Sofia, June 11 (BTA) - In a report to the North Atlantinc Assembly Rose-Roth Seminar which started in Sofia, PM Zhan Videnov suggested that Sofia hosts a meeting between the interested states from the Central European Initiative and the members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation on the problems of the infrastructure in South-Eastern Europe. The three-day forum "Regional Stability and Security: the Bulgarian View" was organised by the North Atlantic Assembly with the assistance of the Bulgarian National Assembly. It was opened by Ivan Gaitandjiev MP of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, who heads the Bulgarian delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly. The forum was also attended by National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov, Defence Minister Dimiter Pavlov, MPs, experts in politics. "The regional conflicts in the Balkans are posing the greatest challenge not only to the countries on the Balkan peninsula, but to the civilized world in general, " PM Videnov said in his report. He confirmed Bulgaria's principal position not to interfere in the conflict in former Yugoslavia and raised the slogan "Security through Cooperation and Integration". Videnov pointed out that the integration of the Balkan region into the structures of the single Europe is its only perspective in achieving a lasting peace. The Bulgarian Government will propose to the international community specific measures for compensating the losses, incurred on third countries as a result from the strict observation of the sanctions, imposed by the UN Security Council against former Yugoslavia. The Government's foreign policy is focused on the association and integration with the European Union and other European and Euro-Atlantic structures, Videnov pointed out. In that connection the Prime Minister brought forward the significance of the 1993 declaration, adopted by the 37th National Assembly, which says that Bulgaria will use the possibilities for cooperation, offered by NATO, WEU and other international organisations with view to its future association with these organisations, with consideration of Bulgaria's national interests.
The delegates also discussed a number of economic and financial issues, connected with the transition to a market economy of the Eastern European states and Bulgaria in particular. High on the agenda was the possible future role of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation for the economic interaction between the East and the West. Tomorrow the forum will continue its work.
Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - The "Pari" financial and business news daily leads on a report that a World Bank mission and the Bulgarian Government fell out over electricity prices in Bulgaria. At a June 7 meeting with the Cabinet, the World Bank officials peremptorily demanded an increase of electricity prices by at least USD 0.0026/kWh as from September 1, 1995. The effective price is USD 0.0019/kWh. The Government answered that a revision of prices could be contemplated only in the spring of 1996. Meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Energy, the World Bank mission insisted on a raise of electricity prices to USD 0.0035/kWh, or else Bulgaria would not get a planned loan, writes "Pari, " quoting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation Kiril Tsochev. Another source, who attended the meeting between the World Bank mission and the Government, told the daily that following the Bulgarian reaction the World Bank may well suspend disbursement of the remaining 80 million US dollars of a 93 million dollar energy loan and suspend further negotiations on the FESAL loan. "Pari" quotes Mr Tsochev as saying that the World Bank officials "were rather rude to the Bulgarian experts."
"We are negotiating with the World Bank mission, and I couldn't say we have reached agreement on the energy loan, " Finance Minister Dimiter Kostov said, quoted by "24 Chassa."
The same story is covered in a front-page report of "Troud, " headlined "World Bank Presses for 30 Per Cent Jump of Electricity from September."
There are 40, 000 unemployed engineers in Bulgaria, and 96, 000 job holders in mechanical engineering have been made redundant, said Bozhidar Fotev, President of the National Chamber for Business Promotion, quoted by "Douma." In 1994, funds in new production were invested in just 2 per cent of the mechanical engineering enterprises. Privatization in industry is in an initial phase, and of all East European countries Bulgaria has attracted the least amount of foreign investment, Mr Fotev argues.
Bulgaria's balance of payments marked a 167.9 million US dollars surplus in the first quarter, "Douma" reports. The central bank's gross foreign-exchange reserves grew 125.6 million US dollars. During the period, Bulgaria paid 236 million US dollars interest on its foreign debt. The trade balance for the period was plus 127 million US dollars, and the balance of payments on current account was favourable by just 11.2 million dollars because of the foreign debt payments, writes "Douma."
