Ta nea toy BTA 23-Mar-95[**]
From: georgek@engc.bu.edu (george kapodistrias)
Ta nea apo thn Presbeia ths Boylgarias sthn Washington, D.C.
[01] . PRESIDENT ZHELEV: FORTHCOMING VISITS
[02] . VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN'S LETTER TO ZHAN VIDENOV
[03] . BULGARIA, RUSSIA: CONSULTATIONS
[04] ** GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER PAPOULIAS TO VISIT
[05] . PARLIAMENT TODAY
[06] . LORD CARRINGTON IN BULGARIA
[07] * BULGARIA - PHARE
[23 Ekatom. ENM ua labei h Boylgaria gia programmata ypersynoriakhs
synergasias me thn Ellada]
[08] . FRENCH MINISTER OF CULTURE TOUBON ARRIVES
[09] . GOVERNMENT ON PRIVATIZATION
[10] * " GREEN CORRIDOR"
Giwrgos Kapodistrias
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From: bulgaria@access3.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria)
Subject: BTA inf/ Mar. 23, 95
Date: 24 Mar 1995 09:36:29 -0500
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
BULLETIN OF NEWS FROM THE BTA
[01] PRESIDENT ZHELEV: FORTHCOMING VISITS
At the invitation of Kim Young Sam, President of the
Republic of Korea, President Zhelyu Zhelev of Bulgaria will pay
a state visit to the Republic of Korea between April 2 and 5,
1995, the President's Press Office said.
Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev has been invited by
Mongolian President Punsalmaagiyn Ochirbat to make an
official visit to Mongolia, scheduled for April 5 and 6,
1995. The President will be accompanied by members of Parliament
and government ministers.
[02] VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN'S LETTER TO ZHAN VIDENOV
Today Prime Minister Zhan Videnov received a personal
message from Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Viktor
Chernomyrdin, the Government's press office said. I appreciate
Bulgaria's kind invitation for an official visit to this
country. Unfortunately the visit cannot be made in the proposed
time, the message reads. I believe you will show understanding.
I would like to suggest that our meeting be held in Sofia in
late May or June this year. I believe it would be useful if we
could use the available time for completion of the joint work on
the preparations for my visit. The concluding stage of the
preparations could be marked by a meeting of the bilateral
intergovernmental committee for trade, economic, scientific
and technical cooperation. I avail of the opportunity to invite
you to attend the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary
since the victory of the Soviet Union over the Nazi in World War
II, which will take place on May 9 in Moscow, the letter says.
[03] BULGARIA, RUSSIA: CONSULTATIONS
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolay Afanasievski was
received here today by Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski. Georgi
Dimitrov, Head of International Organisations Department
described the meeting as a preparatory stage for the visit to
Bulgaria of Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.
According to Mr Dimitrov the two-day consultations of Mr
Afanasievski in Bulgaria were extremely useful, frank and
comprehensive. The two parties found a lot in common in their
positions on a number of issues. The talks with Minister
Pirinski rendered prominence to the situation in the Balkans in
the context of the increasingly alarming news from Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The Russian guest familiarized the Bulgarian
officials with Russia's participation in the contact group for
the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Balkans. He
confirmed his country's position about the vital necessity to
take concerted efforts for preventing the expansion of the
military operations in this region. Bulgaria restated its
refusal to join any axes and take part in military operations,
even those held under the auspices of the United Nations.
The consultations touched on Bulgaria's wish to join NATO.
Mr Dimitrov emphasized that Bulgaria has prospects for becoming
part of an integrated Europe, which will be discussed in
parallel with the issue of this country's joining the
Euro-Atlantic structures. " We shall have to be responsible and
careful enough not to take any rash decisions," Mr Dimitrov
emphasized. He said the issue is also related with the ensuring
of the national security.
[04] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER PAPOULIAS TO VISIT
Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias on March 30 and 31
will pay an official visit to Bulgaria, the head of Foreign
Ministry Balkan Countries Department, Kosta Andreev, told a
regular briefing today. During the visit the sides will discuss
issues pertaining to the situation in the region, bilateral
relations, European policy and Bulgaria's integration into the
European Union. Talks will also discuss the participation of the
two countries in a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation member states due on April 15 in
Athens.
[05] PARLIAMENT TODAY
The National Assembly today enacted legislation ratifying
an agreement between the governments of Bulgaria and the Russian
Federation on cooperation in the prevention, mitigation and
elimination of the effects of industrial accidents and natural
disasters. The agreement was challenged by the opposition. Mr
Vassil Mihailov MP of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) said
that some passages in the bill prejudice Bulgaria's national
security. He was referring to the text according to which
accident rescue teams will be formed by military personnel.
The agreement is in harmony with international treaties
and agreements, according to Mr Boris Kolev MP, Chairman of
the National Assembly Committee on Environmental Protection
and Waters, and other members of the Democratic Left. The
bill was passed on first and second reading, after which
Parliament voted to extend its sitting.
