Bulgaria will mark the world nonsmoking day May 31 with a large number of events throughout the country, the Health Ministry said on May 30.

This year's motto of the event, started by the World Health Organisation 20 years ago, is "Young people - not addicted to smoking".

In Sofia an exhibition will be displayed in front of Sveta Nedelya church in the centre of the city. The exhibition will show cartoons which have been awarded at the 2007 "From the peace pipe to the cigarette box" contest organised by the Health Ministry.
The exhibition will last from 10am till 6pm.

Again in front of Sveta Nedelya, representatives from the European Commission's campaign "Help - life without tobacco smoke" will measure the level of carbon-oxide in the breath of all willing to do undergo a test between 11am and 4pm.

The same will happen in the Zaimov park, in front of theatre Sofia. 

In Gabrovo an exhibition was opened on May 29 dedicated to the theme "Life without tobacco smoke". Fifty-five cartoons by 48 artists from 19 countries are displayed in the Home ofhumour and satire.

In Varna, Rousse, Smolyan and Pernik Bulgarian Red Cross volunteers will give away bracelets calling young people to say no to smoking.

Other than that, 500 000 notebooks will be printed with anti-smoking messages.

A project to be launched soon is aimed at school children and is called "The project of our class - life without smoking". Classes will only be allowed to participate in the project if there is not a single smoker among the students.