Subject: Ta nea toy BTA 15-Feb-95[**] Ta nea apo thn Presbeia ths Boylgarias sthn Washington, D.C. * Synanthsh toy Zhelev me ton Proedro twn HPA. O Amerikanos Proedros yposxeuhke bohueia se diaforoys tomeis. * Perissoteres leptomereies apo thn synanthsh Zhelev-Clinton. Epishs anaferontai leptomereies alles synanthseis me Amerikanoys ajiwmatoyxoys kai mia [endiaferoysa] synenteyjh sta grafeia ths "Washington Post". . Sxolia efhmeridwn ths Boylgarias gia thn episkech toy Zhelev stis HPA. . Synenteyjh toy Zhelev sto ebdomadiaio "Capital Press". ** Ypografh symfwnias stratiwtikhs synergasias metajy Boylgarias-Albanias. Anafora sthn ypouesh twn oplwn poy poylhuhkan apo thn Boylgaria sthn Albania kai xauhkan [!?] sthn pGDM. * Jekinaei o programmatismos twn episkeywn toy odikoy systhmatos ths Boylgarias, oi opoies xrhmatodotoyntai apo Eyrwpaikes trapezes. Giwrgos Kapodistrias ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: bulgaria@access.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria) Subject: BTA inf/ Feb. 15, 95 Date: 15 Feb 1995 17:12:23 -0500 EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C. BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY BULLETIN OF NEWS FROM BULGARIA FEBRUARY 15, 1995 PRESIDENT ZHELEV MEETS U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON Washington, February 14 - US President Bill Clinton received Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev at the Oval Office on February 13. Clinton pledged US support for Bulgaria's membership in GATT, for the lifting of certain restrictions on the export of special-purpose technologies, and for a permanent revocation of the restrictive Jackson-Vanik amendment to the Trade Reform Bill. He was supportive and understanding towards Bulgaria's request for indirect compensations for the damage resulting from the sanctions against Yugoslavia, including the granting of a transit corridor for Bulgarian exports through Serbia. Clinton said he was pleased to welcome President Zhelev and government officials to the White House at the start of the meeting, attended by Vice-President Al Gore. The United States supports the democratic and economic transformation of Bulgaria, Clinton said. After the meeting, President Zhelev said all of Bulgaria's concerns had been discussed in what he called an extremely interesting conversation. "We received the much needed US support we were seeking," Zhelev said. At the end of the meeting the sides signed a declaration of principles governing US-Bulgaria relations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESIDENT ZHELEV IN THE U.S. Washington, February 14 - The United States supports the democratic and economic transformation of Bulgaria, US President Bill Clinton said at a meeting with Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev which ended shortly after midnight Bulgarian time. Clinton received Zhelev in the Oval Office in the presence of Vice President Al Gore, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, and top Bulgarian officials: Deputy Prime Minister Roumen Gechev, Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski and Defense Minister Dimiter Pavlov. Mr. Clinton said he was delighted to welcome President Zhelev and the Bulgarian government officials. After the meeting Dr. Zhelev said the conversation had been extremely interesting. The US pledged its support for Bulgaria's request for indirect compensations for the losses arising from the sanctions against Yugoslavia, including compensation in the form of a transit corridor for the transportation of Bulgarian goods across Serbia, Dr. Zhelev said. A joint declaration of principles was signed to govern the relationship between the US and Bulgaria on the basis of the values of democracy and human rights. It is important for Bulgaria to stick to the track of market economy reform according to the document, which mentions a 30 million dollar assistance program proposed by President Clinton for 1995. Mr. Clinton familiarized Dr. Zhelev with a new 7 million US dollar loan program to foster small and medium-sized private business, especially in rural areas. Acknowledging Bulgaria's substantial losses due to the enforcement of the UN sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. Clinton and Dr. Zhelev agreed on the enduring significance of the sanctions as an instrument of peaceful settlement of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, the declaration says. President Clinton has asked Congress for 30 million US dollars in assistance for upgrading the regional transport infrastructure in the Eastern Balkans, including Bulgaria. The sides will work for Bulgaria's further integration into the international and Euro-Atlantic economic and security institutions, according to the declaration. The Partnership for Peace plan is described as a road which should be taken by all countries in Central Europe and other partners seeking membership in NATO. President Clinton will propose that Congress appropriate 5 million US dollars in security-related assistance to Bulgaria in support of the Partnership for Peace cause. The two countries will cooperate in the drive against terrorism and organized crime. They will promote commercial exchanges and investments on the basis of market principles. The sides unanimously agreed on the importance of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation. Now that the US Export-Import Bank has unveiled its new initiative for Central Europe, the two heads of state agreed to work for the conclusion of a financing agreement on promotion of Bulgarian exports. The US Administration pledged to hold consultations with the US Congress on legislation to remove Bulgaria from the list of countries subject to the Jackson-Vanik amendment, in a bid to extend to this country a permanent most-favored-nation trading status. President Zhelev yesterday visited Capitol Hill to meet the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Richard Lugar, a ranking member of the Committee, said after the talks that the US is following closely the situation in the Balkans and Bulgaria's position on the political developments in the region. He also said that on its way of reforms, privatization and market economy, Bulgaria can rely on