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| Vladimir Balanov |
Club Z magazine, jule 2015
Boryana Antimova
The incredible story of a Bulgarian who on his own founded
“the country of smart people” on an island in the Pacific Ocean.
“Do you have any idea how much this island costs? Take a
guess… Billions? No, no, more, much more than this,” Blanov laughs. The
estimation of the geologists that checked it out is that the island itself i is
worth 5 trillion dollars in terms of resources and materials. And I wanted to
offer all of this as a gift to Bulgaria, but the people in charge did not
recognize the opportunity.”
“If at first, the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for
it,” said Einstein. This motto fully applies for the lawyer and economist
Vladimir Balanov, who as of May 22nd, 2015 is officially a Principal. This is
when the New Atlantis Principality is officially registered; the country that
Bulgarian founds on the island of YNJI in the Pacific Ocean. An island that he
conqueres in accordance with all maritime law regulations such as an expedition
to seize the territory, flag-planting, footage, legalization by a notary,
creation and legalization of a constitution, setting the foundation of a new
country...
A republic?! Yeah, right, and vote rigging!
“Honestly, I have never suspected or dreamed to become a
Principal, I did it unwillingly and at a pretty serious age,” Balanov shares
laughingly with “Club Z.” “My proposals to join the island to the overseas
territory of Bulgaria and that of the European Union were all in vain. Nobody
wants it. So, however conceited this mind sound, you are already talking to the
Principal of New Atlantis. I too feel kind of uncomfortable with it. My wife
makes fun of me, “What were you thinking, becoming a Principal at the age of
57. ” I told her, well, I need this in order to realize an economic project of
mine. A republic?! Yeah, right, and to have someone come and bring me romas
that are twice the number of my citizens, to take out the beer and sausages,
dethrone me and take over the island?! Do I look that stupid?! Look at what
happened in our country for the past quarter of a century, every four years new
people come into power and everyone steels to take care of his own well-being.
And for the last year, the government is taking out insane loans to finance the
future elections… This is our version of democracy.”
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| An
image from a NASA satellite showing the location of the pumice island of YNJI. |
“I didn’t buy the island,” Balanov starts telling the story.
“ I discovered it online in May last year.”
The entrepreneur finds out that resulting from the biggest
eruption in the last thousand years, that of the Monowai Volcano, a big
floating pumice island was formed about a 1000 km west of New Zealand’s coast
with a territory of 27 thousand square meters, equal to that of Israel or
Belgium.
“The island shows up in international waters, gets detected
by NASA and they start taking pictures of it since its birth. It keeps growing
and expanding because of the eruption underneath. Geologists, navy and air
forces from New Zealand and Australia visit the island. Journalists are taking
pictures and writing about it, the geologists are digging, taking samples,
examining them… And in all this excitement they all miss one “tiny” detail,
that nobody has claimed the island. I checked it out myself, it really doesn’t
belong to anyone…”
What matters the most for the experienced entrepreneur are
not the 27 000 square meters of land or pumice that nobody seems to be
interested in, but the adjacent waters. Within a radius of 12 miles,
territorial waters have formed. Within an even bigger radius of 200 miles these
waters are considered an economic zone. Everything discovered in this territory
from fish to oil and gas resources is a property of the country. These riches
are scattered in an area of 780 thousand square meters, 1.5 times the size of
the Black Sea, or that of France and England together.
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| Formed
by the eruption in 2012 and now territory of the New Atlantis Principality, this is what the island of YNJI looks like. |
„I wanted to give all this to our country, to those
smart-asses, the high-level clerks that didn’t even read a single page of my
proposal. What is worse, a while ago they sent some clerks with a document from
the Council of Ministers for signing a commission contract, guaranteeing
themselves a bright future. Some deal. And of course, I chased them away,”
Balanov says with indignation.
On July 1, 2014 he writes a letter to the Council of
Ministers. No reply. As late as the 29th of September the same year when the
article about the island became public, he received the following reply from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Mr. Balanov, the island is yours to take care
of, it is a private property and you can administer it in whatever way you
want. We cannot take it, since it does not have any inhabitants and it is not
urbanized.” “So what do they expect? That I would build a 3, 5 or 7-star hotel
on it? Obviously, it is not suited for planting tomatoes, what matters is the economic
zone around it,” Balanov comments.
Not a word, nor a sound from the EU
After the Bulgarian government makes it clear that it
doesn’t want the island, Balanov redirected his proposal to the EU. He
addresses a general letter to Martin Schultz, Chairman of the European
Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker, Chairman of the EC, his First Deputy, Frans
Timmermans, Kristalina Georgieva and Herman von Rompuy, then Chairman of the
European Council.
