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News from Bulgaria, 96-10-25Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Embassy of Bulgaria <bulgaria@access1.digex.net>EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY25 October, 1996CONTENTS
[01] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON AID TO BULGARIASofia, October 24 (BTA) - At a plenary sitting in Strasbourg today the European Parliament adopted a resolution on providing assistance to Bulgaria in overcoming the grain shortage, the National Assembly Iformation and Public Relations Centre said. The resolution was moved on the initiative of the Group of the Party of European Socialists, the largest in the European Parliament, and was adopted 113-80. The MEPs that voted against were from the Group of the European People's Party who had their own proposal with a less categorical commitment to exert assistance to Bulgaria.The resolution appeals to the European Commission and the European Council to give priority to the program on emergency aid for grain delivery. The member-countries are asked to offer credit lines and use other forms to supply Bulgaria with grain on a bilateral basis. It is explicitly stated that the European Parliament appeals to the European Commission to take the necessary steps and support the Bulgarian Government in its efforts to build up a social market economy. [02] PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR B.S.E.C. SUMMITSofia, October 24 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev today left for Moscow to attend the Third Summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Dr Zhelev will confer separately with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi and Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev. "Four years have passed since the signature of the Summit Declaration on Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Istanbul in 1992," Dr Zhelev said at Sofia Airport. "During this period, this regional community managed to set up definite structures which guarantee multilateral cooperation. It also managed to organize eight meetings of ministers of foreign affairs. We are entering a stage at which the projects proposed by BSEC should be implemented on a more pragmatic and specific basis," he observed. "I have in mind the infrastructural transport corridor, the energy corridors which may cross our territory, and telecommunications," the President specified. He said that he will have more to-the-point discussions on these matters at the BSEC Summit. The big question is where to find funding for implementation of the projects both in the Balkans and in Europe and areas adjoining the Old Continent," Dr Zhelev added. "I will focus on talks with Russian officials because our cooperation with that country, too, has started to stagnate," he noted. The heads of state or government of the BSEC member countries will open their third meeting in Moscow tomorrow. Russia chaired BSEC during the last six months, and the presidency tomorrow will rotate to Turkish President Suleyman Demirel. Under his auspices, Turkey will host another BSEC summit in six months' time. The foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Russia signed a Declaration on Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Istanbul on June 25, 1992 at the end of BSEC's inaugural summit. The then deputy foreign minister Valentin Dobrev signed for Bulgaria. Later on, Albania and Greece joined the group, bringing the number of participating states to eleven. Seven countries hold observer status at BSEC: Egypt, Israel, Poland, Slovenia, Tunisia, Austria and Italy.[03] PRESIDENT ZHELEV ATTENDS BLACK SEA SUMMIT IN MOSCOWMoscow, October 24 (BTA special correspondent Gratsiela Ingelska) - Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel met today, focusing on the actual implementation of the East-West transport corridor project and some ideas about carrying out similar projects. The two heads of state are visiting Moscow to attend the 3rd summit of the eleven countries participating in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation process which opens tomorrow.The agreement on the implementation of the East-West transport corridor project was signed by the presidents of Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania and Macedonia in 1995. Later on the project was supported by Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. At tomorrow's meeting President Zhelev intends to propose to the other heads of state and government leaders to synchronize their efforts in constructing the infrastructure of the Black Sea region, focusing on transport, energy and communications, President Zhelev's adviser Kiril Velev said. It is time that the Black Sea Economic Cooperation process switches from general discussions to the carrying out of specific projects and to raising funds for their implementation, President Zhelev told reporters on his arrival at Moscow. At the Vnukovo Airport he was met by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Bolshakov and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin. The 8th meeting of the foreign ministers of countries participating in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation cooperation will also open tomorrow. Bulgaria will be represented at it by its Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski. [04] BULGARIA JOINS MARRAKESH AGREEMENT ON W.T.O.Sofia, October 24 (BTA) - Parliament today ratified a Protocol on Bulgaria's accession to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO), signed in Geneva on October 2, 1996 and the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO signed on April 15, 1994, along with revisions, additions and annexes to it.Bulgaria's commitments relating to access to the market include bringing national law in line with the rules and principles of the multilateral trade system; liberalization of the access of goods and services to the Bulgarian market; fair competition, etc. This will raise the general level of tariff protection, while maintaining a considerably higher level of tariff protection for agricultural products, the reasoning to the Bill introduced by the Cabinet read. Importers say accession to WTO is a prerequisite for Bulgaria's faster association with the European structures, its accession to the Central European Free Trade Association and subsequent accession to the European Union. Joining the WTO is seen as an important stage of the adjustment of