Maxim Behar

The Bulgarian PR association (BAPRA) objectives are to support and strength PR as an activity, working in favour of the modern society development. It is realised through developing common platform to exchange the best practices, as well as through increasing and maintaining high ethical standards of the profession and through coordinating efforts for PR development in Bulgaria. BAPRA aspires to improve partnership between PR business and the state, even more to build relations with local authorities in Bulgaria, academic circles, business, civil organizations and media. BAPRA aims to promote quality and ethical standards guaranteed through self regulation, regarding to transparent, respectable and socially responsible PR business in Bulgaria. BAPRA represents its members in front of the Bulgarian, foreign and international institutions and organizations, and protects their rights and interests. BAPRA is the voice of the Bulgarian PR business!

The Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum is the business association in Bulgaria promoting the values of corporate social responsibility (CSR). 22 years ago CSR was an unknown term in Bulgaria. It was in 1998 when 12 multinational companies and NGOs inspired by the dream of business ethics created the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum. They promised the Prince of Wales and his team at the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) they would put ethics in the spotlight and would spread the word about transparent profits and long-term vision and sustainability. Now, 16 years later, the BBLF has over 100 members, both Bulgarian and international companies. The BBLF Business Ethics Standard has been accepted by over 1,500 companies, and the Anti-Corruption and Education statements of the Forum have found their right place on the agendas of politicians, businesses and civic society.

The ACB is the first and only pro- Atlantic NGO, formed in the territory of the then Warsaw Pact, with the constitutional aim to promote the dissolution of the WP and to stimulate the enlargement of NATO and the EU within east Europe. ACB was the first member of the Atlantic Treaty Association, ATA, invited by a non-NATO member state (1992). ACB helped to form of number of similar organizations concerning with the Balkans, the Caucuses and in Afghanistan and Iraq. ACB succeeded in changing Bulgarian public opinion on NATO, which in 1990 was 15% in favor of NATO and 85% against. By the end of 2004 this had changed to 70% in favor, and 20% against. ACB took the leadership to establish a permanent Bulgarian presence in Antarctica, to join the Antarctic Treaty (1998) and to support Bulgarian activities in space. Serving as the principle foreign policy think-tank in Bulgaria, the ACB has hosted hundreds of speakers: acting Heads of States and Governments, statesmen and leaders of international organizations, as well as Nobel Prize winners.