Bulgaria
In the late 7th century a branch of the Bulgars migrated into the northern Balkans, where they merged with the local Slavic and Thracian population to form the first Bulgarian state. Bulgaria was a significant European power in the 9th and the 10th century, while fighting with the Byzantine Empire for the control of the Balkans. The Bulgarian state was crushed by an assault by the Rus in 969 and completely subdued by a determined Byzantine assault under Basil in 1018. It was re-established in 1185, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Empire.

Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878 as an autonomous principality and was proclaimed a fully independent kingdom in 1908. During 1912 and 1913 it became involved in the Balkan Wars. During World War I and later World War II, Bulgaria found itself fighting on the losing side.

The country fell within the Soviet sphere of influence after World War II and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria again held multiparty elections.

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and is hoping to join the European Union in 2007.
Economy
Bulgaria has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. As a result, the government became committed to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. A $300 million stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 has supported government efforts to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment.
Geography
Map of BulgariaLocated in Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria is bordered by Greece to the south, Yugoslavia and Macedonia to the west and by Turkey to the southeast. This beautiful mountainous region is also home to beautiful coastline along the Black Sea Coast and is an ideal tourist spot for visitors from Western Europe. The southwest of the country is mountainous, containing the highest point of the Balkan Peninsula, the Musala at 2,925 m, and the range of the Balkan mountains runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the famous Rose Valley. Hill country and plains are found in the southeast, along the Black Sea coast in the east, and along Bulgaria's main river, the Danube in the north. Other major rivers include the Struma and the Maritsa river in the south.
Climate
The Bulgarian climate is temperate, with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers.
Government
The president of Bulgaria is directly elected for a 5-year term with the right to one re-election. The president serves as the head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. The president is the head of the Consultative Council for National Security and while unable to initiate legislation, the President can return a bill for further debate, though parliament can overturn the president's veto with a simple majority vote.
The Bulgarian unicameral parliament, the National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie, consists of 240 deputies who are elected for 4-year-term stretches by popular vote. Parliament is responsible for enactment of laws, approval of the budget, scheduling of presidential elections, selection and dismissal of the prime minister and other ministers, declaration of war, deployment of troops outside of Bulgaria and ratification of international treaties and agreements.
People
Bulgaria's population is mainly ethnic Bulgarian (83.9%), with two sizable minorities in the form of Turks (9.4%) and Roma (4.7%). The remaining 2% consist of several smaller minorities including Armenians, Russians, Romanians, Vlachs, Karakachans, and Jews. 84.8% of the Bulgarian population speak Bulgarian as a mother-language, a member of the Slavic languages, which is the only official language, but other languages are spoken, corresponding closely to ethnic breakdown.
Religion
Most Bulgarians (82.6%) are at least nominally a member of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the national Eastern Orthodox Church. Other religious denominations include: Islam (12.2%), Roman Catholicism (0.6%), various Protestant denominations (0.5%), and other denominations, atheists and undeclared (4.1%).
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