Tourism Official Slams Bulgarian President for 'Colorado' Blunder

A collage by the Bulgarian news agency BGNES with the picture used in the President's New Year's Eve address, which caused strong reactions in the country.

Rumen Draganov, head of Bulgaria's Institute for Analysis and Assessment of Tourism, has criticized President Rosen Plevneliev for the embarrassing image shown on TV during his New Year speech.

In his first New Year speech since assuming office in 2012, Plevneliev praised the country for its unique nature while a picture on the background showed  a picturesque mountain landscape with snow-covered peaks and lush meadows.

The landscape in question was later recognized as being a picture from the Rocky Mountains in the US State of Colorado, which prompted ridicule on social networks.

"We cannot advertise our nature with stolen pictures," Draganov told the Bulgarian National Radio, criticizing the President's office.

"The President's Administration should pay copyright fees," he said.

The official further criticized the President's staff for reacting to the scandal in two days.

It emerged on Wednesday that the President's first televised New Year's address was shot by the Bulgarian National Television and prepared by his Administration.

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