Bulgaria's economy and trade to the principles of the global market economy and multilateral trade policy. Bulgaria is joining WTO on condition that its agriculture will be subsidized, Svetoslav Louchnikov, MP of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces, said during the debates. The Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO was the result of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade talks within the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, WTO's predecessor. The organization made a start on January 1, 1995 and had 123 states and independent customs territories as its members by August 1996. Parliament ratified an Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft, which is an annex to the Marrakesh Agreement. Its aim is to liberalize world trade in civil aircraft. Bulgaria's commitments under the agreement stem from the need to adopt a new system of customs control of end users or adjust the existing system. The aim is to lift all tariffs or other charges levied on imports subject to classification for customs purposes. A Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft has been set up to control the implementation of the agreement, with one representative from each member state, the sponsors of the Bill said. Accession to the agreement would give Bulgaria full membership in the Committee. [05] BULGARIAN-AUSTRIAN DIALOGUE IN MILITARY SPHERESofia, October 24 (Andrei Sharkov of BTA) - It impressed me deeply that Bulgaria thinks on a European scale: it does not take into consideration only its own position as a state and addresses problems in their all-European aspect, Dr. Erich Reiter, chief of First Section of the Austrian Defence Ministry, told "Daily News". Dr. Reiter, who has the rank of deputy defence minister, started a three-day official visit here on Wednesday heading a military delegation invited to Bulgaria by Dimiter Mitkov, Deputy Defence Minister in charge of military political affairs.Small countries cannot take important decisions but they can serve as an example for addressing important issues through cooperation, Dr. Reiter told this reporter. He said Austria is interested in the Bulgarian views on European security architecture because over the recent years this country has turned into a major factor of stability in Southeastern Europe. He said that the development of the Bulgarian armed forces is of special interest, particularly as regards the observation of human rights and participation in humanitarian missions. The guest also said he was impressed by the discipline and order in Bulgaria. At today's talks the two sides exchanged opinions on important issues such as integration processes in Europe, Dimiter Mitkov told "Daily News" after meeting Dr Reiter. Military issues were discussed within the framework of talks on various aspects of security as an instrument of political efforts for setting up a zone of stability, peace and cooperation. "Dialogue between the defence ministries of Bulgaria and Austria covers a broad variety of issues. Austria has rich experience in participation in UN peacekeeping missions. We are already cooperating in personnel training and Bulgarian officers are studying in Austria, Deputy Defence Minister Mitkov said. There are also possibilities for joint holding of humanitarian operations especially in the light of Bulgaria's active participation in Partnership for Peace, Mitkov said. [06] BULGARIA, RUSSIA COOPERATE IN NUCLEAR AND RADIATION SECURITYSofia, October 24 (BTA) - An agreement for cooperation in nuclear and radiation security between Bulgaria and Russia was signed here today by Chairman of the Committee for Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (CPUAE) Luchezar Kostov and Chairman of the Nuclear and Radiation Security Control Service of the Russian Federation Yourii Vishnevsky. Mr Vishnevsky is on a working visit to Bulgaria at the head of a delegation.The parties agreed to exercise control over the organisation of accounting of nuclear materials and derivative products. The cooperation will be realized by exchanging the effective security regulations and norms for nuclear weapons and for the treatment of sources of ionizing emissions and radioactive waste. The agreement envisages holding of joint seminars, symposia and conferences on the problems of security of nuclear and radiation technologies, on improvement of activities in that field also by attracting experts from other countries and international organisations. On May 19, 1995 Bulgaria and Russia signed a Agreement for cooperation on the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Under the agreement Russia will process the worked out fuel from the old units (one to four) of Bulgaria's Kozlodoui N-plant (on the Danube). "The paper we just signed is of a great importance," Yourii Vishnevsky said. "I believe that nuclear and radiation safety security is the most important thing, it is the cornerstone of our agreement," he added. According to CPUAE Chairman Luchezar Kostov the agreement opens good possibilities for cooperation between Bulgaria and Russia in the field of nuclear power engineering. According to Mr Kostov the fact that such an agreement has been signed is a solid proof of the priority significance which the Bulgarian government attributes to nuclear and radiation security. Mr Kostov said that the International Convention on Nuclear Safety enters into force today. The convention was signed in September 1994 by 25 states among which Bulgaria and was ratified in 1995 by the Bulgarian Parliament. Tomorrow the delegation of Russia's Federal Control Service will visit the site of the nuclear power plant in Belene (on the Danube) whose construction was frozen in 1990 under the pressure of environmental organisations and the public. [07] PARLIAMENT OKAYS LOAN FOR USD 574,000Sofia, October 24 (BTA) - Parliament today approved the signing of a loan agreement for USD 574,000 with the Social Development Fund of the Council of Europe. The loan will finance the construction of 73 houses for Roma families of the region of Haskovo, Southern Bulgaria. Construction work started in 1993. The project has so far been financed by the municipality only, which has provided 5.7 million leva. The project will be completed in 1998.According to figures of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction, a total of USD 1,436,000 are needed for the construction of the houses and the necessary infrastructure. A statement of the Council