[06] LORD CARRINGTON IN BULGARIA
Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski received today Lord
Carrington in his capacity as President of Voluntary Services
Overseas. Lord Carrington arrived on a visit to Bulgaria
yesterday. Minister Pirinski familiarized the guest with the
current economic and social situation in Bulgaria as well as
with the prospects and the difficulties that the Bulgarian
foreign trade contacts are facing. Also on the agenda was
Bulgaria's integration in the European and the Euro-Atlantic
structures. At a lecture, organised by the Atlantic Club this evening and
attended by MPs, ministers and diplomats, Lord Carrington made a
short review of the historic changes in Europe over the last 55
years and the prerequisites leading to the formation of NATO.
Among the major problems that Europe is currently facing, Lord
Carrington mentioned the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the
expansion of NATO, the trans-Atlantic relations, the peace
keeping and the world order. Lord Carrington told the meeting
that Bulgaria is supported by his country in its wish to become
part of Europe, where it used to belong.
[07] BULGARIA - PHARE
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Foreign
Economic Cooperation Kiril Tsochev received Ambassador Thomas
O'Sullivan, Head of Delegation of the European Commission, the
Government's press centre said. Mr O'Sulluvan handed a formal
letter from Sypke Brauer, Director of the PHARE programme, in
which Bulgaria is notified that under the 1995 indicative
programme this country will receive ECU 60 million for its
national PHARE programme and ECU 23 million for the programme
for transborder cooperation with Greece. The indicative
programme will represent a stage towards a long-term planning
within the PHARE programme for the period until the year 1999.
The complete package, including the funds allocated for 1995,
will amount to some ECU 415 million.
[08] FRENCH MINISTER OF CULTURE TOUBON ARRIVES
French Minister of Culture and Francophony Jacque Toubon
arrived here today at the invitation of Minister of Culture
Georgi Kostov. This is a familiarization visit during which we
shall prepare for signing accords on bilateral cooperation in
culture and education, Mr Toubon said on his arrival at the
Sofia airport. In his view, the European Community has mainly
had economic dimensions so far, but it is now entering the stage
in which larger Europe will be substantiated in cultural aspect.
According to Mr Toubon the first step in the association of the
Eastern European states, including Bulgaria, to Europe after the
fall of the Berlin wall, is to be made in the field of culture.
Mr Toubon will be here until March 24 and will meet with
President Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and Foreign
Minister Georgi Pirinski.
[09] GOVERNMENT ON PRIVATIZATION
" The Government has the political will to launch mass
privatization before the end of this year," Deputy Prime
Minister and Economic Development Minister Roumen Gechev
told a news conference today, entirely devoted to privatization
and also attended by the newly appointed Executive Director of
the Privatization Agency Vesselin Blagoev and the Director of
the Centre for Mass Privatization with the Council of Ministers
Yossif Iliev. " We are opting for a privatization model which,
immodest as it might sound, could be called Bulgarian," Mr
Gechev said. In his view, the key principles of this model
draw on the experience of mass privatization in the Czech
Republic. Unlike the Czech model, the Bulgarian Government
orients itself to mixed privatization, in which 50 per cent
of an enterprise will be sold for cash and the remaining 50
per cent will be exchanged for securities: investment vouchers,
Brady bonds, or long-dated government paper issued under the Bad
Debts Act. Members of the public will be able to invest their
vouchers in exchange for shares and they will be negotiable
without restraint on the stock exchanges. " We are open to more
flexible forms and solutions as well, because things may change
when it comes to practical application," Mr Gechev said. The
Government is planning to start registration of the voucher
books as from September. A list of 150 enterprises subject to
mass privatization will be ready by that time. The privatization
itself is planned to start in November. All enterprises which
are not barred from divestment will be available for mass
privatization, Mr Gechev said. He sees no reason why hotels or
oil refineries should be excluded from mass privatization. To
this end, the Government presented to Parliament a securities
bill and is working on amendments to the Privatization Act and
on an investment funds bill, which will go before the National
Assembly by the end of this month. The Government will make
everything possible to speed up cash privatization, Mr Gechev
said. He added that the Cabinet has no intentions at all to
cancel some already concluded privatization transactions on
economic considerations. A privatization contract can only be
repudiated if it is established that it was made against the
law of the land, but this will be up to the law courts to
decide, Mr Gechev said.
[10] " GREEN CORRIDOR"
The possibilities for organizing a " green corridor"
were considered today at a meeting between the Secretary of
the Government Yugoembargo Commission Dinko Dinkov with the
US Customs Attache in Vienna, Mr Ivan Taborski. Through the
fast-track " green corridor," perishible Bulgarian and
Macedonian goods will be able to reach Central and Western
Europe via Romania and Hungary. The meeting was attended by
representatives of the ministries of trade, foreign affairs,
finance and transport.
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