Sixty per cent of Albania's imports come from Bulgaria, Albanian businessman Agron Koci told journalists in Razgrad (Northeastern Bulgaria). Bulgarian processed foods meet with the readiest market in his country, he added.
The first insurance pool has been established for the Neftochim oil refinery of Bourgas (on the Black Sea), says Jeannine Gechovska, President of the Sofia Ins insurance company (an affiliate of the Multigroup private conglomerate), says in an interview for "Douma." The refinery was insured through risk sharing between the State Insurance Institute, the Bulgaria Insurance and Reinsurance Company and Sofia Ins. The Neftochim risk was appraised by London-based experts, Ms Gechovska says. Sofia Ins is also considering the establishment of insurance pools in other high risk branches such as the chemical industry, metallurgy or power generation, she adds.
The US Global Environment Facility has released 450, 000 US dollars in a second tranche under a programme for management of the development, reports "Continent, " quoting Tsveta Kamenova, head of the Regional Development Department at the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction. So far, however, no scheme for the distribution of the funds has been prepared.
Sofia, June 11 (BTA) - The Storko canning factory of Pleven (Nothern Bulgaria) will export 300, 000 US dollars worth of tinned foods for Russia. The company sells 80 per cent of its output to the Russian market where it delivers three waggons of preserved vegetables every day.
A British company will invest 210 million US dollars for the construction of car tyres works and a plant for diesel engine-driven trucks near Pleven, BTA's local correspondent said. Under the contract the construction is to be launched next spring. The annual output of the car tyres works is expected to be worth 140 million US dollars and to be exported to Russia and other Eastern and Central European states.
There are a total of between 300, 000 and 400, 000 small and medium-sized private companies in Bulgaria, however 20-30 per cent of them are letterbox ones. The figures were cited at the conference "Industrial Organisations and Entrepreneurship in the Conditions of Transition" which ended during the week in the resort of Albena (on the Black Sea). The forum was organised by the University of National And Global Economics in Sofia, the Economic Institute with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Economics in Svishtov.
Experts of the Foundation "Institute for General Stimulation in the U.S." held a workshop with members of the Association of Farmers in the Danubian town of Vidin. Fourteeen U.S. experts will consult for two years private farmers mainly from Northwestern Bulgaria. They will be assisted by the U.S. Peace Corp and the organisation Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA).
A national bank forum "Banking Technologies '95" was held between June 5 and 9 in the Southern town of Plovdiv. A round table on the problems of unification of bank standarts was held during the forum.
The 24-hours tests of an installation for the production of carbamide in the Himko company in Vratsa (Northwestern Bulgaria) were successfully completed. The equipment manufactured 600 tonnes of first-qiality carbamide for exports, BTA's local correspondent said. The installation was produced under license and on the project of the U.S. UTI company. Investment projects for the construction of three units are being realized within the framework of the general techinological innovation of the company's capacities.
Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - Parliament adopted a Civil Defence Bill on first reading by an overwhelmingmajority. The Bill, drafted by the Council of Ministers, specifies the functions and powers of the Civil Defence in peace and war time. At present the Civil Defence operation is regulated by an act passed in 1948 and a decree issued in 1978.
According to the MPs, they are outdated and it is necessary to adopt a new act. Without any debate, Parliament elected Klara Marinova, MP of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Radio, Television and the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). This is Marinova's third term as an MP. Before her election to the National Assmebly, she worked as an international news analyst at the Bulgarian National Television. Klara Marinova is also the BSP spokesperson. Until now she was deputy chairman of the same Committee. George Ganchev, leader of the Bulgarian Business Bloc and former chairman of the Committee, had to leave Parliament as the Constitutional Court ruled that his election as an MP was unconstitutional.
