News from Bulgaria, 96-10-29

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

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

29 October, 1996

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DAY ENDS IN BULGARIA AND ABROAD

[02] FIRST ROUND OF VOTING: ROUND-UP OF REACTIONS

[03] EXPERTS TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES TO LIBERALIZE BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN TRADE

[04] ENERGY MINISTER OVCHAROV IN FRANCE

[05] SLOVAK MILITARY DELEGATION IN SOFIA

[06] AGRICULTURE MINISTRY ANNOUNCES MEASURES AGAINST F.M.D. FOCUS

[07] DEFENCE MINISTER PAVLOV IN VIETNAM

[08] BULGARIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY REACTS TO REPORTS ON NON-ADMISSION OF "UNDESIRABLE" FRENCHMAN

[01] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DAY ENDS IN BULGARIA AND ABROAD

Early returns give united opposition tandem Peter Stoyanov- Todor Kavaldjiev 43.65%, Ms Rizova said. They are followed by the tandem of the of the "Together for Bulgaria" coalition (dominated by the ruling BSP) Ivan Marazov-Irina Bokova with 27.07% and the tandem of the Bulgarian Business Bloc George Ganchev and Arlin Antonov with 22.12%, the CEC spokesperson said.

Stoyanov-Kavaldjiev polled most of the vote in Plovdiv (Southern Bulgaria) - 62.28% and Marazov-Bokova were most successful in Vidin (Northeastern Bulgaria with 39.52% while Ganchev-Antonov performed best in Silistra (on the Danube) where they polled 31.68% of the vote.

Early returns set the turnout at between 60-65%, said CEC member Alexander Popov.

[02] FIRST ROUND OF VOTING: ROUND-UP OF REACTIONS

Most analysts say Mr Stoyanov has secured an ultimate victory in the second ballot next Sunday. They see the first round-results as confirmation of the expectation that the presidential poll will be not just a matter of choosing a definite person but will show a shift in public political dispositions. "The voting showed that a new majority has already taken shape, which is voting for change," Mr Stoyanov said last night. "That was a referendum on [Prime Minister and BSP leader] Zhan Videnov's rule which obviously took the Socialist Party by surprise," commented political scientist Ivan Krustev. "This is not the first time that the BSP has lost an election, but it has never lost by such a large margin," writes the Editor- in-Chief of "Continent" Valeri Naidenov in a comment today, recalling that the main opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) won the parliamentary elections in 1991 by a single percentage point lead over the BSP.

According to a parallel vote tabulation done by the Citizen's Initiative for Free and Democratic Elections, the Left constituency has been halved since the December 1994 parliamentary elections. Merely 58 per cent of those who voted for the Left in 1994 supported its presidential candidate now, according to the MBMD Institute for Marketing and Social Surveys. The BSP has lost some 20 per cent of its core electorate. The number of opposition voters has also diminished slightly, while George Ganchev has increased his following by 80,000 to 100,000. A new minority has emerged in Bulgaria, the minority of BSP. The important thing is that the BSP is losing rather than that the UDF is winning, sociologists noted today. Hence the expectations that changes are likely within the BSP itself. The election results will lead to a split of the BSP, political scientist Andrei Raichev of the Alliance for Social Democracy, a reformist tendency within the Socialist Party, predicted last night. Today's press observes that the Left leaders will hold a plenum tonight to discuss the election results, and differences of opinion cannot be ruled out. "I hope that the BSP will draw the right conclusions and will remove Zhan Videnov from the leadership," Mr Raichev said. At the same time, however, he said that the blame for the election disaster might be passed onto other members of the party leadership, considered to be Mr Videnov's political opponents.

According to Mr Raichev, unless the Left changes the way it is running the country, early parliamentary elections may be expected very soon. This opinion is shared by the former leader of the Socialists' Sofia branch Alexander Marinov, one of Mr Videnov's critics. "I believe that the question of early general elections derives from the question of what is going on in this country. I wouldn't say this is so much a question of the presidential election results as a question of whether the parliamentary majority, which took shape in 1994, is in a position to cope with this challenge. If it manages to cope, there will be no early general elections or not any time soon. If it is unable to cope, the answer is simple.

All the rest is a matter of specific timing and specific procedures," Mr Marinov told a radio interviewer today. Poll watchers are divided in their reaction to George Ganchev's performance. The Left argues that votes on the left-hand end of the political spectrum were scattered among several candidates, including Mr Ganchev. Ivan Krustev says that not only those who supported Mr Stoyanov but those who supported Mr Ganchev, too, voted in protest against the way democracy is functioning in Bulgaria. "I think this is the first sign of a crisis in the political system itself," Mr Krustev said. His colleague Evgenii Dainov assumes that three groups of voters supported Mr Ganchev: young people protesting against the bipolar model, people susceptible to cheap propaganda, and part of the BSP constituents disappointed with their party. Analysts agree, however, that most of the George Ganchev faithful will back Peter Stoyanov in the second round, irrespective of what Mr Ganchev himself has to tell them.

[03] EXPERTS TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES TO LIBERALIZE BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN TRADE

In the course of three days the Bulgarian delegation will discuss issues related to liberalizing bilateral trade at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations. The talks will focus on customs regulations. The two sides will also discuss the agenda of a session of the intergovernmental commission for economic, scientific and technological cooperation planned for November. The date of the session has not been set as no replacement has been appointed to chair the Russian side of the commission following the resignation of Russian finance minister Vladimir Panskov. The latest session of the intergovernmental commission was held this February in Moscow.

Bulgaria asked Russia for customs preferences already during the visit here by Prime Minister Chernomyrdin in 1995 but so far the problem has not been resolved. Under the operative system of customs preferences in Russia, imports from the least developed countries are exempt from customs duties. The next group of countries, which Bulgaria wishes to join, is that of the developing countries enjoying a 50% customs duty discount. Now Bulgarian imports to Russia are levied a 30% customs duty on average while Russian goods attract customs duties between 5-10% when imported to Bulgaria.

High customs duties are the main problem in bilateral trade. In 1995 Bulgaria's deficit in trade with Russia amounted to USD 629.28 million and in 1995 to USD 833.825 million. This is mainly due to the unfair treatment of Bulgarian companies. At the same time statistics still show Russia to be Bulgaria's No. 1 partner accounting for 19% of its total commercial exchange. In 1995 commercial exchange between the two countries totalled 130,500 million leva.

[04] ENERGY MINISTER OVCHAROV IN FRANCE

The Bulgarian officials were invited by French Industry Minister Franck Borotra. The delegation includes Kozma Kouzmanov, Director General of the National Electric Company, and N. Panov, Executive Director of Bulgargas.

The purpose of the visit is to expand contacts between the two countries in the power industry, including nuclear and conventional power, the oil and gas industry and coalmining. The delegation will hold meetings at the Industry Ministry, as well as with officials of Framatome, Schneider Electrique, Societe Generale des Eaux, Gaz de France, Electricite de France, Charbonnages de France and other companies, the press release said.

The possibilities for cooperation between the Bulgarian and French energy regulators and companies in the use of natural gas as a fuel by the public transport will be high on the agenda of the talks, a Bulgargas representative on the delegation said. The use of natural gas as a fuel in the large cities will have a positive ecological effect, he stated adding such technologies have not been used in Bulgaria so far.

[05] SLOVAK MILITARY DELEGATION IN SOFIA

"During the visit, we shall exchange information and continue our contacts under the programme drawn by the two countries' general staffs," General Tuchina said upon his arrival at Sofia Airport today. "We shall further promote the bilateral cooperation under the Partnership for Peace Programme," he said.

The visit takes place at the invitation of Chief of the Bulgarian General Staff Colonel General Tsvetan Totomirov. The guests are scheduled to hold meetings at the Bulgarian general staff, the Defence Ministry, army units and training centres.

The talks will focus on the reform in the Bulgarian army and its logistical support, Totomirov told reporters.

The framework document on cooperation between the Bulgarian and Slovak defence ministries signed in 1995 envisages assistance in the development of the two countries' military doctrines, cooperation in military policy, science and training. The document provides exchange of delegations and visits within military cooperation and exchange of vacations.

In late August 1996 Defence Minister Pavlov and his Slovak counterpart Jan Sitek who made a three-day visit here noted that the agreement was being successfully implemented. The major priorities of military policy were in the highlights of Minister Sitek's talks during his visit paid at the invitation of Minister Pavlov.

Military and technological cooperation between the Bulgarian and Slovak armies is particularly useful especially in the area of military equipment repair and spare parts deliveries, Minister Pavlov then said. He laid stress on the achievements in the exchange of vacations.

[06] AGRICULTURE MINISTRY ANNOUNCES MEASURES AGAINST F.M.D. FOCUS

Only ruminant animals have been affected. The disease was caused by a virus agent widely spread in Greece and Turkey. All infected animals were confined to their stables. The National Veterinary Service has sent five teams to the region.

The Agriculture Ministry took measures to localize and eliminate the FMD focus. The Ministry's measures include suspension of the issuing of certificates for the export of even-toe hoofed animals and animal products, temporary closure of markets and ban on the trade in animals and temporary closure of leather stores. Border crossing at Novo Selo-Ormenio (Greece) is temporarily closed to truck traffic. Hunting in border areas near Bourgas and Haskovo (Southeastern Bulgaria) is banned for the time being.

[07] DEFENCE MINISTER PAVLOV IN VIETNAM

At a meeting with Vietnamese President Le Duc Anh Dimiter Pavlov said his visit is in line with the Bulgarian Government's policy of friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

President Le Duc Anh described the friendly relations between the two countries as traditional. "We remember and appreciate the Bulgarian people's sympathies and support for our struggles," he stated.

Defence Minister Pavlov's visit will last till November 1. The Bulgarian delegation is scheduled to visit the headquarters of the seventh military district of Vietnam and sign documents on cooperation in military technology and science.

[08] BULGARIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY REACTS TO REPORTS ON NON-ADMISSION OF "UNDESIRABLE" FRENCHMAN

Between 1993 and March 19, 1995 Foscolo visited Bulgaria on six occasions using a false identity. He registered here Mona-F, a limited liability company with French and Bulgarian citizens for partners. During the last few years, the Interior Ministry has improved its border passport and visa control system, not without the assistance of a number of West European countries, the press centre notes. When he last attempted to enter Bulgaria on documents issued in the name of another person on October 25, 1996, Foscolo's true identity was established. He was told that he is barred from entering Bulgaria and should return by the same flight (BA 2890) to Britain, the country from where he had arrived. Obviously under the influence of alcohol, Foscolo caused a scandal and disobeyed the orders of the border control officers who acted in compliance with the Interior Ministry directives. Therefore, he had to be escorted to the aircraft by police officers who acted within the law and the Interior Ministry's intradepartmental regulations, the press release concludes.

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