To All The Users Of Internet

TODOR ZHIVKOV (1911-1998)

It's a pleasure and honor for me that chapters of my "Memoirs" will appear on the pages of the global information network "Internet". I make use of this occasion to convey my most cordial greetings to all friends of Internet and to wish them to meet the new millenium with good will and optimism.

Todor Zhivkov, former President of Bulgaria

"MEMOIRS"

(Publisher "SIV"Ltd, Sofia, 1997. 715 pages.
Editor Khristo N.Male ev
Cover designer Trifon Kalfov
ISSN 954-427-279-8)

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ANNOTATION OF THE BOOK.

The ex-leader of Bulgaria Todor Zhivkov has been working on his "Memoirs"since 1993. The book is very sincere, it reflects the well-known sagacityof the author, as well as his profou nd love and respect for the ordinarypeople. Mr. Zhivkov, who is still kept under house arrest, could not usestate or party archives, including his own documenta tion. Therefore thetext is a direct recollection of past years, which increases the memoirvalue of the book. As always, the meditations of Todor Zhivkov are ver yprofound and original. Some of his conclusions can foster a better understandin gof the past, as well as of the possible future developments. His conclusionssur pass the individual Bulgarian experience.

The text is ample - some 1.5 million bits in the Bulgarian version,which when translated would measure so me 1.2 million bits in English.

The book consists of a brief intro duction, followed by five parts.The concluding pages are inserted as a final cha pter in part five.

PART ONE: CHILDHOOD, ADOLESCENCE, Y EARS OF YOUTH.

In this part, which is written in lyrical tune, the author remembershis childhood, his school years, the beginning of his anti-fasci st activities,the underground period during the Second World War, as well as the guerillayears. Special attention is given to the struggle of the progressive ci rclesin the country, which was German ally during the war, for the salvationof t he Bulgarian Jews from the extermination camps. Todor Zhivkov was oneof the orga nizers and leaders of the mass protest movement, which savedall the Bulgarian Je ws.

Part one covers the period from 1911 (T.Zhivkov's birthyear) to 1944- the formation of the democratic government in Bulgaria. In the two finalc hapters of this part of the "Memoirs" the authors speaks abouthis wife , who died in 1970, and his daughter Ludmila (1942-1982).

PART TWO: UNDER THE SIGN OF THE IDEALS. SUCCESSES AND FAILURES. ILLUSIONSAND CREATIONS. BULGARIA RENOVATED.

This part is dedicated to the event s in Bulgaria from 1944 to 1985.The author dwells on the difficult period after the death of the Russiandictator Joseph Stalin, on the 20-th Congress of the Sov iet communist party,on the political changes after it. Many pages of the book ar e devoted tothe economic development of Bulgaria: the gradual improvement of the nationalagriculture, the cultural upsurge etc. Todor Zhivkov writes about someo f his collaborators and friends, about some crimes against the personalliberties in Bulgaria during the premiership of V.Chervenkov, about thesufferings of some Bulgarians in the Russian GULAG. At the end of thispart the author describes th e mechanics of work in his cabinet and remembershis close friendship with famous Bulgarian intellectuals.

PART THREE: CHALLENGES.< /P>

This part may well constitute an exceptional interest for the readers.I n it Todor Zhivkov describes the final period of his leadership beforethe radica l changes in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe in 1989. He speaks aboutthe many faults of the political system, about his attempts to change thenegative trends, about his novel theoretical and practical initiatives.Much attention is payed to the "perestroyka" of Gorbachev, aswell as to the gradual understanding by the author of the defects in thepolicy of the Soviet leader. Todor Zhivkov speak s candidly about his differenceswith Gorby, and quotes some very intrigueing not es from their officialtalks at that time. Some light is thrown on the theoretica l work of theauthor from this period, which was aimed at overcoming the limits a nd faultsof the "perestroyka". Special attention is given to the lastp eriod of the then existing socialist society in Bulgaria, to the "palacecou p d'etat" on November 10, 1989, to the expectations of Zhivkovand the harsh realities which followed. The final pages of this part arededicated to the prob lems of present day Bulgaria, which arose after theso-called "democratic ch ange". The thoughts and analysis of theauthor can help the reader to unders tand better the dramatic changes inthe former socialist countries, as well as to envisage the possible futuredevelopments in these lands.

PART FOUR: BULGARIA AND THE WORLD.

This most extensive part of the memoirs is dedicated to the problemsof foreign policy and the contacts of Bu lgaria with the world. Todor Zhivkovreminisces on the foreign relations of Bulga ria in the first period after1944, the normalization of the contacts with the Ba lkan states. Separatechapters are dedicated to relations with Greece, Turkey, Yu goslavia andRumania, as well as to the personal contacts of the author with thei r leaders.

Several chapters throw some light on the relations betwe en Bulgariaand the then Soviet Union under different Russian leaders: from Stali nto Gorbachev, as well as on the personal impressions of Todor Zhivkov fromhis c ontacts with them.

There are separate chapters on China, Cuba, Japa n, on the relationswith the biggest Western democracies, on France and T.Zhivkov 's talks withgeneral de Gaulle, on Germany and the numerous contacts with her le aders,on India and on some African countries. The chapter concludes with somecom prehensive ideas of Todor Zhivkov on the problems of actual internationalrelatio ns.

PART FIVE: WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LOOK INTO MY EYES.

In this part the author speaks about recent events in the Bulgarianpolitical life: the November (1989) plenum of the then ruling Communis tparty, which toppled T.Zhivkov from the leadership, the dramatic eventson the verge of this date, the role of Gorbachev end his agents (domesticand foreign) in this process. The "Memoirs" go on with the arrestof Todor Zhivkov, which was followed by a framed-up political neo-Stalinistprocess against him.

This part contains T.Zhivkov's appreciation of some Bulgarian politicalpersonalities. The end of this part, named "Epilogue", containssome general considerations of the author about the latest events in Bulgariaand in the world.

The "Memoirs" of Todor Zhivkov, the only living longtimeleader from the socialist epoch in Eastern Europe, can be of considerableinterest for the people of this part of the globe, who personally experiencedthe radical changes in their lives. The reminiscences of T.Zhivkov willcontribute to the realistic understanding of modern European and worldhistory, as he discusses important events in a sincere and open-mindedway. This sagacious book can help us understand ourselves, the presentday realities, and the prospects of development of Europe and the world on the historic turn of the milleniums. The acquaintance with this thoughtful,gifted and honest leader of the former socialist Bulgaria can be very interestingand useful for all of us. It raises many questions and facilitates ourefforts to answer some of them.

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The author is prepared to discuss any suggestions by publishers toprint the translation of his "Memoirs" in other countries. Thepublishers can contact him at the address: Mr. Todor Zhivkov, ex-Presidentof Bulgaria, 20 Sequoia Str., Sofia-Boyana, Bulgaria.

Copies of the "Memoirs" in Bulgarian can be obtained fromthe publisher: Mr. Svilen Valchev, "SIV"Ltd., 43 Cherny vrahBlvd., Sofia 1407, Bulgaria. FAX: 00359-2-9625019.

You may write to the ex-president Todor Zhivkov's family at tzhivkov@portal.bg