News from Bulgaria, 96-07-30

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From: Embassy of Bulgaria <bulgaria@access1.digex.net>

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

30 July, 1996

CONTENTS

[01] BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE PORTILLO ARRIVES IN SOFIA ON JULY 30

[02] PRESIDENT ZHELEV HOLDS CONSULTATIONS ON RADIO AND TV LAW

[03] PARLIAMENT AMENDS 1996 CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET

[04] DISPUTES IMPEND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN BULGARIA

[05] STATE RAILWAYS CAUGHT IN VICIOUS CIRCLE OF RECESSION

[06] NEW OPTIC CABLE LINKS SOFIA AND BELGRADE

[07] MONDAY NEWS BRIEFS

[01] BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE PORTILLO ARRIVES IN SOFIA ON JULY 30

During his Sofia visit, Portillo will hold meetings with President Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski. The British guest is scheduled to hold talks with his Bulgarian counterpart Pavlov, with Chief of the Bulgarian General Staff Colonel General Tsvetan Totomirov and with members of the parliamentary Committee on National Security. Portillo will present a lecture before the members of the Bulgarian Atlantic Club.

[02] PRESIDENT ZHELEV HOLDS CONSULTATIONS ON RADIO AND TV LAW

The law violates freedom of speech provisions in the Constitution, according to representatives of the Free Word Forum who met with the President. The organization's Vice President Alexander Velev believes some paragraphs in the law provide for the establishment of state and party-controlled, rather than national, electronic media. According to the Free Word Forum, the President will return the law to Parliament for reconsideration.

Officials of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists said however that the law was a step forward in the promotion of the constitutionally- proclaimed freedom of speech. The President of the Union Alexander Angelov expressed before the President his hope that the law will work and will be adequately enforced.

The President of the Podkrepa Union of Bulgarian Journalists Chavdar Tonchev presented to Zhelev an address by his organization opposing the law in its present from and calling on Zhelev to return it.

The law was supported by the Directors General of the Bulgarian National Television Ivan Tokadjiev and the Bulgarian National Radio Vecheslav Tounev. Meeting with President Zhelev, they emphasized it should be given a chance. According to them, the interim radio and television statutes are inoperative and it is high time the national electronic media were regulated by a law.

The law treats inadequately the issues of financing and is discriminating between national and private electronic media, according to the Association of Private Radio Stations, whose opinion was presented to the President by the boss of the Sofia-based private Radio FM+, Peter Pounchev.

The operation of the two national media is currently regulated by a National Assembly decision on the Interim Statutes of the national radio and television. The Statutes were adopted as a result of a political agreement among the political forces represented in the Grand National Assembly and published in early 1991. The agreement provided for the Grand National Assembly to adopt by 1991 a law regulating the status of those two electronic media. In the last few years the National Assembly discussed several draft laws on electronic media. At the request of President Zhelyu Zhelev, this year the Constitutional Court interpreted the freedom of speech provisions in the Constitution.

[03] PARLIAMENT AMENDS 1996 CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET

The MPs voted the 1996 central government budget setting revenues at 359,216.9 million leva and expenditures at 438,932.6 million leva. The revenues are up by 108,067.3 million from the figure approved in February and the expenditures up by 130,470.2 million. A total of 22,402.9 million leva were added to the budget deficit. The updated version proceeds from 150 leva per US dollar averaged estimated exchange rate, an annual inflation of slightly over 100%, and an average base inerest rate of 72% in July-September and 50% in October- December.

The bulk of central government expenditures will go for interest payments on the internal and external debt (189,098 million leva and 41,905.4 million leva respectively); 29,134.8 million leva are budgeted for interest payments due to the London Club; 52,876.5 million for defence and security; 9,236.3 million leva for subsidizing losses in production; 310 million leva for replenishing the Structural and Technological Policy Fund; 3,700 million leva for the Agriculture Fund; 309.2 million leva for the Science and Research Fund; and 700 million leva for nuclear safety investment in the Kozlodoui Nuclear Power Plant.

The budget update sets social security revenue/expenditures at 132,310.1 million leva of which 110,359.3 million will be pensions.