The parliamentary Committee on Radio, Television and BTA was set up by the Grand National Assembly. It is authorized to supervise and control the compliance with the Interim Statute of the National Media until the adoption of a special act. Valentin Stoev, an MP of the Bulgarian Business Bloc, was elected Deputy Chairman of the Committee.
Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - "The Government is taking and will be taking a series of specific actions to defend the interests of the Bulgarians resident abroad and especially in the CIS countries and the former Yugoslavia, " Prime Minister Zhan Videnov said, addressing Parliament during question time today. He was answering an opposition MP's question. Unofficial figures of the Agency for Expatriate Bulgarians put the aggregate Bulgarian population abroad at over one million. Ethnic Bulgarians number over 200, 000 in Ukraine, there are some 90, 000 in Moldova and 60, 000 in the Western Outlands (an area in Southeastern Serbia which Bulgaria lost after its defeat in WW I under the 1919 Treaty of Neuilly).
Mr Stoyan Raichevski MP of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces, who asked the question, accused the Videnov administration of doing nothing for the protection of the rights of expatriate Bulgarian communities. Mr Raichevski argued that there are numerous reports of abuses of the constitutional rights of the Bulgarians in the Western Outlands.
"Acknowledgement of historical realities, renunciation of international provocations, aspirations to good neighbourliness by no means imply ignoring the interests of fellow Bulgarians, " Mr Videnov said, reacting to the MP's allegations.
The Prime Minister said that his Government will present to Parliament a bill on expatriate Bulgarians which should settle in principle the matter of a national doctrine on Bulgarians resident abroad. Mr Videnov recalled that on June 1, 1995 the National Assembly Committee on Foreign Policy received a brief on the condition of Bulgarians abroad, which has been prepared with the assistance of the Government. The Committee converged on the need to frame and implement a national doctrine on expatriate Bulgarians.
Mr Videnov elaborated on the measures taken to establish contacts with the Bulgarians in the CIS and ex- Yugoslavia. Steady relations are maintained and assistance provided to the Bulgarian communities in the former Yugoslavia and their organizations through the Government Agency for Expatriate Bulgarians. Bulgarian newspapers are sent weekly for the Bulgarians in the Western Outlands. Seriously sick Yugoslav citizens of Bulgarian origin are assisted in receiving medical treatment in Bulgaria. The Agency for Expatriate Bulgarians helps arrange the exchange of theatrical productions between Kyustendil, Bulgaria, and Bosilegrad, Serbia (in an area with a large ethnic Bulgarian community). There are also plans to arrange summer vacations in Bulgaria for children of Bulgarians in ex-Yugoslavia.
Mr Videnov recalled that the Yugoslav and Serbian constitutions recognize the Bulgarians as a national minority in Yugoslavia and Serbia.
Bulgaria's policy also finds expression in the formation of a consultative working group on the problems of the Western Outlands, comprising MPs, senior officials of institutions of state, representatives of patriotic organizations and the mass media, Prime Minister Videnov said.
"Bulgaria's policy towards ethnic Bulgarians in the CIS countries is determined by the interests of the Bulgarian nation connected with the preservation and maintenance of an enduring and conspicuous presence of our compatriots abroad, especially in the historically formed areas of compact population of Bulgarian stock, " Mr Videnov said. He added that this policy takes into account the specific problems in the different CIS republics.
The Agency for Expatriate Bulgarians maintains active contacts with 13 structures of Bulgarians' organizations in Ukraine and nine organizations in Moldova. Assistance is provided for the establishment of a Bulgarian cultural centre in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Bulgarians from the CIS, who wish to resettle in Bulgaria, are eligible for relocation allowances from the public purse. Every year 240 expatriate Bulgarians, most of them from the CIS and ex-Yugoslavia, are enrolled at Bulgarian higher educational establishments for state-financed tuition.
"The formulation and implementation of a comprehensive state policy will require the active involvement and cooperation of all state bodies, as well as of the public organizations and the media. Implementation of this policy is unthinkable without unity of action of parliamentary and extraparliamentary political forces, " Mr Videnov said, concluding his answer.
Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - At a news conference today following a series of official meetings, the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Miguel Martinez expressed his perfect impressions of Bulgaria. Today he met President Zhelyu Zhelev and Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, members of the Bulgarian delegation to the CE Parliamentary Assembly, and intellectuals. Yesterday he had talks with National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov and Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski. Miguel Martinez' Sofia agenda included the expansion of the CE, Bulgaria's possible accession to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, European integration and the conflict in Bosnia and Hercegovina. Meeting with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, the President of the CE Parliamentary Assembly voiced his expectations that the Bulgarian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly will keep its balanced stand on issues of this organization's agenda. The cabinet spokesman quoted Martinez as saying he appreciated highly Bulgaria's role in the consultations held with some countries expected this year to become full CE members. The sides reportedly exchanged views on foreign policy matters, including the conflict in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The Bosnian conflict was high on the agenda of other of Miguel Martinez' meetings. He told journalists it was interesting for him to hear Bulgaria's point of view, to know how Bulgaria sees the efforts of European structures to find a solution to the crisis, what progress could be expected. Discussing European integration with President Zhelev, Miguel Martinez reportedly stressed the consistency in this process. The CE official's talks with Dr. Zhelev, as well as with other statesmen, touched upon the confrontation in Bulgarian society and among the institutions. The President of the CE Parliamentary Assembly told the news conference he voiced his belief that this problem will be solved in the same way as many other in this country: observing the rules of democracy and the Constitution. Martinez further told journalists that he has discussed with his Bulgarian hosts this country's more active participation in the CE North-South Centre. He said he wants to see Bulgaria become a member of this structure and share its experience. National minorities were also on the agenda of Martinez' visit here. Speaking at the news conference, he stressed several times his belief that Bulgaria should sign the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. He believes it is a major achievement that this country in the past four or five years managed to handle the problems with Turks in the best possible way. Answering a journalist's question, he said the Sofia visit left him with the impression that nuances exist in the Bulgarian institutions' stands on the Framework Convention. Martinez further discussed Bulgaria's participation in NATO and other European structures, the Western European Union (WEU) in particular. Being deputy chair of the WEU, Martinez believes that Bulgaria has a right to participate actively in this organization, all the more so that the WEU needs to hear its views on matters related to the building of European security, collective security, defence. Miguel Martinez will visit the town of Koprovshtitsa, Southern Bulgaria, this afternoon and leave the country tomorrow morning.
Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - The floor leaders of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), the Popular Union and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) today signed a joint memorandum on cooperation in the local elections this autumn. In seven items in the memorandum, the MPs of the opposition formulate a procedure for nominating single mayoral candidates, for providing autonomy of local political structures in the nomination of candidates and the drawing up of election tickets for municipal councilors. The memorandum further provides for equality, tolerance and loyalty among the members of the united opposition in the local elections. The memorandum is expected to be signed very soon by the political leaders of the above opposition formations, with the leadership of the Bulgarian Business Bloc (BBB) likely to join in later, journalists learned at an off-the-cuff briefing at Parliament. Attending was an observer of the BBB, with which the trilateral meeting evolved into quadrilateral. The opposition leaders were unanimous that it was an important day for the democratic opposition that makes the first, be it belated, step to cooperation. "The meeting was prompted by the upcoming local elections but today's decision is sure to affect the opposition's performance at Parliament, " Osman Oktai MP of the MRF said, voicing the belief of the other attending MPs. Asked what specific results he expected from the singing of the memorandum when the Socialists still control an absolute parliamentary majority, Oktai said the document signed today will undoubtedly affect the self-confidence of the Socialists-led Democratic Left. "[Socialist floor leader] Premyanov will no longer be able to shuttle from one parliamentary group to another trying to talk them into backing the Socialists' ideas, " Oktai said.
