Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), 96-12-27

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

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

CONTENTS

[01] PM VIDENOV RSIGNS. PURVANOV ELECTED NEW SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER

[02] BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON HOSTAGE CRISIS IN LIMA

[03] PM VIDENOV UNVEILS PLAN TO TAKE BULGARIA OUT OF CRISIS

[04] PRESIDENT ELECT STOYANOV VISITS ITALY

[05] RALLY IN SOFIA DEMANDS CABINET RESIGNATION, EARLY ELECTIONS

[06] OPPOSITION, BSP DECLARATIONS ON CURRENCY BOARD

[07] PETITION TO RULE ETHNIC TURKS' MOVEMENT AS ANTICONSTITUTIONAL REJECTED

[08] INFLATION PROJECTED AT 30 PERCENT UNDER CURRENCY BOARD

[09] HEADQUARTERS OF OPPOSITION U.D.F BUGGED, IVAN KOSTOV SAYS

[10] PHILOSOPHER TO GET NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION

[11] PURVANOV - NEW SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER

[12] OPPOSITION LEADERS ON PURVANOV'S ELECTION AS B.S.P. CHIEF

[13] CHRISTMAS IN BULGARIA

[14] INTELLECTUALS RALLY AGAINST CRIME

[15] GRENADE EXPLOSION NEAR YUGOSLAV CONSULATE IN SOFIA

[16] OPPOSITION UDF ISSUES DECLARATION ON SITUATION IN BELGRADE

[17] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES AWARD FOR POLITICS, SOCIAL SCIENCES

[01] PM VIDENOV RSIGNS. PURVANOV ELECTED NEW SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER

[02] BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON HOSTAGE CRISIS IN LIMA

[03] PM VIDENOV UNVEILS PLAN TO TAKE BULGARIA OUT OF CRISIS

The plan focuses on the stability of the national currency and the financial system. Videnov suggest a policy which represents a complete break with the current model of non-market and noncompetitive economic environment in Bulgaria that stimulates the "grey" and "black" economy causing serious financial instability, the press release says. Videnov describes the new economic model for Bulgaria as an open, financially stable national economy with developed private and public property and presence of considerable amounts of foreign investment.

The draft version of the Videnov Plan says the currency board mechanisms will start to operate by February 1997 at the latest. Measures to strengthen the national banking system will be introduced. The budget policy will be changed to enforce strict financial discipline in collection of receivables and efficient utilization of revenues. Structural reform will prioritize on major privatization deals with foreign strategic partners. The enterprises need to join the European and world networks of technologies, markets, finance and management and link in the respective infrastructures: telecommunications, transport and energy. Under the plan, the privatization process in Bulgaria should be completed by the end of 1998.

The Plan lists the following areas of potential growth:

- considerable direct foreign investment which will be dependent on the stability of the national currency;

- rehabilitation and development of agriculture, exports incentives and productions related to it;

- encouragement of the development of a modern tourist industry;

- implementation of large-scale national and regional infrastructure projects through concessions.

The document projects that inflation and interest rates will decrease drastically in the next two years, the central bank's foreign currency reserves will increase considerably, that the foreign and domestic debt burden will be eliminated to a great extent and that living standards will improve.

[04] PRESIDENT ELECT STOYANOV VISITS ITALY

After the meeting Stoyanov said he had been assured that President Scalfaro is a good friend to Bulgaria. Stoyanov told him he was in Italy to lobby for Bulgaria's national interests, for full integration in the EU and NATO membership. Bulgaria and Italy may develop contacts in trade, as well as in economics in general and major projects in particular, he said. He suggested that Bulgaria might be attractive to Italian investors.

Later on Thursday Stoyanov met with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. The Italian side showed understanding for Bulgaria's possible wish to become a member in NATO. Such a plan will receive Italy's support, it emerged after th meeting. Stoyanov said that the Italian business people and investors should rediscover Bulgaria. He invited a large group of Italian businessmen to visit Bulgaria. The sides had identical views on the project for the EastWest transport corridor and its section between Brindisi, Duras and Bulgaria.

[05] RALLY IN SOFIA DEMANDS CABINET RESIGNATION, EARLY ELECTIONS

[06] OPPOSITION, BSP DECLARATIONS ON CURRENCY BOARD

The United Democratic Forces insist to appoint a new Governing Board of the National Bank of Bulgaria (BNB) and authorize it to conduct negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the introduction of a currency board in the country. According to the United Democratic Forces, the parliamentary forces should reach a consensus on the appointment of a team which will work out a structural policy programme with the IMF and the World Bank; they should have shared will to adopt the laws required for instituting a currency board. The United Democratic Forces insist on Parliament dissolving itself and on holding early general elections.

Stefan Gaitandjiev, deputy floor leader of the Left, read a declaration saying that Bulgaria is facing a crucial decision on the introduction of a currency board which will determine the further course and results of reforms in the economy and the transition to market principles. The Left is categoric that this problem must be resolved by a consensus of the political forces, particularly the parliamentary ones. "Discussions so far have shown that the political forces and the public understand that the currency board is a necessary and urgent measure which can produce positive results in a relatively short time," the Left MPs said in their declaration.