Following heated debates the MP approved the updated judiciary budget, setting the revenue at 4,255.7 million leva including a 165.9 million subsidy from the central government. A letter by Prosecutor General Ivan Tatarchev was publicized at Parliament today, in which he demands that the budget of the judiciary be increased by adding 1,381.1 million leva to the central government subsidy. The Supreme Judicial Council and MPs also demanded higher subsidies from the central government budget, but their demands were rejected by the majority in Parliament. An MP of the opposition warned this will impede the normal functioning of the judiciary.

[04] DISPUTES IMPEND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN BULGARIA

Under the ruling, approved by a 9 to 3 vote, the Bulgarian President must be a Bulgarian citizen by birth. "Bulgarian citizenship by birth (by origin or place of birth) can be acquired only at birth and cannot be preceded by any another citizenship," the Court ruled. The decision can be interpreted in a way to eliminate the presidential candidate of the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski, from the presidential race since Pirinski was born in New York of a Bulgarian emigre and an American mother.

The Bulgarian Constitution sets a number of other requirements for presidential candidates: to be aged 40 or over, to meet the conditions for becoming Member of Parliament, and to have spent the past five years in Bulgaria. However, only the citizenship requirement, i.e. that the contender should be a natural-born Bulgarian, triggered bitter disputes and scandals, which gave analysts enough evidence to believe that they can lead to surprise turns in the presidential race.

The Constitutional Court was petitioned to rule on the issue by MPs of the Union of Democratic Forces, this country's biggest opposition formation. The Union did not react immediately after Pirinski's candidacy was announced but as the election campaign gathered momentum, the opposition MPs decided to approach the Court with the motive that the unclear legal points as regards the Socialist candidate should be resolved.

The Court's ruling did nothing to clear the situation. The decision has no direct bearing on Pirinski's case; it is an interpretation of the matter in principle. Pirinski can field his candidacy to run in the presidential elections. However, it depends on the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to register him as a contender for the post. If the CEC refuses to accept his application, Pirinski can appeal against its decision before the Supreme Court. There are opposing views about what can happen if the CEC registers Pirinski - whether it is possible or not to appeal against such a decision.

According to Pirinski and his running mate, Culture Minister Professor Ivan Marazov, as well as to the BSP leaders, the Constitutional Court's ruling was a politically-motivated act. "The ruling heightens the tension and can destabilize the society," BSP senior officials said. Pirinski is considered the strongest and most popular candidate of the Left, and a candidate that can possibly win non-Left voters; the BSP showed that it values him. "Strict adherence to the Constitution is a serious reason for us to continue our active presidential campaign," Pirinski told a special news conference last week. He intensified his campaign. Support for Pirinski, and for his slogan "Together For Bulgaria", started to grow. "We hope for the pressure of the public opinion, for a concrete dialogue with the senior judges and for the intervention of European lawyers," BSP floor leader Krassimir Premyanov said. Premyanov went on to say that it is possible to approach the European Court and the European Commission.

Early opinion polls showed that Pirinski leads owerwhelmingly against his opponent of the united opposition Peter Stoyanov. Later polls showed that the two contenders have equal support of 50 per cent each at a possible runoff, which will be held if neither of the major candidates polls more than 50 per cent of the valid votes in the first round. Latest opinion polls show controversial results as voters favour both contenders.

Apart from its ruling on the issue of the Bulgarian citizenship, which triggered many disputes, the Constitutional Court may intervene in the presidential race once more. This may happen if Pirinski wins the elections. "The Constitutional Court shall rule upon any challenge to the legality of a presidential election within a month's time after the election," the Constitution says. The possible invalidation of a presidential election, especially if it has garnered the majority of the votes, could lead to unforeseeable political consequences. There are various interpretations on what will happen if the election results are cancelled. Views range from the interpretation that the running mate of the elected contender shall become president, to the one which says that new elections must be held.

[05] STATE RAILWAYS CAUGHT IN VICIOUS CIRCLE OF RECESSION

The BDZ management refused to raise train fares, thus incurring fresh losses since the hike of electricity and fuel prices in early July, writes "Standart News." The idea was that the larger number of passengers will make up for the higher expenditures and this tactic worked, to a certain extent," the daily comments. Estimates show, however, that if prices are maintained until September 1, 1996, BDZ will add another 1,000 million leva to its losses, the paper writes. Only market-based fares and an utmost shrinkage of expenditures can save the carrier from collapse, "Standart News" believes.