„This happened in December 2014 and so far, not a word, nor a sound,” the entrepreneur comments. In his official speech, published on New Atlantis’ Facebook page, Balanov writes: ”I assume that the Bulgarian government and the European Commission have not replied yet since the joining of a new territory to a certain country means changing its constitution, and in the case of Bulgaria, this requires the summoning of the Great National Assembly.”
„This happened in December 2014 and so far, not a word, nor a sound,” the entrepreneur comments. In his official speech, published on New Atlantis’ Facebook page, Balanov writes: ”I assume that the Bulgarian government and the European Commission have not replied yet since the joining of a new territory to a certain country means changing its constitution, and in the case of Bulgaria, this requires the summoning of the Great National Assembly.”
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| Ready with the flag, the logo and the stamp of the New Atlantis Principality. |
In April this year Balanov comes across the news that the
Check Vit Jedlicka has founded the country of Liberlandia on 7 square
kilometers of no-man’s land located on the Danube river between Serbia and
Croatia, a land left unclaimed by accident after the fall of Yugoslavia. “This
was what gave me the final push to act on it,” Balanov shares.
It turns out that Balanov hasn’t never visited his own
island. “It’s 16 thousand kilometers away, I didn’t want to waste time on
changing planes and ships. Pretending to be an action hero and visiting
uninhabited islands is not my forte.,” the entrepreneur comments. In 2013 he
organized his own expedition to the island and his people flag-planted а
pennant of his company, called “Bulgaria.”
“Young boys, 20-30 years old, ex-navy seals went there. The
flag-planting was documented and legalized by a notary, etc., hence the island
was conquered. Then some friends of mine told me, “You’re crazy to wait for
ours or the European governors! You don’t need to beg them for assistance and
humiliate yourself?!” On January 12, 2014 Balanov defends his property rights in
accordance with the international law jurisdiction and is officially proclaimed
the island’s owner.
Finding the right guy
For all legal procedures Balanov is consulted by no other
than Prof. Alexander Yankov, the top-ranked Bulgarian lawyer and renowned
expert on International Law of the Sea. In 2012 Prof. Alexander Yankov became
the head the International Law Association, the oldest professional
organization for lawyers in the world, founded in 1873. This was announced at
the 75th conference of the organization that was held in Sofia thanks to Prof.
Yankov. The conference gathered the world’s most renowned experts on
international law.
The validation, one step at a time
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| Vladimir Balanov and Prof. Yankov |
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| 22 may 2015. The constitution is allready legal. |
Balanov is consulted by another great Bulgarian expert,
Prof. Ivan Vladimirov who was the legal advisor for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Council of Ministers during the Todor Jivkov administration. He
was also the man in charge of all international treaties that Bulgaria made
during the socialist period.
The entrepreneur follows the experienced lawyers’ advices step by step. Together they write a 12-page letter of intent addressed to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria and respectively to the EU. In it they explain that this territory can be recognized by any European country, that according to the International Law of the Sea it has adjacent territorial waters of 12 miles and an economic zone of 200 miles, and that everything located within the waters or their recesses, such as oil, gas, fish, etc., becomes a property of the country.
The entrepreneur follows the experienced lawyers’ advices step by step. Together they write a 12-page letter of intent addressed to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria and respectively to the EU. In it they explain that this territory can be recognized by any European country, that according to the International Law of the Sea it has adjacent territorial waters of 12 miles and an economic zone of 200 miles, and that everything located within the waters or their recesses, such as oil, gas, fish, etc., becomes a property of the country.
Making a country
After taking over the island, Prof. Ivan Vladimirov helps
Balanov in the preparation of the new country’s constitution and all
surrounding details. On May 22 they go to a notary and the Principality of New
Atlantis is born. The new country is a political and economical union of a
group of citizens who have their own government and are exercising a
sovereignty upon a territory and its adjacent territorial waters and airspace.
In order for a country to be created, it needs to have a free territory (in this case, the island of YJNI), a group of citizens to execute the foundation of this country (which was done by constitution signing on May 22, 2015) and a government (which is already a fact.) In accordance with the international regulations it is also necessary to have recognition by another country and to establish mutual diplomatic relations.
“We are currently negotiating with governments in South America and the EU to recognize the country. And by the time your issue comes out, we should have already convinced them,” Balanov laughs.