The Lefts declaration describes the opposition's stand on the consensus and conditions for introducing a currency board in Bulgaria as "strange and unclear". The united opposition's proposal disunites rather than leading to consenus. The condition to establish a currency board only if early parliamentary elections are held in March 1997 undermines the public consensus on the implementation of this heavy financial measure, according to the Left's parliamentary group. The united opposition's formula is not only unacceptable but it also shows that the idea about consensus is not understood by the opposition, the declaration says.

If the UDF, Popular Union, MRF and the Bulgarian Business Bloc refuse now to take part in the developing, support and carrying out of the idea about a currency board this would mean that they evade responsibility, the Left says. The declaration says the Left has taken the whole responsibility before the Bulgarian people to take this country out of the crisis and does not inetnd to "abdicate" and transfer its obligations to other political forces.

[07] PETITION TO RULE ETHNIC TURKS' MOVEMENT AS ANTICONSTITUTIONAL REJECTED

The Court decision is motivated by the fact that in April 1992 it has already ruled on the matter, said judge Stanislav Dimitrov. In 1992 the Court rejected a petition to this effect by MPs of the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party. On that occasion the Socialists cited a constitutional provision banning the formation of political parties on ethnic, racial or religious basis, and of parties who seek forcible usurpation of power.

The petition, signed mostly by Socialist MPs, was lodged on the initiative of the Nationwide Committee for the Protection of National Interests (NCPNI) in the ruling Socialists' coalition. It claims at its conference in early December the Movement adopted programme documents, statutes and strategic goals that challenge the sovergnty of Bulgaria, its territorial integrity and national unity.

[08] INFLATION PROJECTED AT 30 PERCENT UNDER CURRENCY BOARD

The AECD proposes that the country's foreign exchange reserves match two- third of broad money and not all the money in circulation. In this case the foreign exchange reserves would amount to 1,500 million US dollars. Half of the funds would be covered by the country's own foreign exchange reserves totalling 740 million US dollars, and the rest would be provided through a loan of 700 million special drawing rights from the International Monetary Fund SDR and loans from other financial institutions totalling 50 million US dollars. According to the AECD projections, one dollar will exchange for 517 leva.

[09] HEADQUARTERS OF OPPOSITION U.D.F BUGGED, IVAN KOSTOV SAYS

In November Kostov said that bugging devices had been discovered in his office and in the office of President elect Peter Stoyanov at the UDF headquarters. Several days later Interior Ministry rejected Kostov's allegations in an interview over the national radio. Colonel Boyadjiev said that despite its requests the Interior Ministry has not received any materials on what has been found at the UDF headquarters. Following Mr Kostov's allegations, Interior Minister Nikolai Dobrev ordered an internal investigation into the case, Colonel Boyadjiev stated.

Asked by a journalist last Friday what has been done about the complaint filed by the UDF leader, Minister Dobrev answered: "Mister Kostov and I agreed not to comment on the case before considering the materials." He added the check on the case has been completed and expressed the hope that Kostov and he will analyse the documents gathered by the commission appointed personally by him.

To obtain a bugging authorization, the police has to get seven signatures on the warrant, down from the Minister of the Interior and a public prosecutor. Colonel Boyadjiev said that the Ministry acts within the law and does not bug without authorization, but he did not rule out the possibility of Interior Ministry officers engaging in unauthorized bugging for pay.

[10] PHILOSOPHER TO GET NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION

Passi was born in 1928. He graduated in law from Sofia University, defended a dissertation in 1957 and became a lecturer in Sofia University in 1959. Later on he took a one-year specialization course in Berlin. Prof. Passi's field of study is the history of aesthetics and literary history and theory, said Prof. Kalchev.

Prof. Passi belongs to the Philosophy of Life movement. His main fields of endeavour are the categories of the comic and the tragic. His first book, "The Tragic", was published in 1963. He wrote about the works of the great philosophers Montaigne, Pascal, La Rochefoucauld and La Bruyere. His latest work is about Nietzsche. First the great Bulgarian poet Pencho Slaveikov (1868-1912) and then poetess Elisaveta Bagryana (1893-1991) have been nominated for the Nobel Prize at the beginning of the century.

[11] PURVANOV - NEW SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER

In Purvanov's view the BSP policy is not in need of serious changes but corrections should be made in the party's political conduct. "We should lead a more open dialogue with the similar leftist and centrist parties and the opposition; there is a necessity of a constructive dialogue excluding any attempts of defaming," said the new BSP leader before journalists. The new prime minister who is to replace Zhan Videnov should enjoy high public and political rating; he should be a professional and not on the last place acceptable for the different political forces, not only for the BSP, Purvanov stated.

Georgi Purvanov (39) is a historian. He conducted research on the national question and the history of social democracy in Bulgaria. Purvanov is married and has two children. In late 1994 Purvanov was elected an MP on the ticket of the BSP in the Kurdjali constituency (Southern Bulgaria), an area densely populated with ethnic Turks. He is Chairman of the parliamentary Group on Friendship between Bulgaria and Greece. Before elected a BSP leader he was BSP deputy chairman.

