News from Bulgaria / Oct 16, 95

From: bulgaria@access1.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria)

Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Directory

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

CONTENTS

[01] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER GECHEV HOLDS TALKS

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechev today received German Ambassador to Sofia Peter Metzger. Gechev familiarized the German diplomat with the progress of this country's economic reform. The talks paid special attention to the privatization programme and the list of enterprises that will be denationalized, the cabinet's press office said.

The two officials discussed aspects of the Bulgarian-European Union (EU) relations. Gechev stressed that Bulgaria's reaction as regards the visa requirements and the operation of the Kozlodoui nuclear power plant is fully justified. "Bulgaria, a country that strictly implements its international obligations in all spheres, should not be put under restrictive conditions," the cabinet's press office quotes Gechev as saying. Ambassador Metzger stated that Germany will not boycott the ministerial environment conference. The German Ambassador stressed also that the role of the EU member-states ambassadors here should focus on building of confidence in the Bulgarian citizens as regards Europe and the European structures, as well as for overcoming the existing pressure, reads the cabinet's press release.

[02] HEAD OF COMMITTEE FOR PEACEFUL USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY YANKO YANEV

"We resumed technical dialogue with European experts, attempting to once again present the Bulgarian point of view, and reach a sensible decision in regard to the safety of the Kozlodoui nuclear power plant (on the Danube)," the Chairman of the Committee for Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Yanko Yanev today said in a telephone interview from Germany for the private Darik Radio. He admitted Bulgarian and Western European experts have "radically different views" on the plant's oldest Unit One. Yanev arrived in Germany last Wednesday with a large group of experts from Kozlodoui, the Energy Committee and the National Electricity Company, to discuss a project for the upgrading of Units Five and Six of the plant. "We are also considering opportunities for financing this project," Yanev said. "Major technical differences between the Bulgarian and the Western European experts proceed from the fact the latter would simply not accept the safety assessments by Bulgarian and Russian institutes, and by the Russian maker and chief designer of the reactor," Yanev said.

According to him, the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday, urging Bulgaria to delay the restart of the reactor, was "divorced from reality". Yanev noted the resolution was voted by one-third of the MPs, the rest having left the chamber. "It is another question that we even now are seriously trying to resume dialogue with our partners, and I think we have succeeded. We are discussing these issues in search of a solution, acceptable for both European political circles and Bulgaria as a nuclear-operating nation," Yanev said in his interview.

[03] CELEBRATIONS OF DAY OF BULGARIAN AVIATION

Bourgas, October 14 - On the day of Bulgarian aviation and air forces, and the 80th anniversary of Bulgarian aircraft manufacturing, the Bourgas civilian airport hosted an aircraft exhibit and air show. The events were attended by Bulgarian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Zhelyu Zhelev, Deputy Prime Minister Svetoslav Shivarov, MPs and military attaches in Sofia. One of the first to show their proficiency was the Commander of the Bulgarian Air Forces General Miho MIhov, who piloted a MiG-29. Military pilots from neighbouring Balkan countries and Ukraine also took part in the show. In his address, President Zhelyu Zhelev said the history of Bulgarian aviation was a source of self-respect and inspiration. Bulgarian military pilots, hit by budget cuts, have found the strength to maintain their traditions and combat readiness, Zhelev said, adding this country can be proud of their professionalism.

[04] PARLIAMENT OKAYS GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE OF JAPANESE

The Parliament gave its consent that the Bulgarian Government issue letters of guarantee to an authorized Japanese government institution on loan agreements with the state-owned Non-Ferrous Metal Works of Plovdiv (Southern Bulgaria) and the state-owned Elisseina ore-mining enterprise (Northwestern Bulgaria). The loans will be used for implementation of environmental projects. The loans in question amount to 5,955 million yen for the Non-Ferrous Metal Works and to 2,081 million yen for the Elisseina enterprise. They mature in 30 years, with a ten-year grace period. Opposition MPs did not challenge the economic parameters of the loan agreements but objected that they will "perpetuate" the Plovdiv works. Mr Valentin Vassilev MP of the Union of Democratic Forces (the largest opposition formation) and former environment minister, called into question the very existence of such a facility near Plovdiv. Despite these objections, the motion was carried with a single vote against.

[05] SOCIALIST M.P. GEORGI NIKOLOV ELECTED AUDITOR GENERAL

The Socialist-dominated Parliament today elected by open ballot Mr Georgi Nikolov MP of the Socialist Party Auditor General. Mr Nikolov, an economist, was chairman of the National Assembly Economic Committee. Even though it nominated its own candidate, MP Vladimir Abadjiev, the Union of Democratic Forces, which is the largest opposition formation in Parliament, seconded in the debate the nomination of another Socialist MP, lawyer Yordan Shkolagerski, who was deputy chairman of the previous legislature.

The opposition insisted that Mr Nikolov remain in the chair of the Economic Committee because they were working very well with him. The Socialists argued that Mr Shkolagerski, who did not attend today's sitting, would decline the nomination and abstained when it was put to the vote.

The Auditor General heads the National Accounting Office which was created by an Act of Parliament, passed on July 27, 1995 and effective as from January 1, 1996. Under the Act both the Auditor General and the other ten members of the National Accounting Office are elected by Parliament for a term of nine years. The Auditor General may not be re-elected. The Auditor General manages and represents the National Accounting Office and orders unscheduled examinations, submits to the National Assembly annually a report on the performance of the National Accounting Office in the preceding year and reports on the results of examinations carried out by the Office, approves the nominee for the post of Chief Auditor of the National Bank of Bulgaria, and appoints and dismisses the employees of the Office.

There was no National Accounting Office under the communist regime. As required by the new Bulgarian Constitution of July 1991, it was restored as an authority which exercises control over the implementation of the budgets passed by the National Assembly.

[06] BULGARIAN, SERB PATRIARCH SERVE MASS TOGETHER

Sofia, October 15 (BTA) - Bulgarian Patriarch Maksim and Serbian Patriarch Pavle officiated together at a service in the biggest Orthodox church in Belgrade, St Sava, a national television correspondent reported. The two prayed for peace in former Yugoslavia. Patriarch Maksim arrived in Serbia last Wednesday. On Thursday he met with Patriarch Pavle, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoe Kontic. Tonight he is expected to receive the highest Serbian decoration, the St Sava Order, national television said.

According to national television, Patriarch Maksim on Monday will visit Bosilegrad, in an area close to the border populated by large masses of Bulgarians. According to the Bulgarian press, the Patriarch should do his best for God's word to sound in Bulgarian in the Western Outlands (which were part of Bulgaria before World War I, and joined Serbia under the Neuilly Peace Treaty of 1919).

[07] BUSINESS NEWS BRIEFS October 6-13

Sofia, October 15 (BTA)

About 20 per cent of the parts for the Rover Maestro, whose assembly began in Varna (on the Black Sea), should be made in Bulgaria at the end of five years, according to Andy Myers, financial director of the British-Bulgarian joint venture Rodacar. He was familiarized with possibilities for integration with two companies in Veliko Turnovo (Central Bulgaria). Offers were considered for the manufacture in Veliko Turnovo of radio and tape player and an electronic starting device for the Rover Maestro.

The Cabernet Sauvignon of vintage 1993, made by Vinprom in Svishtov (on the Danube), was declared wine number one for October in a British specialized magazine. Another wine of the same company, the Cabernet Sauvignon vintage 1993, was wine number one in the UK last April.

Varna-based Bulunion launched a roll-one/roll-off cargo service to Turkey and Iran. It has so far operated the Varna-Novosibirsk line, but is ready to ship cargo to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian CIS republics.