “9 Septemvri” to “Mastanli” the latter being the Turkish name of the town. This decision was again invalidated by the District Governor on the basis of Decree 1315. No further efforts were made by the Momchilgrad Municipal Council to give Turkish names to streets or other objects.

After 1997 however no cases of invalidating decisions of municipal councils on the basis of Decree 1315 took place. In one case in 1997 the Municipal Council of Kurdzhali was successful to rename one street with a Turkish name – “Putiat za Enchets” was renamed to “Yumer Liutvi.”

Article 12 1 The Parties shall, where appropriate, take measures in the fields of education and research to foster knowledge of the culture, history, language and religion of their national minorities and of the majority.

2 In this context the Parties shall inter alia provide adequate opportunities for teacher training and access to textbooks, and facilitate contacts among students and teachers of different communities.

3 The Parties undertake to promote equal opportunities for access to education at all levels for persons belonging to national minorities.

Paragraph 1 • narrative There is no tradition and no practice of fostering knowledge of the culture, history, language and religion of the national minorities in Bulgaria. The academic scholarship is still framed by the XIX century romantic vision of Bulgarian history and culture, which is very much centered around the culture, values and political history of the Bulgarians. History and culture of the European nations is studied and known much more than history and culture of the ethnic and religious minorities of Bulgaria. While all educated people from minorities know Bulgarian, there are very few Bulgarians who speak minority languages. Yet, at several universities in Bulgaria courses on the culture, history, language and religion of Bulgaria’s minorities are taught and at several research institutions some research on these subjects has been done. For the most part these initiatives developed with the support of several international donors.

• legal Art. 15.1 of the National Education Act provides that the educational institutions should create conditions for the “formation of a free, moral and active personality, respecting the laws, rights of the others, their culture, language and religion.” (“изграждане на свободна, морална и инициативна личност, уважаваща законите, правата на другите, тяхната култура, език и религия”).

• state infrastructure Ministry of Education and its regional inspectorates are the institutions that provide the criteria and 4 3