In his interview Tsanev points out that operational data for 2004 show that BDZ EAD has improved the main volume and economic indicators: 20.387 million tons of cargo were transported, which is by 317 thousand tons more than the previous year; 38.283 million passengers were transported, which is by 3.077 million passengers more than the previous year; the operational profit has increased by BGN19.1 million. All this occurred in spite of the reduced state subsidies and compensations.At the end of 2003 was adopted a package of measures, aimed at the stabilization of the company. The relations of BDZ and the state were put onto fair grounds. Together with the financial institutions were undertaken actions, aimed at the adoption of disbursement plans. In result, BDZ EAD has no overdue payments to state institutions and is a financially reliable partner to contractors and suppliers.The company emitted corporate bonds, amounting to BGN60 million. These funds will be utilized for the repair and modernization of 3,620 freight wagons. Hitherto, 1,103 wagons have undergone repair. It is intended that by the end of 2005, 2,000 further wagons be repaired. The company adopted a new, restructured tariff for passenger services. The positive effect of its introduction and of the optimized train schedules is BGN10.8 million. The tariff increase for freight services is 6% on average and it resulted in a rise by BGN16.9 million of the annual revenue.Since the beginning of 2004 the vignette system for use of road infrastructure has been introduced. This lays the initial grounds for certain equality between road and rail carriers. Tsanev considers that more rigorous requirements should be applied to the provision of licenses and permits for access to the transport services market. The condition of rail infrastructure remains an unresolved problem. The company policy aims at the improvement of the corporate image and a number of actions are undertaken in this respect: attraction of investments from pre-accession funds; improvement of rolling stock condition; on-going restructuring of the tariffs for freight services; reform in transport education in compliance with the needs of transport business; on-going training of personnel; improvement of passenger services etc.In the period of preparation for EU accession, BDZ EAD, as the main carrier of large social groups of people and provider of transport services for passengers and goods will rely on the support of the state in the form of harmonization of regulatory basis with the European one; elaboration of projects for the further attraction of investments from pre-accession funds; investments in rolling stock; rehabilitation of rail infrastructure; regulation of transport market and setting up of conditions for fair competition.It is intended to transform BDZ EAD into a holding, the aim of which is to endow BDZ - Cargo with its own wagon fleet; to endow BDZ - Passengers with its own coach and EMU fleet; clear and precise assignment of responsibilities; match remuneration with performance; attract investments; avoid cross-subsidies between businesses; clear and precise definition of state financial support; involve regional and municipal authorities in regional and suburban services. Especially poignant is the issue of the high infrastructure charges, which amount to 47.8% of the net revenue from sales. This relative share is the highest in comparison with the situation in the other European railway administration. It is necessary to re-assess the structure of the infrastructure charges, to re-consider which European example should be applied in Bulgarian conditions and to bear in mind the example of railways similar to ours in terms of country area, rail infrastructure network, etc.The main objectives, related to the financial stabilization of the company, as I already mentioned, are to prolong the actions which were undertaken last year. We concluded contracts for modernization, overhaul and procurement of traction and rolling stock on favourable terms for our company. Our aim is to offer services of higher quality, which will allow us to accumulate revenue, reduce operational costs for repair and maintenance of outdated rolling stock, attract more customers for both domestic and international rail transport services.