Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski returned today from a formal two-day visit to Croatia, wrehe he met with President Tudjman, Prime Minister Valentic and with his counterpart Mate Granic. Croatia extended an invitation for a meeting between the presidents of the two states. This first visit of a Bulgartian foreign minister to Croatia saw the ratification of a contract for friendship and cooperation between the two states. The two parties also signed an agreement for cooperation in science, education and culture. Minister Pirinski familiarized his Croatian counterpart with the regional initiatives of the Bulgarian Government aimed at stabilization of the region and including development of regional infrastructures which were met with interest. The parties also discussed the promotion of business contacts between the two states through holding a session of the joint economic committee, which was founded during Foreign Minister Mate Granic's visit to Bulgaria in 1993. The Croatian government voiced its support for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in former Yugoslavia through negotiations on the basis of mutual recognition. According to Minister Pirinski, Bulgaria's stand about a parallel search for a political agreement and gradual suspension and lifting of the sanctions against former Yugoslavia was found to be justified.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski and his Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, who is on a formal visit here as of today, had today a more than half an hour tete-a-tete talk. On the agenda were the situation in the region and the concepts of the Bulgarian Government for its development, problems of the European integration and Bulgaria's relations with the EU and NATO. "I familiarized my Portuguese counterpart with Bulgarian PM Videnov's initiative for expansion of regional cooperation, as well as with the problems of the infrastructure, " Minister Pirinski said. He described as encouraging Mr Barroso's comment, that the situation in Bulgaria resembled the initial period of the European Union. "It was just the beginning of the talks, which will continue tomorrow, " Portuguese Foreign Minister said after the meeting. Tomorrow the two ministers are expected to sign an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation after the two delegations have discussed in detail the current state and the prospects before the Bulgarian-Portuguese relations.
June 14 (BTA) - The Foreign Minister of Portugal, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, arrived in Sofia late in the afternoon on a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Pirinski. The sides are expected to consider Bulgarian-Portuguese relations, the prospects for their further development, some aspects of European integration and the situation in the Balkans. This evening Foreign Minister Barroso will meet Georgi Pirinski. Tomorrow he will be received by President Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov. An agreement on the avoidance of double taxation is expected to be signed tomorrow. "We hope this would be a good sign for investors, merchants and producers in the two countries, " the Portuguese guest said on his arrival. Minister Barroso said he was interest in the position of the Bulgarian Government on European integration; he would like to know what progress had been made in adapting the Bulgarian system to the European standards. "I hope that at the end of my visit I will know your country better; to my regret, I did not have the possibility of getting acquainted with it before, " the Portuguese Foreign Minister said. "Yes, in principle, " was Barroso's reply to the question if he would support Bulgaria's effort for full integration with the European Union. The Portuguese high-ranking official came from Romania where he expressed Portugal's support for Romania. "In Bucharest I got a clear message that the [Romanian] Government is seriously committed to the European Union; the Romanians want to join the Union and the other European and Euro-Atlantic structures, " the Portuguese chief diplomat stated and pointed out that if Bulgaria's people and its Government cherish a similar desire, Portugal would give them support.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Glavanakov will pay working visits to Austria, the German state of Bavaria, the United States, Canada and Britain, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said at its regular news conference today. Besides government officials, Deputy Foreign Minister Glavanakov will meet representatives of the business circles in those countries. The active dialogue between Bulgaria and the US will be continued during Glavanakov's visit there. A joint statement of the presidents of Bulgaria and the US was signed when President Zhelyu Zhelev visited the US in February 1995. Now the sides will make a review of its implementation. Political consultations will be held in Canada. The sides will exchange views on matters concerning bilateral relations. Glavanakov will be able to get first-hand information about the summit of G-7 and Russia which will take place before his visit to Ottawa.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - Walter Kittel, Secretary of State and commissioner of the German Government in charge of consulting activities in Eastern Europe, said that Germany would provide consultancy aid of DM 18 million's worth to Bulgaria under the Transform 1995 programme. The areas in which the German consultants would work were specified at Walter Kittel's meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation Kiril Tsochev, Minister of Transport Stamen Stamenov and Minister of Agriculture and Food-Processing Vassil Chichibaba. "We want to make long-term investments, " Kittel told journalists before his departure. He sees the basis for further development of relations in Bulgaria's unambiguous turning to the European Union, in the good results of bilateral cooperation and in common lasting interests. "The results of current studies show that projects of tens and hundreds of millions of German marks can be implemented in future, " Deputy prime Minister Roumen Gechev said. "About 33 percent of the money will be used to help along enterprises, small and medium-size businesses, consulting services and the training of managers for the economy, " the German guest said.