In order for a country to be created, it needs to have a free territory (in this case, the island of YJNI), a group of citizens to execute the foundation of this country (which was done by constitution signing on May 22, 2015) and a government (which is already a fact.) In accordance with the international regulations it is also necessary to have recognition by another country and to establish mutual diplomatic relations.
“We are currently negotiating with governments in South America and the EU to recognize the country. And by the time your issue comes out, we should have already convinced them,” Balanov laughs.
The kingdom of beautiful minds
Balanov has named his Principality after the Ancient
Atlantis, the most developed civilization the world has known. Following a
natural catastrophe, the people from this “smart country” scatter all over the
world. “My idea is for the new country’s judiciary constitution to attract the
beautiful minds of today and to give them a chance to work together, while
living wherever they want, but yet united in the virtual space. I offer them an
economic potential that is forming around the island which they can govern as
long as it is under my rules. Whoever gets caught stealing or embezzling, will
be immediately removed,” the sovereign explains.
The first three citizens of the constitutional monarchy are
the Principal, his wife Galina and their son Yordan. The Chairman of “Mensa
Bulgaria” Hristo Radkov has also joined them. “He called me and said that he is
ready to assist me in any way he can. Through “Mensa Bulgaria” I have sent
invitations to all Bulgarian members of the organization, as to all “Mensa
International” members and all Nobel prize winners. They have a high priority,”
Balanov stresses on.
The constitution stipulates that everyone in the world that has presented a certificate for successfully taking the “Mensa” test can become a citizen of New Atlantis by right after submitting a written request. As for the right of a dual citizenship, Bulgarians don’t have a problem, although some other countries might experience difficulties with that.
The constitution stipulates that everyone in the world that has presented a certificate for successfully taking the “Mensa” test can become a citizen of New Atlantis by right after submitting a written request. As for the right of a dual citizenship, Bulgarians don’t have a problem, although some other countries might experience difficulties with that.
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Vladimir Balanov and the Chairman of Mensa - Bulgaria Hristo Radkov.
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A cabinet full of potential
Hristo Radkov has accepted the position of Deputy Prime
Minister of the new Principality. “I haven’t elected a Prime Minister yet, it
will probably be my son Yordan, the heir to the throne. It makes sense. For
now, I will only be teaching the prince and when the time of his succession
comes, he can appoint whoever he wants. It will remain my duty for now,” the
new monarch says.
Because of the specifics of the new country it will only
have a few ministries; only those that will be in the best interest of the
citizens, Internal and Foreign Affairs, Economics, Finance. “We won’t have a
Ministry of Military Affairs, for we are a peaceful country,” Balanov explains.
The Principality already has a Minister of Maritime Affairs,
Ioakeim Kalamaris, an ambitious Greek erudite, with a PhD in law and an expert
on Maritime Transport, as well as a council representing Uruguay in Europe.
Science is the way to go
The Principality’s Academy of Science that will be created
in lieu of a Ministry of Education will have special privileges. Besides two or
three chairpersons, it will consist of the smartest people in the world. Prof.
Alexander Yankov has already accepted and has been appointed as its Chairman.
“I agree,” is Prof. Yankov’s reply to Balanov’s invitation of June 22. In it he
wrote: “The Principality’s Academy will be the heart of the country and the
driving force for realizing the island’s economic potential. Other scientists
will also be invited to become members and present their ideas.”
Daniela Simidchieva, the smartest woman in the world, having
an IQ of 192 points, has been invited to become the Academy’s a Co-Chairwoman.
“Mrs. Simidchieva has a very positive attitude, the conversations that I have
with her fill me with hope and optimism,” Balanov says.
Meanwhile requests to join coming from Bulgarians and
foreigners from all over the world are piling in his Facebook profile and
e-mail. “Together with my secretary, we are having a hard time reading and
replying to all of them,” Balanov laughs.
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Vladimir Balanov and Daniela Simidchieva - the smartest woman in the world.
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A monarch with a democratic vision
Principal Balanov’s vision for New Atlantis is a very bold
one. He has developed four models for development. According to the first one,
everyone who becomes a citizen of the country is obliged to register in its
social network, which is already online at: www.IQ140.eu.
Immediately after joining every members automatically
receives around 500 principal dollars, electronic money similar to bitcoin
issued by the Central Bank of the Principality. Every “Mensa International”
member or Nobel Prize winner is entitled to 3 times as much, around 1500
principal dollars.
The idea is for this network to grow and develop as the
country does and to eventually reach a number close to that of Facebook users.
Balanov and his team are determined to create the second biggest virtual
country in the world.
