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News from Bulgaria / 96-06-10Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Embassy of Bulgaria <bulgaria@access1.digex.net>EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY10 June, 1996CONTENTS
[01] COUNCIL OF EUROPE RECOMMENDS MAKING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY A GOVERNMENT POLICY PRIORITYSofia, June 7 (BTA) - At the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Council of Europe experts are visiting Bulgaria to render consultancy assistance in drafting a law regulating scientific research and development. Bulgaria has worked out a concept for the law and a medium-term technological development strategy.The Council of Europe recommends that a single piece of legislation on higher education and research and development is passed, an expert of the organization told a press conference today. The CE also recommends the inclusion of representatives of the public and private sector, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and universities in legislative reform in education and science. It pointed out the need for the establishment of a national council for research and technology and a national fund to support fundamental and applied scientific research. The CE urges the Bulgarian Government to make science and technological development a priority, as they can help Bulgaria overcome the crisis and prosper, the CE expert also said. [02] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVESSeveral dailies report today Bulgaria's foreign exchange reserves will not be sufficient for the upcoming foreign debt payments. "Continent" recalls Bulgaria is due to pay 680 million US dollars in principal and interest over the coming six months, while the foreign exchange reserves dropped from nearly 1,000 million on January 31 down to 657,513,000 in late May. The daily quotes unnamed dealers saying greenbacks again fetched 160 leva in some foreign exchange offices yesterday, some 30 leva up the levels two days ago.The opposition "Demokratsiya" the daily says Associete Generale of Brussels froze a deposit account of the Bulgarian central bank debiting it with Ecu 5 million over unpaid debts of the Bulgarian Mineralbank declared bankrupt a couple of days ago. "24 Chassa" reports that a government document marked as "restricted" and coordinated with the International Monetary Fund sets the 1996 GDP growth at 0%. The report says this was announced at the parliamentary Budgetary and Finance Committee by opposition MP Ventsislav Dimitrov. The daily believes the MPs of the ruling Socialists' coalition did not know an agreement to that effect had been reached by the government and IMF. The Balkan Airways are likely to sign a contract with foreign air carriers for integrated services, writes "24 Chassa". Among the possible partners are the Austrian airlines, Lufthansa, Air France and Aeroflot. Negotiations have already been launched with some of the companies, the report says quoting unnamed sources of the Bulgarian Transport Ministry. Joint services will probably be offered for flights to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Madrid, Barcelona, Malta, New York and Paris. [03] DEMOCRATIC LEFT WANTS NATIONAL TV BOSS OUTThe papers comment on the demand of members of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Left (PGDL) for the dismissal of the Director General of Bulgarian National Television Ivan Granitski. A couple of days ago the National Assembly Committee on Radio, Television and BTA decided to ask for Mr Granitski's resignation on account of "a build-up of financial and programming problems in National Television." When the motion was put to the vote at the full house yesterday, National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov declared that no quorum was present and declared the sitting closed. The papers report that part of the PGDL is against the decision of the Standing Committee to fire Mr Granitski. The Socialists are divided over the matter, according to a well informed source quoted in "Standart News." A signed commentary in the same daily says that by Mr Granitski's resignation certain Socialists are trying to deflect public attention from the really grave problems like the banking crisis, the bread shortage, the rampant inflation and social unrest. According to Mr Yuri Borissov MP of the BSP, the way in which Mr Granitski's resignation is asked is an alarming symptom of the way things are going in the Socialist Party and the way the country is being run. "Troud" reports that after Parliament's sitting was cut short yesterday, the Socialists gathered to discuss the situation and reporters heard "loud rows" erupting in their room. The financial and business news daily "Pari" reports that at least 10 to 12 MPs of the BSP did not take part in yesterday's vote on the removal of the TV boss and the in- fighting within the PGDL has come to light. In a signed comment the same paper writes that by defecting from the Granistki vote the MPs have hinted to Videnov that they might as well deny him their support when a motion of no confidence in the Government, tabled by the opposition this Wednesday, comes up for a vote next Tuesday. "Granitski's Ouster Tests Balance of Power in BSP," runs a heading in "Novinar."[04] PARLIAMENTARY GROUP OF THE LEFT DIVIDED OVER TV BOSS REMOVALSofia, June 7 (BTA) - With majority Parliament voted the removal of Ivan Granitski as General Director of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) this morning. Part of the MPs of the ruling coalition of the Democratic Left voted in favour of and part against the decision. The total of 127 MPs took part in the vote. They voted 113-9 for the removal, five MPs abstained. The parliamentary groups of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), Popular Union and ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms stated in advance that they will not take part in the vote, because the question was about internal struggles within the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). Granitski was elected BNT Director General on proposal of the Left in June 1995. Today BNT Executive Director Ivan Tokadjiev was appointed acting director general.After the voting BSP MPs Chavdar Kyuranov and Elena Poptodorova, members of the reformist Alliance for Social Democracy with BSP, explained in Parliament their motives for voting against Granitski's dismissal. "Television is a very