The Government and the administrative sector will get consulting services under a separate programme prioritizing matters of privatization. There are social projects for the development of health insurance and pension schemes, the labour market and the dialogue between social partners. "Nearly 11 percent of the aid are intended for the Bulgarian agriculture, " Kittel said. The amount allocated to the other countries in transition for helping along agriculture accounts for 8 percent. Kittel explained the larger share intended for agriculture in Bulgaria with this country's orientation to farming. It is planned to provide consultations for the Ministry of Agriculture, the market of pedigree animals in Sliven, vegetable growers in the valley of the Maritsa River in Southern Bulgaria, the long-postponed project for the establishment of a fruit and vegetables wholesale market, which the European Union will fund if the Bulgarian Government gives guarantees. Last year the Government gave up the project expressing the opinion that it would be inexpedient to set up a single wholesale market that would be too large for the country. Walter Kittel said there was "charm and logic" in the idea to transform Bulgaria's debt to Germany into an investment fund but specified it should be referred to German Minister of Finance Theodor Waigel. "A state bank for investment and development will be founded by the end of 1995 or the beginning of 1996 at the latest; Germany will participate in the project with 40 million marks, " Deputy Prime Minister Roumen Gechev said. "Bulgaria's share of funds will be provided by the National Bank of Bulgaria, the State Investment and Development Fund and private businessmen, " Gechev added. A consulting group is working on the details of the project. The new institution will be orientated to small and medium- size businesses.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - "24 Chassa" and "Douma" run interviews with Bistra Dimitrova, whose cabinet- sponsored candidacy for the chief's office at the State Savings Bank (SSB) was rejected by Parliament. Dimitrova believes the rejection of her nomination goes to show that banks are afraid to have a new person in the SSB. According to the interviewee, the SSB should be a universal bank for the public, where people can get soft-term housing loans.
Four million tonnes of grain are expected from this year's harvesting campaign. "Douma" writes quoting the Ministry of Agriculture. Experts expect from this year 3 million tonnes of wheat, 850, 000 tonnes of barley and 30, 000 tonnes of rye.
"Balkan Airlines To Have New Aircraft Without Burdensome Loans" headlines a story in "Douma" by Deputy Transport Minister Stanislav Velinov. According to him, the Balkan Airlines were dumped by the state and brought to a clynical death-like state. Now this air carrier will treat all partners on an equal footing and that will be in its interests and in the interests of the state.
The list of enterprises to be put up for mass privatization will be ready within two weeks, "24 Chassa" writes quoting Deputy Prime Minister Roumen Gechev. It will include 100 to 150 companies to be offered both in the cash and mass privatization.
Socotab of the US will buy 350 tonnes of tobacco from Bulgartabac's branch in Smolyan, Southern Bulgaria, "Douma" says. The tobacco is of last year's harvest and after its sale Bulgartabac will be able to pay what it owes to tobacco growers, the story goes on to say, citing CEO Georgi Ivanov.
The introduction of protective purchase prices for milk will take 7, 000 million leva, writes "Standart News". Trade Ministry experts say this sum will go to offset the margin between the effective purchase price of 7 to 8 leva/l and the 14 leva/l producers demand.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) All dailies report the three- day Rose-Roth Conference that ended here yesterday, and North Atlantic Assembly President Karsten Voigt's participation in it. Bulgaria should decide whether it wants to enter NATO or not, and voice its wish by the year's end, "Pari" and "Demokratsiya" write. "Continent" quotes Voigt as saying that Bulgaria could enter NATO no earlier than 1998. Because of the resistance on the part of the cabinet of the former Communists, Bulgaria is the only one among the former Socialist countries which has not announced its candidacy for NATO membership, writes "Zemedelsko Zname", the daily of the Bulgarian Agrarian Party. It further says this will make Bulgaria the last of the countries to enter NATO.