How to increase the traffic of a social network
IQ140 will be the property of all its participants, the
citizens of New Atlantis. As opposed to other social networks where the
shareholders are financial institution while most members have no shares or
economic gain, the profit from IQ140 will turn into shares for the citizens.
This way everyone will have a greater motivation to be socially active.
The Principal is looking for programmers to develop and
maintain the network, as well as for hackers and bitcoin specialists. They will
only be hired after a personal recommendation from someone that the Principal
trusts. The requirements for the job, apart from specific skills, will also
include honesty, integrity and loyalty to the Principal and the community.
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| Vladimir
Balanov (in the midle) together with the creators of the New Atlantis Principality’s logo, Georgi Chapkanov and Todor Vardzhiev. |
Balanov has developed a plan for creating a joint-stock
company where every citizen has the right to purchase shares. The amount
collected with those shares will be country’s starting capital and the
foundation for the development of the social network and the economic zone.
The social network will be owned by this company. The
country will authorize it to govern and exploit the natural resources in the
economic zone, the territorial waters of New Atlantis. The yearly revenue for
each citizen will be determined by the effectiveness of the super-managers that
the Principal will choose together with the citizens.
A plan for
stabilizing the EU
As a Bulgarian and a EU citizen, the Principal has developed
an ambitious plan to solve its economic challenges. He offers 4 trillion
dollars secured by New Atlantis to reboot the stagnant EU market.
“The island’s economic potential together with its
territorial waters amounts to about 100 trillion dollars. We can create a
joint-stock company with the island, the EU and its 28 member states as
participants, or in other words, a total of 30 shareholders,” Balanov says. His
idea is for every shareholder to receive 3,3 % form the company or shares worth
around 1 trillion. The European Central Bank can also join as the 31st
shareholder by buying shares for 4 trillions.
Balanov offers to divide this money three ways, 1 trillion for the shareholders and the rest into two funds. The first one will pertain to infrastructural projects from the “Juncker” plan; the second one will be to print out 3000 euro vouchers for every EU citizen that would be used for buying European products to boost the economy.
Balanov offers to divide this money three ways, 1 trillion for the shareholders and the rest into two funds. The first one will pertain to infrastructural projects from the “Juncker” plan; the second one will be to print out 3000 euro vouchers for every EU citizen that would be used for buying European products to boost the economy.
Balanov proposes to sell the remaining one per cent to the
European Central Bank for 180 billion euro, so that it can finance 3 research
centers, one in his hometown of Svishtov, one in Thessaloniki where his son
graduated and is perceived by Balanov as an excellent center for higher
education, and one in Germany, the Principal’s favourite country. The idea is
for those centers to attract the world’s best scientists.
… and for changing the world
Principal Balanov is currently determined to recruit enough
beautiful minds, and honest and worthy citizens. The requirements are to have
at least a high school degree, no convictions and to not be fugitives from
justice in their home countries.
“The world is facing a Third World War, even Pope Francis
announced it in an official ceremony,” Balanov comments. “Eventually the
military reach the battlefields to erase all the bad credit. Don’t forget that
If the battle field is transferred to the virtual space, it’s the smart people
that create all missiles and manage all the banking software. Do you realize
that if a war does begin, these bright minds can redirect any launched missile
and clear our every idiot’s bank account? This is why I am looking for well
intentioned super-specialists, so that we can create something together for the
greater good… Yes, I have been told that I am crazy. But as you probably know,
the crazy ones are the ones making the world go round.”
23 years of free market
Vladimir Balanov does agree that if he didn’t have such an
impressive entrepreneurial experience, many people would be sceptical towards
his endeavor.
He was born on August 22, 1957 in Svishtov. He has an
economics and legal education. He has been an entrepreneur since 1991. “I have
been part of the free market for 23 years. My office consists of two desks.
This is how I am used to, I keep the papers of certain companies on the first
one and those of others on the second one,” the entrepreneur shares.
He is one of the first people to have worked in the
insurance holding “Bulgaria”. It consists of a bank, an insurance and a life
insurance company, and a pension and a privatization fund carrying the same
name. The privatization fund is subsequently registered as the Industrial
Holding “Bulgaria” where Balanov is a Chairman of the Supervisory Board and a
general manager of several companies.
“I then relocated to a private family company.
Now, I have several companies dealing with trade. Nothing that really stands
out. Of course, I am supporting my family,” Balanov adds modestly. He owns
several companies in the country, among which the ex export trade company for
pharmaceuticals, “Maimex”.
