The Transition
That Never HappenedAt Least Not The Way That Was Recommended

Gallery

Bulgaria through the eyes of an American

Photos by: Timothy Hyde.
The photos were taken in the summer of 2013.

Ruins of former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia. It was Bulgaria's largest plant. Former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Administration Building, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Administration Building, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Interior of administrative building, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Entryway of Administration Building, "Agglomeration Plant," abandoned Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Administration building, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Ruins of former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Interior of Administration Building, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Smelter viewed from Administration Building, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia. Smelter, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Storage buildings, former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia MIG bunker. Remains of one of dozens of camouflaged dirt airplane bunkers near village Kraynitsi, Kyustendil District MIG bunker. Remains of one of dozens of camouflaged dirt airplane bunkers near village Kraynitsi, Kyustendil District Former Kremikovtzi Steel Mill, near Sofia Building of the machine shop, former armory, Samokov Machine shop, former armory, Samokov Tomato-growing greenhouse, former armory, Samokov Building of metal storage, former armory, Samokov Side-by-side two thermal power plants (TPP): modern American Energy Systems TPP AES Galabovo and state-owned TPP "Maritsa East 2" EAD - the biggest renewed thermal power plant in Bulgaria. View from TPP "Maritsa East 2" TPP AES Galabovo: modern, efficient, profitable. View from TPP AES Galabovo: modern, efficient, profitable. Gypsy Slum, near Kazanlak, with Panelak apartment building in the background. House in Koprivshtitsa - living history village in the mountains. Anti-government protestors marching for the 138th consecutive evening at the Nezavisimost (Independence) Square, Sofia Anti-government protestors marching near the Presidential Palace for the 138th consecutive night. Anti-government protestors marching to the Parliament. Anti-government protestors in front of Parliament. Anti-government protestors in front of the Monument to the Tsar Liberator (across from Parliament). Anti-government protestor in front of the Monument to the Tsar Liberator (across from Parliament). Graffiti in downtown Sofia Sculptural composition, part of the memorial complex around the main Monument to the Soviet Army, Sofia The monument of Stefan Stambolov, one of the most important and popular "Founders of Modern Bulgaria", known as well as "Bulgarian Bismark," Sofia St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Hram-pametnik "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski"), Sofia St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Hram-pametnik "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski"), Sofia Sveta Nedelya Cathedral, Sofia Sveta Nedelya Cathedral, Sofia

Archive photos

Richard Rahn and Ronald Utt kindly provided these photos from their personal archive.

Richard Rahn, U.S. Ambassador Hugh Kenneth Hill, Ivan Angelov Prof. Stefan Stoilov, Richard Rahn, Mary Bush, Prof. Ivan Angelov, Gencho Dimov Ognian Pishev, Richard Rahn, Prime Minister Philip Dimitrov, Honorable William Middendorf, II (former U.S. Ambassador to the EU) Some members of the transition team. Richard Rahn, James Miller III, last communist Prime Minister Andrey Lukanov, Mark Bloomfield, Ronald Utt.

The Premiere

March 31, 2014

Krasimir Lakov – book’s author and director of the documentary, Ronald Utt, Richard Rahn. Krassen Stanchev, PhD – IME’s founder and CEO (1993-2006) and current chair of IME’s board, Boyan Slavenkov – a participant in Bulgarian team of Rahn-Utt plan, Ronald Utt. There is a copy of the book for every guest. An interview with Richard Rahn and Ronald Utt minutes before the film’s screening. Solomon Passy - Bulgarian politician, foreign minister of Bulgaria from July 2001 to August 2005, founding President and CEO of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria; Rashko Angelinov (seated) - one of the people who financed the translation, editing, layout and printing of Rahn-Utt plan; Prof. Ivan Angelov; Mark Bloomfield. Rumen Avramov - involved in the development of Rahn-Utt plan, Prof. Iskra Beleva from the Institute for Economic Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Science Among the guests - representatives of the "America for Bulgaria" Foundation, polling agencies and media. Krassen Stanchev (moderator) introduces the guests: Richard Rahn, Ronald Utt, Mark Bloomfield. The opening of the event. Richard Rahn, Ronald Utt, Mark Bloomfield and Krassen Stanchev. Over eighty people attended the premiere. Svetla Kostadinova - Executive Director of IME, Mark Bloomfield, Ronald Utt, Krassen Stanchev, Richard Rahn, Krasimir Lakov – seated in the first row. Richard Rahn presented the project. Ronald Utt and Mark Bloomfield. Richard Rahn elaborates on the objectives of the program developed in 1989-1990. Ronald Utt shares his thoughts on the changes made in Bulgaria. Ronald Utt shares his thought on the changes made in Bulgaria. Mark Bloomfield shares his earliest memories of Bulgaria. Discussion after the film screening. Iliya Nalbantov, Program Director, George C. Marshall Association – Bulgaria, asks a question to Richard Rahn. Richard Rahn answers questions. Krassen Stanchev and Boyan Slavenkov during the discussion. Ivan Angelov tells curious details about the work on the Rahn-Utt Plan. Among the guests are Levon Hampartzoumian - CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of UniCredit Bulbank, Martin Zaimov - financier and politician, member of the Management Board of "Societe Generale Expressbank", and Diana Krandeva - director of "Nedaart", the company that did the preprinting and printing of the book. A moment of the lively discussion after the screening. The audience listens to the answers of Richard Rahn and Ronald Utt to the questions asked in the course of the discussion. Krasimir Lakov and Krassen Stanchev. Martin Zaimov asks a question to the US guests. The audience is following the discussion with keen interest. Krassen Stanchev makes some clarifications on the drafting of the Bulgarian constitution in 1990. Richard Rahn responds to questions. Prof. Christina Vucheva - economist, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in 1994-1995 and participant in the team involved in the preparation of the strategy, shares her insight. Krasimir Lakov accepts congratulations. Ivan Angelov and Richard Rahn; in the background - Boyan Slavenkov and Ronald Utt. Boyan Slavenkov and Mark Bloomfield. Gentcho Dimov - participant in the development of the plan, and Richard Rahn. Ivan Angelov, Levon Hampartzoumian and Krassimir Lakov continue the conversation over a glass of wine. Richard Rahn and Martin Zaimov. After the premiere – talks over a glass of wine.
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