Brussels, June 9 (BTA) - Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimiter Pavlov received his Ukrainian and Romanian counterparts Valerii Shmarov and Gheorghe Tinca at the Bulgarian Embassy in Brussels today within the framework of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council sitting at defence ministers level. Pavlov also met General George Joulwan, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Belgian Chief of General Staff Josef Charlier, and NATO International Secretariat assistant director in charge of defence planning and policy General Guy Bastien. The Bulgarian delegation visited the Partnership Coordination Cell in Mons and met its director, Major General Lange. They further acquainted themselves with the living and work conditions of the Bulgarian officers there. At the NATO headquarters, Dimiter Pavlov met the Defence Ministers of Germany and Hungary, Volker Ruehe and Gyorgy Keleti. This morning the Bulgarian Defence Minister has a working breakfast with US Secretary of Defence William Perry and the Defence Ministers of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council member states. He reported the result of the Cooperative Rescue'96 military exercise held on June 2-7 in Bulgaria.
Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - Portuguese Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso will pay an official visit to Bulgaria on June 14 and 15 at the invitation of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski. He is expected to meet Foreign Minister Pirinski, President Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov to discuss with them the bilateral relations, opportunities for their promotion and topical international issues. The two Foreign Ministers are expected to sign a bilateral agreement on avoidance of double taxation, said the Foreign Ministry Press Office. Being the second visit here by a Portuguese foreign minister since 1990, Jose Durao Barroso's coming to Bulgaria is a follow- up of the active political dialogue between the two countries. In 1994 Portuguese President Mario Soares paid an official visit to this country and earlier this year the Bulgarian Foreign Minister was in Lisbon, the Foreign Ministry says.
Sofia, June 10 (BTA) - Romania's Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu was on a short visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Pirinski. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry circulated a news release on the talks between the two foreign ministers. On the bilateral issues the two ministers found that the Bulgarian-Romanian relations have been progressing in the spirit of the 1992 Treaty for Friendship, Cooperation and Good-neighbourly Relations. They emphasized the necessity to maintain active political dialogue at all levels and to promote the direct contacts between ministries and departments as well as in the economic sphere, the news release says. In order to encourage trade and economic relations it has been planned to create free trade zones and to establish a joint Bulgarian- Romanian bank which will facilitate two-way payments. The prospects for improving the economic relations will also be discussed at the forthcoming third session of the Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in early July. The two officials considered the promotion of transport relation with regards to increasing the traffic capacity of the border check-points as well as the promotion of joint transport. The stage of the studies intended to specify the place of a future bridge across the Danube was also on the agenda. Bulgaria's and Romania's willingness to further promote the bilateral relations in agriculture, health, tourism, culture and in the protection of cultural and historic heritage was described as most significant for both states. Special attention will be rendered to the impovement of the consular services and a package of agreements concerning regulation of legal relations is to be finalized. The two states will continue to cooperate on the preservation of the ecological balance in the regions of the common border.
The foreign ministers discussed certain international issues of common interest like the upcoming summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation states in Bucharest. They shared a stand that regional economic cooperation should deepen in the context of European integration, which is a key priority. Special attention will be rendered to trans-regional cooperation. Bulgaria and Romania will maintain their dialogue on the future development of the relations with the EU. Together with the other associated states, the two countries will strive to take part in the preparation of EU's intergovernmental meeting in 1996. Bulgaria and Romania voiced common willingness to create conditions for regional security in the Balkans. Romania backed Bulgaria's initiative that a group of states send a letter to UN Secretary General Boutros Ghalli requesting that the organisation finds appropriate forms of providing compensations for the losses from the Yugosanctions.
The recent escalation of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina arouses the concern of both states. The act of taking UN hostages on part of the Bosnian Serbs is undermining the authority and the trust in the international organisation, they said. The two states support as very important the taken steps intended to release the hostages. The foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Romania will sustain their practice of holding regular meetings, making review on a periodical basis of what has been achieved on the bilateral cooperation and on the diverse issues of common interest, the news release says in conclusion.