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News from Bulgaria / Mar 7, 96From: bulgaria@access1.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria)Bulgarian Telegraph Agency DirectoryEMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY7 March, 1996CONTENTS[01] PRESIDENT ZHELEV COMMITTED TO HELP BANKS OUT OF CRISIS[02] P.M. VIDENOV INVITED TO VISIT CHINA[03] FOREIGN MINISTER PIRINSKI TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUS[04] PREPARATION OF BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING[05] BULGARIAN DEPUTY P.M. AT EAST-WEST CONFERENCE[06] UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ARRIVES IN SOFIA[07] RATIFICATIONS[08] BULGARIAN-JORDANIAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS[01] PRESIDENT ZHELEV COMMITTED TO HELP BANKS OUT OF CRISISPresident Zhelyu Zhelev will start tomorrow a series of meetings with bankers and independent experts to discuss the worsened state of the banking system. Next week Mr Zhelev will consider the matter with Governor of the National Bank of Bulgaria (BNB, the central bank) Lyubomir Filipov, President's Economic Advisor Boyan Slavenkov told reporters after the more than two hours' talks between the President and the leadership of the Association of Commercial Banks.
According to Mr Slavenkov the President has committed himself to assist in drafting a programme to help the banks out of the crisis, to preserve the independence of the central bank, and, within his powers, to assist in eliminating political paternalism and state racketeering from the management of the banking system. Mr Zhelev is concerned over the recent developments in the banking sector, Co-chairman of the Association of Commercial Banks Emil Kyulev said. In his view there are indications that some political sentiments have infected the banks. The bankers asked the President to cooperate for the passage of laws significant for the banking system. The delay in the structural adjustment is shifting the burden to the banking system but as long as the economy is not operating, we cannot rely on the banks' reserves for a long time, Emil Kyulev said. The Association of Commercial Banks was assured that they may have the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Zhan Videnov next week, Mr Kyulev said.
[02] P.M. VIDENOV INVITED TO VISIT CHINAAt the request of the Government of China, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhan Deguan extended to Bulgarian Prime Minister Zhan Videnov an invitation for an official visit to China. The invitation was handed at the bilateral political consultations today. "China attaches great importance to this visit, which has been planned for May," the Chinese diplomat said. According to the Foreign Ministry's press office, a number of issues of bilateral and multilateral nature of common interest were discussed at today's talks between the Chinese and the Bulgarian delegation, which was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Glavanakov. The Chinese delegation was received by Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski and by Trade Minister Atanas Paparizov.
[03] FOREIGN MINISTER PIRINSKI TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUSForeign Minister Georgi Pirinski is leaving for Cyprus on Monday, the Foreign Ministry spokesman told the press today. Pirinski's two-day official visit at the invitation of his Cyprian colleague has been postponed twice. The only document due to be signed is a protocol on cooperation between the two foreign ministries, regulating the holding of consultations on matters of shared interest. "There are no open issues between Bulgaria and Cyprus. No questions pose a challenge to our relations," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Pirinski's official visit is expected to give a fresh impetus to Bulgarian-Cyprian relations.
[04] PREPARATION OF BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETINGBulgarian diplomats ended their missions to Balkan capitals in connection with Bulgarian Prime Minister Zhan Videnov's initiative for further intensification of the Balkan cooperation and holding a meeting of Balkan Foreign Ministers in Sofia, Bulgarian Foreign Ministry spokesman told journalists here today. The Bulgarian diplomats extended invitations for the event, explained the Bulgarian initiative and accepted recommendations and observations about the proposed meeting. According to Bulgarian officials, such a meeting will lead to practical steps for the further promotion of cooperation and strengthening of the security in Southeastern Europe in the context of the all-European security. "The Bulgarian proposals were generally assessed in positive terms. The Bulgarian initiative enjoys promising response in all Balkan capitals. There are of course nuances in the positions of some countries but all of them stress the usefulness of such a forum, recommending serious preparations and reaching of consensus during the drafting of a possible concluding document," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Once the results of the missions of Bulgarian diplomats to the Balkan capitals are reviewed, it is expected that the bilateral talks on the preparation of the meeting at ministerial level will start. Only then will it become clear whether the sides will be able to meet the deadline for holding the meeting - by the end of July, which is Bulgaria's desire.
