Atanas Burov
Atanas Burov (Bulgarian: Атанас Буров) was a Bulgarian banker and politician, born on 30 January 1875 in Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria.
Family background
Members of his family played an active role in the national liberation movement, educational and cultural reforms, setting of the national financial system and industry. The farther - Dimitar Burov established the Commercial&Credit House Burov.D.A&Co in 1862. After the Liberation the company expanded its activities and was reorganised as a joint-stock company. The Burov company was among the founders of "Bulgaria: First Bulgarian Insurance Company" (1895) and the Bulgarian Commercial Bank in 1891.
Education
In 1895 Atanas Burov graduated the famous secondary school in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. In 1895-1900 studied law and economy in Paris.
Business & Political life
After his return from Paris, Atanas Burov started working in the family business. He studied industries with great potential. Took the initiative to estabilsh join-stock companies, participated in the development of rail-road constructing, minning and other industries. The prosperity of his business activity provided him with stability, independent civil opinion and freedom to act as a politician. He joined politic as an active member of the People's Party and very soon became the ideologist of the Bulgarian bourgeoisie. Soon became one of the leaders of the party, who always had the national and people's interests as a priority.
During the period 1911-1934 he was member of the Bulgarian Parliament and minister in four governments:
- Minister of Commerce, 1913;
- Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, 1919-1920;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1926-1931;
- Government minister, 2-9.09.1944.
Burov never allowed compromises with and breach of the principles of democracy. Always opposed to totalitarian and dictatorship regimes. As a foreign minster he contributed much for the improvment of Bulgaria's image and relations with nebouring countries. He was elected member of the Political Commision of the Society of Nations. Together with the financial minister Mollov succeed in negotiating the Refugee Loan, Stability Loan and extending the moratorium on the Reparation Debts. In 1920 he was elected Secretary of the United People's Progressive Party and expanded the social base of this formation attracting personalities from other policital groups. He created the People's Union.
The Communist Regime
After the communist cope d'etat (9th September 1944) he was sentenced to one year prison by the People's Court. In 1948 was exciled to the town of Draynovo. Arrested again in 1950, at the age of 77 he was sentenced to 20-year prison. On 15 may 1954 died in prison. In modern, democratic Bulgarian the life of Atanas Burov is an example of decent life, dedicated entirely to Bulgaria.