important instrument of power; the governing want it, but the television does not belong to the power," Kyuranov stated. "During the last elections 44 percent of the people voted for BSP, but 56 percent did not cast their ballot for this party; the television belongs to them too and they have the right that their voice is heard. However, certain people in BSP do not realize this," he added. "The problem is not Granitski, but the fact that the policy of confrontation is still pursued and the people cannot stand it any more," Kyuranov stated. According to him, there are much more important issues than the replacement of the TV boss. "Your major task is the exercise of power in an absurd situation in which there is no bread and we are endangered to die in misery," UDF leader Ivan Kostov said before the MPs. [05] FIRST PRIVATE BANK - FAILURE"24 Chassa" frontpages a statement by central bank Vice Governor Dimiter Dimitrov, who allegedly admitted to a close circle that the central bank's decision to petition for the bankruptcy of First Private Bank (FPB) was ill-advised. A fortnight ago, in line with the banking system rehabilitation programme the central bank decided to place FPB under special supervision and a week later filed a petition in bankruptcy. "24 Chassa" reports that in their report the regulators appointed by the central bank wrote that FPB can be rehabilitated. "Because of accounts blocked at FPB, companies are verging on bankruptcy," "24 Chassa" reports.[06] ALLEGED ABUSES BY EX-BNB CHIEFA front-page report in "24 Chassa" quotes investigation sources as saying that Prof. Todor Vulchev, who was governor of the National Bank of Bulgaria between January 1991 and January 1996, allegedly commited abuses. Investigators have also received tip-offs of violations of Prof. Vulchev's daughter, Elena Vulcheva, according to "24 Chassa."[07] TAXI DRIVERS' RALLY TRIGGERS SCANDALSofia, June 7 (BTA) - A rally of the taxi drivers held near the National Assembly building caused a clash between opposition MPs and the police. According to preliminary plans the protestors should stop their cars in front of the Parliament and hold their rally there. For several days, however, the streets adjacent to the National Assembly building have been blocked by barriers in spite of protests of the opposition.Today Filip Dimitrov, MP of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), insisted that the barriers are removed. The UDF MPs said that an order by National Assembly Blagovest Sendov on expansion of the security zone around the Parliament building was illegal. Petko Iliev, MP of the Popular Union, called on his colleagues to lift the barriers themselves as the police refused to do this. Shortly before the beginning of the rally opposition MPs removed part of the barriers. Right after that, however, three police automobiles blocked the traffic. There were few sharp-worded exchanges between MPs and policemen. Anyway serious incidents were not provoked. Sofia Directorate of the Interior Chief Krassimir Petrov, Interior Ministry Secretary Georgi Lambov and Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski arrived in front of the National Assembly. Due to the interference of the opposition MPs the cars managed to cross the boulevard in front of the Parliament with their horns blown and lights on although the police tried to stop them. Protests of taxi drivers started as early as last week prompted by the increase of fuel prices. The taxi drivers insist that their operation is regulated by a statutory instrument, to be given clear explanation for the motives to raise prices of fuels and on legal concessions for taxi drivers. The protest actions of the taxi drivers are levelled against the government and they demand its resignation. "Resignation" and "Victory" chanted the protestors at today's rally. Taxi drivers' rallies will be held nationwide. [08] PRESS REVIEW: SPECULATIONS ON CABINET CHANGESSofia, June 7 (BTA) - Today's dailies speculate about possible forthcoming personnel changes in the incumbent Government of the Democratic Left (a coalition of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the Alexander Stamboliiski Bulgarian Agrarian National Union and the Ecoglasnost Political Club) headed by Zhan Videnov. Under the heading "Videnov Avalanched with Resignation Demands," "Troud" quotes its anonymous sources as saying that the Ecoglasnost Political Club is pressing the Prime Minister to fire Justice Minister Mladen Chervenyakov for "failing to live up to expectations in law-making." According to "Troud," what is certain for the time being is that Culture Minister Georgi Kostov and Industry Minister Kliment Vouchev will be leaving the Cabinet. Interviewed for the same daily, the member of the BSP Executive Bureau Vladimir Topencharov says that Mr Videnov has an entourage of politically irresponsible "trusted men" and any hint at cabinet changes has been taken as "a personal attack and bickering." "Videnov has become inaccessible and has isolated himself from the BSP ruling circle," Mr Topencharov told "Troud." In another interview, for "Standart News," Mr Topencharov says that Mr Videnov has physical and mental endurance but lacks enough knowledge and experience "Within two or three months, the failure may become a reality," the BSP functionary says. An interviewer of the BSP daily "Douma" was told by Prof. Ivan Angelov that he resigned as economic adviser to the Government because he is dissatisfied with the way the BSP Supreme Council has been treating his work. "Novinar" reports that Prof. Angelov blames the media for his resignation. According to the daily, he wrote in his letter of resignation that the media treated him unfairly because of his performance in the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Interviewed for "24 Chassa," the Chairman of the Alternative Social Liberal Party Vassil Velinov says that Mr Videnov "has another lease on life if he gets rid of the incompetents," among whom he names Prof. Angelov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechev. In a front-page headline, the daily of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) writes that the Chief of the Government Press Office Krassimir Raidovski pocketed 1 million US dollars from grain export. According to the newspaper, Mr Raidovski was granted a licence to export 17,800 t of wheat.Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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