[05] BULGARIAN DEPUTY P.M. AT EAST-WEST CONFERENCENew York, March 6 (BTA) - On March 5 Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechev made a statement at the 4th West-East Trade Ministers Conference in Baltimore, the Government Press Office told BTA. Gechev emphasized Bulgaria's good macroeconomic performance and the rapid development of the private sector. He said that the success of cash and mass privatization was the priority of reforms in Bulgaria pointing out that foreign investment could held a lot. The investment climate in Bulgaria is good and the relevant legislation has already been adopted, Gechev specified. He called for support for the Bulgarian projects for the development of regional and cross-border infrastructure and for giving Bulgaria preferential access to the post- war rebuilding of the region.
During his US visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechev met with Salvatore Zecchini, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and with Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Adere. The Bulgarian side said that Bulgarian companies should be offered broader business opportunities in the OECD member states and should be given preferential access to the post-war reconstruction of the region, thus compensating Bulgaria indirectly for its losses resulting from the application of UN sanctions against former Yugoslavia.
[06] UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ARRIVES IN SOFIA"I expect progress in bilateral relations," Ukrainian Defence Minister Valerii Shmarov told BTA upon his arrival on an official two-day visit to Sofia today at the head of a military delegation."They [the relations] exist, but I do not think they are at an adequate level," the guest said. He added that with his Bulgarian counterpart Dimiter Pavlov they will seek to expand bilateral relations in the military field. According to the guest, the traditional friendship between the two nations will be consolidated by his visit. Asked to comment on the prospects for NATO membership of East European countries, Defence Minister Shmarov said each country should decide for itself on the forms and methods of assuring its security. "We will reactivate the fine relations we used to have on the basis of mutual benefit; existing contacts will be invigorated in the areas of military technology and military science, and the service training establishments, medical and cultural institutions will expand their relations as well, Mr Pavlov told reporters after conferring with the guest."In a political sense, our contacts are fully consistent with Ukraine's policy line of wide opening of international relations," Mr Shmarov said after meeting with his host. On the practical plane, the visit will help widen bilateral economic, technological and scientific cooperation, he noted. The two ministers considered the opportunities available for deepening military relations between Bulgaria and Ukraine, the situation in the Balkans and the prospects for sharing experience of participation in peacekeeping operations. "Bulgaria and Ukraine are strategic partners," Mr Shmarov emphasized. Bulgaria is planning to activate dramatically its participation in events within NATO's Partnership for Peace initiative," Mr Pavlov said. The two ministers discussed Bulgaria's participation in an exercise codenamed "Peaceful Shield '96", due to take place in Ukraine in June 1996. It, too, will be held in the spirit of Partnership for Peace, they have been quoted as saying by the press. At their request, the Ukrainian guests were familiarized in detail with the progress of the reform in the Bulgarian Army. This reform is being carried out in conditions similar to Ukraine's, and the Bulgarian experience may prove useful to the Ukrainian army, the guests told the Chief of the Press Centre of the Bulgarian Defence Ministry, Navy Captain Tsvyatko Donchev.
Today Ukrainian Defence Minister Valerii Shmarov was received successively by President Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov. Tomorrow the defence ministers of Bulgaria and Ukraine will sign a protocol on the visit, which is expected to particularlize areas for expansion of bilateral military cooperation on the basis of a 1992 agreement between the two ministries. The delegation will visit a Bulgarian Army training centre.
[07] RATIFICATIONSThe National Assembly today ratified the convention establishing the European Organization for Telecommunications by Satellite (Eutelsat) of July 15, 1982. The bill ratifying the convention is moved by the Government, according to which Bulgaria's accession to "Eutelsat" will contribute for speeding up the process of this country's integration in the European telecommunication structures.
The Parliament ratified today the agreement between the governments of Bulgaria and Switzerland on the "debt for environment" swap deal, signed on October 23, 1995 in Sofia. Under the agreement nearly 20 per cent of Bulgaria's officially guaranteed debt of 20 million Swiss Francs to Switzerland will be written off. For its part Bulgaria must deposit the equivalent sum in Bulgarian levs in the National Environment Trust Fund. The money will be used mainly for investment in environment protection projects. This is the first occasion on which part of Bulgaria's foreign debt is written off in that way.
[08] BULGARIAN-JORDANIAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONSAmman, March 6 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Ministry delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Hristov, ended visit to Jordan, a Foreign Ministry press release says. During the talks at the Jordanian Foreign Ministry the two sides made a review of the situation in the Balkans and the Middle East and discussed issues of mutual interest. The Bulgarian and Jordanian delegations praised the development of bilateral relations.Ivan Hristov renewed President Zhelyu Zhelev's invitation to King Hussein to visit Bulgaria. Deputy Minister Hristov conveyed an invitation on behalf of Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski to Khaleb Madadha, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, to pay a visit to Bulgaria. |
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