[06] NEW OPTIC CABLE LINKS SOFIA AND BELGRADE

The optic cable between Sofia and Belgrade will greatly improve the quality and increase the volume of phone services between the two capitals, experts say. Links with Europe will also improve considerably because the international telephone exchange which was opened in Belgrade today and the optic cable to Hungary allow for communications that meet the world's highest standards. The optic cable to Sofia will provide excellent connection to Yugoslavia with Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Spain, while the so-called telecommunications channel will connect the country with the U.S. and the Middle East. The completion of the project is part of the agreement on promotion of cooperation and good- neighbourly relations between the Bulgarian and Yugoslav governments.

[07] MONDAY NEWS BRIEFS

Bulgarian Ivan Ivanov scored 9.750 and shared the fourth place in gymnastics with Frenchman Thierry Aymes at the Atlanta Olympics. He came 0.500 short of winning the bronze in the first individual event. Bulgaria is 20th after the ninth day of the Olympics. Bulgarian athletes won 4 silver and 4 bronze medals in various sports.

Police found two packages of fish food in the Pazardjik (in Southern Bulgaria) customs, containing amphetamine or morphine, the Interior Ministry press office said. The substance will be subjected to further tests. Police searching a house in Riltsi (in Southwestern Bulgaria) confiscated 4 kg of cannabis and 2 kg of cannabis seed, the release also says.

Interior Ministry officers on duty yesterday found traces of explosive on a Sofia highway, the Interior Ministry press office said. They were tipped by Sofia residents. The device was homemade and was probably set off by drunken hooligans. Noone was injured. Police are looking for the criminals.

President Zhelyu Zhelev received the credentials of Apostolic Nuncio Mgr Blasco Francisco Collaco, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan Tuletai Skakovich and the Ambassador of Thailand Potep Vanachinda.

The opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) sent to the Government a letter proposing ways to overcome the grain crisis, UDF deputy leader Alexander Bozhkov said. He did not elaborate on the proposals. To overcome the crisis, this country will need to import 1.1 million t of wheat, said Bozhkov. "I have not yet seen the proposals, but if they are constructive, we will include them in the grain law which is being drafted by the Cabinet," Prime Minister Zhan Videnov said.

Interior Minister Nikolay Dobrev today met for about an hour with the Parliament chairman, deputy chairmen and floor leaders. The discussion focused on terrorism, National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov said. According to UDF floor leader Yordan Sokolov, Dobrev familiarized the MPs with the crime situation. No participant shared any more information about the discussion.

Civil Defence officers in Silistra on the Danube (Northeastern Bulgaria) today defused a 120 mm shell from World War II. It was found in a yard in Yastrebna, the local BTA correspondent reported.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food-Processing Krustyo Trendafilov received the Ambassador of Kazakhstan Tuletai Skakovich. They discussed opportunities for the barter of Bulgarian goods for wheat and the establishment of joint ventures, the Ministry's press office reported.

Trendafilov received World Bank Resident Representative in Bulgaria Alberto Musalem. The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the one-year delay of the utilization of a 50-million-dollar World Bank loan, and discussed a number of technical reasons preventing the utilization of the funds, earmarked for producers. The sides agreed on the need to streamline the mechanism of utilization, taking into account priorities in agriculture. Musalem offered expert assistance from the World Bank in the development of projects and agricultural policies in 1996-1997. A World Bank expert will visit again in early August, the Agriculture Ministry press office said.

A fire today destroyed about 6 ha of 20-year pine forest in the Varna region (Eastern Bulgaria). An investigation is underway. The most likely reason for the fire is negligence, the BTA local correspondent reported.

The commander of Third Yugoslav Army Lieutenant General Dusan Samardzic today arrived on a three-day visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of high-ranking officers in the Bulgarian Army. He met with the Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Army Colonel General Tsvetan Totomirov, ground forces commander Lieutenant General Ginyo Tonev and the commander of the First Army Corps Major General Ivan Tomov, and visited a tank facility in Gorna Banya near Sofia. Samardzic is scheduled to watch an artillery shooting practice in the area of Samokov.

The coalition partners in the Democratic Left- the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the Alexander Stamboliyski Bulgarian Agrarian National Union and the Ecoglasnost Political Club- are expected to sign by Wednesday an agreement on joint participation in the presidential elections and support for the Democratic Left ticket, Zhan Vidneov, Prime Minister and BSP leader, told a meeting of the Sofia Council of the BSP which began here.

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