The press carries front-page reports on the visit to Bulgaria by a Macedonian parliamentary delegation. The language problem is the main obstacle stalling Bulgarian-Macedonian relations, reads a front-page story in "Douma", the daily of the ruling Socialist Party. Agreements already drafted have not yet been signed only because the two countries fail to agree on the language in which they will be written, "Douma" says further.
Problems with language and translation marred all meetings of the Macedonian delegation, "Continent" says in a front-page article. There was an interpreter at all meetings although her services were absolutely unnecessary, the daily writes. "I am convinced that there are citizens in Bulgaria who feel Macedonians, as there are people in our country who say they are Bulgarians, " the daily quotes the Deputy Chairman of the Macedonian Parliament Tito Petkovski as saying at the closing news conference. Although he did not use the word "minorities", members of the delegation had mentioned it earlier, "Continent" says. Meeting with the deputy floor leader of the ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), Stoyan Denchev, the Macedonian guests said Turks and Macedonians formed the largest minority groups in Bulgaria, "Continent" says. Asked by an MP of the MRF whether they support the illegal separatist United Macedonian Ilinden Organization, the guests said that everyone has the right to self-determination, "Continent" writes. A strong-worded signed commentary in the daily says the Macedonian politicians should understand that the United Macedonian Ilinden Organization is banned in Bulgaria and Skopje's support would mean that Macedonia has territorial claims in Bulgaria.
"The Macedonian policy is directed towards good neighbourly relations, " Macedonian Parliament Chairman Stoyan Andov tells and interviewer of the private "Standart News" daily. Andov believes it is not in Bulgaria and Macedonia's interest to create a vacuum in their bilateral relations; they should do their best to promote bilateral cooperation.
"Energy-1 Loan Faces Suspension" heads a front-page story in the financial "Pari" daily, quoting World Bank Resident Representative in Bulgaria John Wilton. "Bulgaria has so far utilized a mere 5% to 6% of the World Bank loans it has received," "Pari" quotes Wilton as saying. The World Bank will probably refuse to extend two loans: the one for the energy industry and another one for education which is questionable, "Douma", "Troud" and "Standart News" say.
The Ministry of the Interior asked for Interpol's assistance for the capture and extradition to Bulgaria of the runaway "pharaohs", the bosses of financial pyramids which left thousands of Bulgarians with drained savings amounting to thousands of millions leva, "Standart News" says in a front-page article. Citing findings of a secret audit conducted by the Bourgas tax authorities, the daily writes about Yugoagent - another company suspected of operating as a Ponzi-scheme firm - that traded with letter-box companies. Despite the serious accusations, Yugoagent's CEO reportedly asked for an emergency meeting with President Zhelev, Prime Minister Videnov, Prosecutor General Ivan Tatarchev, and central bank Governor Todor Vulchev, to recommend measures to prevent further collapses of financial pyramids.
The "Cash" weekly writes about another Ponzi scheme company warning that the "Enthusiasm, Faith and Success" Cooperation does not manufacture goods but illusions.
Living standards in Bulgaria plummeted in the past four years, "Demokratsiya", the daily of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces, says, citing the findings of an UN-sponsored report publicized yesterday. While in 1991 Bulgaria ranked 33th among 160 countries listed in terms of living standards, in 1994 it was 48th, "Demokratsiya" says. Citing official figures, the daily says that about 30% of Bulgarians live below the subsistence level, and more than 80% below the poverty line.
Today's press also runs stories on machinations in the totalizer defrauding the state of millions of leva, the future of the Banner of Peace Monument built in the outskirts of Sofia, Bulgarian Foreign Minister's visit to Croatia.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - The Minister of Education, Science and Technologies Ilcho Dimitrov made public today Bulgaria's stand on the suspension of the 193 million US dollars loan, which the World Bank was ready to float in support of Bulgaria's education. World Bank Resident Representative John Wilton told a news conference yesterday, that the Government is not interested in that loan. "Evaluating the current situation of the state and the most pressing tasks before the education, we in due time told the bank that at this stage the secondary education can manage without a loan, and that we can continue the negotiations on a loan for the higher education, " reads the news release. The World Bank, however, insists that the projects it finances, be implemented in a package, which it has the right to do.
