In Pictures: Protests Mark the Opening of Bulgaria's EU Presidency

...: Protests Mark the Opening of Bulgaria's EU PresidencyAs Bulgarian and European officials were making speeches at the opening ceremony for Bulgaria's first EU Presidency in Sofia on Thursday evening, outside, thousands of people took to the streets to protest a controversial development plan in the UNESCO-protected Pirin national park. Several thousand people marched against the permitted expansion of Bulgaria's largest ski resort, Bansko, which is located in the UNESCO-protected Pirin national park. Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960Protesters expressed fears that part of their country's natural heritage would be destroyed by the construction activities. Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960Concerns about air pollution were also voiced. Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960Bulgarian citizens were compelled to take to the streets over the cabinet's approval on December 28 of a new management plan for the natural park, allowing construction of a second gondola cabin lift in Bansko. Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960Hundreds of policemen were on guard at the rallies during the opening ceremony of the EU Presidency, which took place simultaneously at the People's theatre in Sofia. Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960The protesters' environmental claims grew into anti-corruption calls. Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1280orientation 1height 960Photo: BIRNoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth...