Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), 97-01-07

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

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

7 January, 1997

CONTENTS

[01] BSP TO NOMINATE INTERIOR MINISTER DOBREV AS PM

[02] OUTGOING FINANCE MINISTER KOSTOV DENIES ALLEGATIONS ABOUT POSTPONEMENT OF IMF MISSION TO BULGARIA

[03] BANK SUPERVISION TO TIGHTEN CONTROL ON NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN 1997

[04] NATIONAL BANK TO SET EXCHANGE RATES BY NEW METHOD

[05] 20% GROWTH IN USE OF PHONE SERVICES IN BULGARIA IN 1996

[06] BULGARIA MARKS BOTEV'S 149TH ANNIVERSARY

[07] BULGARIANS CELEBRATE EPIPHANY

[08] OPPOSITION LEADER TURNS OVER WIRETAPPING EVIDENCE TO MILITARY PROSECUTOR

[09] OPPOSITION PROTESTS

[01] BSP TO NOMINATE INTERIOR MINISTER DOBREV AS PM

Speaking at a news conference after a special meeting of the Socialist top leadership on Monday, Purvanov said the party was holding consultations with its coalition partners as well as with left-leaning extraparliamentary forces. The Socialist cabinet headed by Zhan Videnov, which took office in January 1995, resigned in late December 1996.

Socialist leader Purvanov said he expected the Left to announce the new cabinet members by January 16. He was confident that the cabinet would be supported by the majority in Parliament. The Socialists' coalition partners, the Alexander Stamboliiski Bulgarian Agrarian National Union and the Ecoglasnost Political Club, hold a flexible position on the cabinet formula and are in favour of broader public and political support for it, Purvanov said. The Socialist top leadership did not rule out participation of extraparliamentary forces in the new cabinet. The Socialists have talked so far with representatives of the following forces outside Parliament: the Alternative Social Liberal Party, the Alternative Socialist Alliance, and the Will for Bulgaria National Movement. Forthcoming are talks with the Democratic Party of Justice headed by Nedim Gendjev, who is also leader of the Supreme Muslim Theological Council, and the Liberals Party, among others. Concord and reform are the key words which help overcome differences during the talks, Purvanov said.

The structure of the future cabinet is another subject for discussion, said Purvanov, adding that there is no time for considerable changes. A possible line of reform would affect the cabinet's agencies and committees. Purvanov said ambassadors in Sofia would be informed of the intentions of the Left and its new cabinet at special meetings. President elect Peter Stoyanov, who is taking office later this month, will also be invited to such a meeting.

[02] OUTGOING FINANCE MINISTER KOSTOV DENIES ALLEGATIONS ABOUT POSTPONEMENT OF IMF MISSION TO BULGARIA

The Bulgarian National Radio and TV later on Monday reported that the Governor of the central National Bank of Bulgaria (BNB), Lyubomir Filipov, has informed Parliament Chairman Sendov of a conversation over the phone with IMF Mission Leader for Bulgaria Anne McGuirk in which she denied the IMF has decided to suspend its relations with Bulgaria. The IMF is reportedly ready to further the negotiations once a new government is appointed. On Monday Sendov had a meeting with Lyubomir Filipov and members of the BNB Governing Board.

The IMF mission was expected to arrive in Sofia on early January to hold negotiations on the introduction of a currency board in Bulgaria. Financial experts said that under the current cabinet crisis in Bulgaria and in the absence of a political consensus, it is only natural for the IMF to postpone its mission to Sofia. The recent IMF technical missions in December last year led by Anne McGuirk and Charles Enoch discussed the parameters of the introduction of the currency board and the framework of the 1997 state budget.

[03] BANK SUPERVISION TO TIGHTEN CONTROL ON NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN 1997

Various violations of the Banks and Lending Act and of the Foreign Exchange Regulations in the part concerning purchase and sale of foreign currency have been established. Some of the inspections were conducted in cooperation with the tax administration authorities, the economic police and the Central Service for Organized Crime Control. The Prosecutors' Office has been approached on some of the violations for which there are reasons to be classified as crimes.

As a result of the established violations, the Governing Board of the BNB revoked the licenses of 39 financial and brokerage houses, 2 brokers and 34 foreign exchange offices. The reports on all decisions for revoking licenses will be submitted to the tax authorities and to the prosecutor's office for further handling within their competence.

In 1997 the BNB will continue on a more frequent basis the inspections of non-bank financial institutions in cooperation with the other state authorities. It will pay particular attention to the observation of the BNB's licensing and foreign exchange financial policies and the regulations for foreign exchange control, the news release says.

[04] NATIONAL BANK TO SET EXCHANGE RATES BY NEW METHOD

From January 6 the BNB will set the exchange rate of the lev to the convertible currencies on the basis of daily volumes of interbank foreign exchange trading exceeding 10 million dollars bought and 10 million dollars sold. In case the volumes bought and sold on a certain day are below the threshold, the central exchange rates for the next day will be the latest figures corresponding to daily volumes above that threshold.

The BNB set the minimum reserve requirement for commercial banks at 11 per cent of deposits as shown in the December balance sheets, up from 10 per cent.

[05] 20% GROWTH IN USE OF PHONE SERVICES IN BULGARIA IN 1996

The majority of BTC investments in 1996 were used in the implementation of the Digital Overlay Network (DON) project, financed through a soft-term loan of USD 150 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. The DON project was launched in 1994. The Western fibre optic loop - one of its key stages, was completed in 1996. The optic cable, which links 26 population centres in Western, Southern and Central Bulgaria, has a total length of 840 km. The DON project should be completed in 1997, after the construction of two fibre optic loops in Western and Eastern Bulgaria.

A fibre optic cable linking Kyustendil (Western Bulgaria), Gyueshevo and Kriva Palanka went into operation in 1996. The facility is part of the trans-Balkan line which includes the telecoms operators of Italy, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. The line is expected to be completed by July 1997. The facility will provide a digital link among the five countries, as well as a connection to the Middle East.

[06] BULGARIA MARKS BOTEV'S 149TH ANNIVERSARY

A reading of Botev's poetry was staged at the Sofia Library in conjunction with the cultural centres of Hungary, Poland, India, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and France. Works of these countries' national poets were also read. In Kalofer, Botev's native town, the anniversary was marked with a memorial procession.

Hristo Botev, one of the greatest Bulgarian poets and publicists, was killed in battle in 1876 when he led a group of fighters against five- century Ottoman rule.

Botev's works are well-known abroad. At the end of the 19th century the first translations were made in Russian and Czech, BTA learned from Boyan Botev, head of the Hristo Botyov Foundation. In 1891 Sweden's Prof. Alfred Jenssen published a book on Botev in Gothenburg. It included 13 poems and an excerpt from a feuilleton. The former Soviet Union published 18 editions of Botev's works in 16 languages. Almost all European countries have published Botev's works. Botev is available in Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Mongolian and Arabic. In India his works have been translated into four languages. A comprehensive volume of Botev's poetry was published in Esperanto in 1928.

[07] BULGARIANS CELEBRATE EPIPHANY

An old legend has it that on January 6 the sky opens up and all wishes comes true. On Epiphany, also called the Twelfth Day, young women get up early in the morning to get fresh water and wash their faces. The local priest makes the round of all houses and blesses them with basil. At midday, local people gather by a river or the sea and young men jump to take out of the water the crucifix cast by the priest. If the crucifix freezes over, the nation will be strong and healthy.

Sofia Metropolitan Inokentii and high clergy held a service by the Ariana lake in central Sofia. The ceremony, organized by the office of the Sofia Mayor, was attended by President elect Peter Stoyanov, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and opposition MPs. Eleven young men jumped in the lake for the crucifix and 20-yearold Marin Grublev was the first to grab it.

Colours blessing ceremonies were held in all military units across the country. The ritual was first performed in the year 917 by King Simeon before a battle against the Byzantine army at the Aheloi River (near the Black Sea). The Bulgarians won the battle and Simeon strengthened the roots of Christianity in Bulgaria binding this religion with the high mission of the army of the young Bulgarian nation.

The observation of the Epiphany rituals was suspended during the five centuries of Ottoman rule on Bulgarian lands to be restored in 1880 by the first defence minister of the Principality of Bulgaria, Russian General Parensov. It was banned again in 1946 to be reinstated in 1993 under an order of then defence minister Valentin Alexandrov.

In Sofia, Patriarch Maksim blessed the colours of the Sofia garrison wishing health and victories to the whole nation. Attending the ceremony was President Zhelyu Zhelev, Parliament Chairman Blagovest Sendov, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Doncho Konakchiev and outgoing Defence Minister Dimiter Pavlov.

[08] OPPOSITION LEADER TURNS OVER WIRETAPPING EVIDENCE TO MILITARY PROSECUTOR

Last November Kostov said bugging devices had been found in his office and the office of President elect Peter Stoyanov in the UDF headquarters. The Interior Ministry Secretary, Colonel Ivan Boyadjiev, denied the wiretapping allegations on national radio a few days later. He also said Interior Minister Nikolai Dobrev had ordered an investigation. On December 19, the UDF leader said in Parliament the armed forces' prosecutor's office had found out the opposition headquarters were wiretapped and an investigation had been initiated. Kostov said the UDF demanded Dobrev's resignation. Ten days later Kostov gave Dobrev three taped conversations. A national daily said the cassette contained evidence that Prime Minister Videnov and Dobrev himself were wiretapped. Dobrev, who has the original cassette, ordered an examination by three independent groups of experts of the Interior Ministry. The ministry's leaders want a professional, unbiased clarification of the matter. After the findings are announced, Dobrev will meet with Ivan Kostov again, said the Ministry's press office in late December.

[09] OPPOSITION PROTESTS

The rally in Plovdiv comes to continue the nationwide mass protests organized by the united opposition (the UDF, the Popular Union coalition and the ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms, MRF) against the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) launched on January 3 in Sofia. The rally in Sofia was held under the slogan: "No to a new BSP government; yes to early elections and support of the united opposition's declaration for national salvation". The rally was backed by the two largest trade union amalgamations, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour and by the Promiana [change] Alliance.

At the extraordinary congress of the BSP held on December 21, 23 and 23 in 1996, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov tendered the Government's resignation which was accepted an extraordinary meeting of the National Assembly on December 28. Videnov's Cabinet will stay in office until a new government is formed. President Zhelyu Zhelev already held consultations on the nomination of a new government with the major parliamentary political forces. The opposition stated categorically that it would not support a new government of the BSP. An extraordinary Parliament meeting on January 3 discussed a Declaration for Bulgaria's salvation moved by the united opposition forces. In the declaration the opposition pledges for the appointment of a new Governing Board of the central bank, to hold the negotiations with the IMF on the introduction of a currency board in the country, for the formation of a team to work out with the World Bank a programme for structural reform, for immediate disbanding of the Parliament and for early parliamentary elections.

The Parliament could not vote the declaration over time shortage. Opposition leaders said they will use all parliamentary and extra- parliamentary means to achieve the goals stated in the declaration. They said they will organize a wave of protest rallies around the country.

On January 5 protesters against the Socialist government organized a march along the central streets in Rousse (on the Danube). According to the police guards, in terms of numbers of participants, the protest demonstration has no precedents in Rousse. Adherents of the opposition from the towns and villages in the vicinities of Rousse arrived by buses to join the protesters. "The protest march was indicative of the mounting discontent in Rousse, as it was not organized in advance by the opposition, " UDF Chairman in Rousse Yordan de Meo. The next protest demonstration in Rousse is scheduled for January 10.

A protest rally and march will be held tomorrow in Gabrovo (North- central Bulgaria). The opposition in Gabrovo is expected to adopt a special declaration to support the demand of the parliamentary opposition for disbanding the 37th National Assembly, BTA's local correspondent in the region said, quoting UDF leader in Gabrovo Mihail Karafezov. Protest demonstrations are expected to be held this week also in Varna, Montana, Bourgas and Kurdjali.

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