Minister Dimitrov specified that Bulgaria will come up with a proposal for a loan on the higher education. "We shall insist that we make the decisions on the usage of the funds, rather than the World Bank. It is only natural that we do not want to lay financial burdens on the state, except in the cases, when they cannot be avoided, " the Education Minister believes.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - "Bulgaria may join the European and the North Atlantic political structures even today, " Karsten Voigt, President of the North Atlantic Assembly (NAA) and member of the German Bundestag, toold the Bulgarian MPs today. Yesterday Voigt arrived on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the National Assembly. "I can guarantee that when Bulgaria - a country of importance for the region and Europe, decides to qualify for EU and NATO membership, its application will be backed by me and, I hope, by many NAA parliamentarians, " Voigt stated. The NAA President described the three-day North Atlantic Assembly Rose-Roth seminar on "Regional Stabilty and Security: the Bulgarian View", which ended yesterday, as successful. The seminar, held in Sofia, was organized the NAA and the Bulgarian Parliament. In his address to the members of the National Assmebly, Voigt thanked the Bulgarian Government and the parliamentary opposition for their assistance in organizing the forum and praised the work of the Bulgarian delegation in the NAA. "The Bulgarian MPs highly appreciate the cooperation with the NAA, " National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov said before Voigt's statement in Parliament. "Integration with and active paricipation in the European and the Euro- Atlantic structures are a priority in Bulgaria's foreign policy, " Sendov stated. At a news conference before his departure, NAA President Voigt said that his fifth visit to Bulgaria was particularly useful for him. He expressed his hope that the Bulgarian side would also find it useful and said he would come to Bulgaria again. "The EU should provide greater economic help to the countries situated near the zone of the Yugoconflict which suffer losses as a result of the application of sanctions; the German Social Democratic Party will make representations to the EU in this connection, " Voigt said. In reply to the question of BTA about restricting the rights of Bulgarian citizens after the entry into force of the Schengen agreement, he promised to pose the problem at the NAA committees and in the European Parliament. The issue was also discussed at the meeting with Prime Minister Zhan Videnov on Voigt's initiative. Videnov familiarized the NAA President with the priorities of Bulgaria's foreign policy that include participation in the process of European integration, strengthening of regional security and the establishment of relations with Bulgaria's traditional partners that are new in principle, Government Spokesman Nikola Batalov told BTA. The Bulgarian PM assured his guest that the points at issue, if any, do not concern the foreign policy priorities as such but some aspects of their implementation. He expressed Bulgaria's desire to be kept informed, within the framework of the dialogue with NATO and the Partnership for Peace, about the discussions in the Organization and to take part in the making of decisions at the end of the year that concern this country's future too. Videnov stated that cooperation with the NAA would be helpful in the discussion of Bulgaria's security concept, the carrying out of reform in the Bulgarian army and the establishment of civilian control over the armed forces. Today Karsten Voigt was received by President Zhelyu Zhelev who stated his position that Bulgaria should apply for membership in NATO immediately. Voigt said that Bulgaria's joining NATO is a matter of its own sovereign decision and nobody would take the liberty of exerting pressure on it. "However, Bulgaria's future depends to a great extent on the choice made now, " he stated drawing a parallel with Spain's accession to NATO. Voigt confirmed that no admisison of new members to NATO could be expected before 1998. During his visit NAA President Karsten Voigt had meetings with National Assmebly Chairman Blagovest Sendov and Defence Minister Dimiter Pavlov. The meeting with Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski did not take place as scheduled because Bulgaria's chief diplomat was on a visit abroad.
Sofia, June 14 (BTA) - Stefan Gospodinov, Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), died suddenly today at the age of 59. He devoted more than 20 years to the national news agency, working as a reporter, head of the Political Section of the Internal Services Department and editor-in-chief of the Press Service- Courier, International Relations and Publicity Department. In the last two years, in his capacity as Director General of BTA, Stefan Gospodinov contributed enormously to the assertion of The Agency as an autonomous national information institution. May he rest in peace.