[12] OPPOSITION LEADERS ON PURVANOV'S ELECTION AS B.S.P. CHIEF

"On the other hand, Purvanov was one of the BSP leaders who dared to unleash a nationalist campaign in Kurdjali (an area in Southern Bulgaria populated with ethnic Turks). He conducted this campaign in a very uncompromising way and left the impression with all of us that there is something undemocratic in him, something very undemocratic at that," Kostov said. In Kostov's view the new leader should from now on prove that BSP wants to behave like a social-democratic party. "We look on his idea for opening towards the opposition with high attention and what is more we say that our declaration on national salvation is fully addressing the new leadership," Kostov stated.

During the local elections in late 1995 Georgi Purvanov backed independent candidate Dr Georgi Georgiev who run for a mayor of Kurdjali. Georgiev was named by an initiative committee of 30 parties and coalitions, including BSP. After it was announced that the winner in the Kurdjali elections was Rasim Mousa, candidate of the ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), the initiative committee supporting Georgiev challenged the election results alleging the Electoral Act was violated. On February 6, 1996 the District Court in Kurdjali cancelled the election. The Regional Court ruling and statements made by Purvanov and other Socialists made opposition leaders accuse BSP of having played the nationalist card. The MRF challenged the Regional Court decision and the Supreme Court ruled that Rasim Mousa was lawfully elected Kurdjali Mayor.

After its extraordinary congress BSP is not already the same party, Stefan Savov, Chairman of the Democratic Party, said in an interview over the phone for the national television. The congress brought to the surface great contradictions inside that party, Savov added.

"I am very happy that a young man, a historian, was elected Chairman of BSP, " said before BNT George Ganchev, Leader of the Bulgarian Business Bloc, this morning. Ganchev expressed the hope that the new BSP leader will be an example of non-corruptness, readiness for dialogue and will enlist broader support for the Socialists.

[13] CHRISTMAS IN BULGARIA

Along with the Christian rituals, people in the rural areas still observe old Bulgarian rituals dominated by pagan elements. After midnight on December 24 parties of young single men known as "koledari" would start making the round of all houses in the village singing ritual songs with wishes for good health, luck and fertility. The koledari usually have a leader (called stanenik) and an older man called "king" who carries a big cornel-tree branch decorated with popcorn and pretzels, and a cask of red wine. All are dressed in traditional costumes and some are masked and covered with furs.

In each house the koledari sing different songs to the diffrent people in the house. To young girls they sing a song wishing her a good husband, to the father they wish good health, to the mother - a house full of children. In return for their kindness the koledari receive money, Christmas pretzels, fruit and pieces from the Christmas pig.

Families visit their parents and in-laws to pay their respects and brought them baked pork, pumpkin pie, red wine and bread. At lunch on December 25, people would sit at a festive table arranged with pork, red wine and brandy prepared with sugar, pumpkin pie and other food. Some Bulgarian families still observe these rituals and the koledari tradition is kept alive by the folklore companies existing with culture centres across the country.

[14] INTELLECTUALS RALLY AGAINST CRIME

The participants in the meeting adopted an address they called "United Against Crime". The address says that crime has started penetrating the high corridors of power. "The state has abdicated from its duty to fight violence. The combat against crime is a paramount task of the whole society, " the document reads.

Bulgarians have seen many intellectuals and artists campaigning against the rampant crime but unfortunately none of them could get the necessary public support. The address calls on the public to back the efforts to fight against all types of crime. It also calls for protecting the freedom from the encroachments of criminals with the power of literature and art.

[15] GRENADE EXPLOSION NEAR YUGOSLAV CONSULATE IN SOFIA

[16] OPPOSITION UDF ISSUES DECLARATION ON SITUATION IN BELGRADE

The UDF further call upon the ruling Serb Socialist Party and President Slobodan Milosevic to denounce the use of force against the peaceful protests of civilians. Establishment of democracy and respect for civil liberties guarantee the goodneighbourly relations between FR Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, the declaration also says.

Three days ago UDF deputy chairperson Nadezhda Mihailova visited Belgrade and met the leaders of the Serb opposition - Zoran Djindjic of the Democratic Party and Vesna Pesic of the Civil Union of Serbia. Ms Mihailova voiced the support of the Bulgarian opposition for the protests of the Zajedno coalition. She joint a procession of Zajedno and addressed a rally of the opposition.

[17] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES AWARD FOR POLITICS, SOCIAL SCIENCES

The Citizen society conferred its 1996 award for achievements in art and literature to directors Georgi Dyulgerov and Svetoslav Ovcharov for their film BG. The special award of the society went to poet Vesselin Sariev for his book "Diyarbakir And The Bulgarians" published by the Hristo Botev publishers. The book is a historical study of the life of thousands of Bulgarians sent on exile in Diyarbakir in the 1863-78 period. 

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