of Europe's Social Development Fund says that the project meets all financial criteria. The houses will help in the preservation of the Roma's traditions and customs. The project can be used a model for formulating a policy for resolving the problems of socially disadvantaged families, read the motives of the project's sponsors. [08] CHINESE PM LI PENG RECEIVES BULGARIAN DEFENCE MINISTER PAVLOVBeijing, October 24 (BTA corr. Vesselin Konstantinov) "Relations between Bulgaria and China are developing rapidly. The situation in the world changes frequently and so do we and that is why we respect the choice of the Bulgarian people," said Li Peng, Premier of the State Council of the PR of China, receiving Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimiter Pavlov who is visiting China as head of a Bulgarian military delegation.Dimiter Pavlov delivered greetings from Bulgarian Prime Minister Zhan Videnov. Yesterday he visited Air Division 26 and Regiment 56 of Infantry Division 196 near Tientsin. In the coming two days Pavlov will visit Shanghai and the Pudun economic region. On October 27 the Bulgarian delegation leaves for Vietnam. [09] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' DECISIONSSofia, October 24 (BTA) - Today the Council of Ministers approved a draft law on unemployment protection. The bill regulates the obligatory payment of unemployment benefits, insurance, the delivery of professional information, training and retraining. "The bill envisages measures to encourage the employment of young people, orphans and jobless persons," Minister of Labour and Social Affairs told a news conference. He said that the bill had been coordinated with the social partners and experts of the European Union, taking into account their recommendations.The Cabinet approved some amendments to the Foreign Travel Passports Act implementing regulations to bring them into line with a decision of the Government's European Integration Committee of October 1995 to implement measures against breaches of passport and visa requirements. The Cabinet adopted a decision for Bulgaria's joining the 1995 PHARE multinational programme for telecommunications and posts. The European Commission allocated 7 million Ecu to finance the PHARE programme. The Cabinet approved a draft agreement on economic and trade cooperation with India. At the moment the legal framework for the two countries' cooperation is an agreement signed in 1978. The Cabinet endorsed the draft of a new trade agreement between Bulgaria and Pakistan which would replace the agreement signed in 1962. The Cabinet gave its consent that the Foreign Ministry pay the fees Bulgaria owes for its membership in the Council of Europe's Social Development Fund for 1995 and 1996, using the money collected for visa and consular services by the Bulgarian embassies abroad. The Cabinet approved a draft agreement on environmental cooperation with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Cabinet endorsed a draft agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with Argentina. The desire to conclude such an agreement was expressed during the visit of the Chairman of the Bulgarian Committee for Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Argentina in March 1995. Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation Atanas Paparizov was tasked to hold talks on the liberalization of trade between Bulgaria and Russia. The talks will be held on October 28, 1996 in Moscow. [10] BULGARIAN TRADE MINISTER ENDS VISIT TO JAPANSofia, October 24 (BTA) - Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation Atanas Paparizov ended his visit to Japan today. Mr Paparizov and Daniela Bobeva, Chairman of the Foreign Investment Agency, were Bulgaria's representatives at a seminar on the investment opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe, attended by over 200 Japanese businessmen.The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said that addressing the seminar. Mr Paparizov spoke about the progress of economic reforms in Bulgaria, the factors determining the opportunities for investment in future and the measures implemented by the Bulgarian Government to improve the investment climate. Outside the seminar Mr Paparizov met the Minister of and the First Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Shunlei Tsikahara and Hisashi Hosokawa, and the President of Rotobo (the Association for Trade with Russia and Central and Eastern Europe), Toshikuni Yahiro. [11] INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL FORUMGorna Oriahovitsa, October 24 (BTA) - Environmentalists from different countries rang today the bells of the "Prophet Elijah" monastery near Gorna Oriahovitsa (northern Bulgaria), raising alarm at the endangered life on earth as a result of the unreasonable treatment of nature. The event marked the end of the second international forum "Bell for Life on Earth", organised on the day of the United Nations by the international movement "Ecoforum for Peace."Environmental experts, scientists, writers from the Balkan states, Russia, Ukraine and China discussed papers and communications in the field of environment protection. An association of the towns, honorary members of the international movement "Ecoforum for Peace" was established, including Rostov on Don (Russia), Slavutic (Ukraine), Nis and Novi Sad (FR Yugoslavia), Pleven and Gorna Oriahovitsa. The participants adopted a declaration to UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghalli, in which they voice categorical support for all initiatives of the world organisation for protection of life on earth, nature and peace. [12] NO PETITIONS FOR BANKRUPTCY HAVE BEEN FILED YET, BNB GOVERNOR SAYSSofia, October 24 (BTA) - No petitions in bankruptcy against the nine banks placed under special supervision have been filed yet. This statement was made after today's meeting of the Governing Board of the National Bank of Bulgaria (BNB). The BNB management began to consider the reports submitted by regulators and certified public accountants and the findings of checks and audits carried out by BNB."No further reduction of the base interest rate was on the agenda," BNB Governor said. He said that the mission of the International Monetary Fund would arrive on November 30. According to the preliminary programme of the negotiations, Mrs Anne McGuirk was expected in Bulgaria early this week. Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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