the US support. Dr. Zhelev said for his part that the Senate Committee knew in detail the issues that were discussed. The President of Bulgaria ended the first day of his official working visit to the US by a meeting with Bulgarian Americans. On the second day of his visit to the US, Dr. Zhelev attended a round-table discussion on East European security, organized by the Council for Foreign Relations. The participants, who included two former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency, James Woolsey and William Colby, and former national security adviser Robert C. McFarlane, discussed Bulgaria's foreign policy position in a European context. At a meeting at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Committee Chairman, Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman, showed interest in the impact which the Socialist majority in the Bulgarian Parliament will have on Bulgaria's political and economic development and in the problem of the treatment of ethnic minorities. Dr. Zhelev also visited the editorial offices of the "Washington Post." Bulgarian reporters were not admitted to the discussion for lack of room, the hosts said. The US journalists had promised to ask Dr. Zhelev some awkward questions. Presidential Spokesman Valentin Stoyanov said the question-and-answer session focused on Bulgaria's political and economic development, the situation in the Balkans and the risks of an expansion of the conflicts there. Dr. Zhelev said that in respect of NATO membership, Bulgaria should be treated on equal terms with the Visegrad Four, because a Greece - Turkey - Bulgaria triangle would be a stronghold of peace in the Balkans and Southern Europe and would allow Bulgaria to receive national security guarantees and to make its own contribution to European security. The results of the last parliamentary elections are due to the difficulties encountered in the transition to market economy and to the pauperization of the people, Dr. Zhelev said, quoted by his spokesman. The former Communists capitalized on these difficulties, now by demagoguery and now with good intentions, and they are now implementing a rightist reform because there can be no other type of reform. Dr. Zhelev argued that the Socialists' remaining in power depends on this reform. The President denied a risk of ethnic tensions because Bulgarian Turks have been granted full civil rights and dismissed as unrealistic the possibility of a return to the ideas of the forced name-change of ethnic Turks in 1984-85. On his second day in Washington, D.C., Dr. Zhelev was also scheduled to confer with IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus and World Bank Vice President Wilfried Talwitz and to attend a ceremony at the Holocaust National Memorial Museum in tribute to the Bulgarian people for saving the Jewish community in Bulgaria during World War II. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESS REVIEW PRESIDENT ZHELEV VISITS USA All dailies cover the first day of President Zhelev's three-day official working visit to the United States. "Zhelev Invites Christopher to Balkan Summit" runs the headline of a front-page report in the Socialist "Douma" daily, saying that impressed by the U.S. effort to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict, President Zhelev asked Secretary of State Warren Christopher to focus his attention on the Balkans. President Zhelev and Secretary of State Christopher had a lunchtime meeting yesterday, at which Zhelev invited the U.S. chief diplomat to visit Sofia and meet Balkan leaders. "Demokratsiya", the daily of the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) and the private dailies "24 Chassa" and "Continent" also lead on President Zhelev's proposal for a Balkan summit. "For the First Time Bulgarian Flag Hoisted in Front of the Pentagon" reads the headline of a report in "Troud" on President Zhelev's meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry. "Standart News" informs that the U.S. grants 3.5 million dollars to Bulgarian non-governmental organizations. According to the "Zemya" daily, "this is the time for us to see what Bulgaria means to the U.S.". "Pari" informs that late last night President Bill Clinton welcomed President Zhelev to the Oval Office. This is the first time that a Bulgarian Head of State has been officially welcomed by a U.S. president, the daily writes. It goes on to say that the two presidents signed a joint declaration of principles, the first document of such a great importance in the history of the two countries' relations. By this declaration, President Clinton commits himself to ask Congress for 30 million dollars in assistance to regional projects, "Pari" says. "Douma" and "Standart News" write that on February 15, U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali will receive Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski, who is a member of the Bulgarian delegation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESIDENT ZHELEV INTERVIEWED "Now we need not become a satellite either to Germany, Britain, France, the U.S., or, still less, to Russia. We will seek security guarantees in NATO and the collective security structures that will emerge on the basis of the North Atlantic Alliance," President Zhelev said interviewed by the "Capital Press" weekly. "Had it not been for the support provided by these structures, as well as by the international financial institutions, the transition would not have succeeded and might have degenerated into civil war and dictatorship," Zhelev said. He stressed that a fight should be waged against the mafia. "By 'crime' I do not mean mass crime only, but organized crime as well: the security firms, the mafia and corruption in the state apparatus," Zhelev said. According to him, no effort should be spared to prevent the mafia from working its way to strategic sectors of Bulgarian industry: gas supply, power generation and water supply. Speaking about the freedom of speech in this country, President Zhelev said he was not convinced that there existed totally free speech in Bulgaria. "A large part of the press is dependent on groups which have enough money to pay well; the media engage in police-style operations instead of journalism," Zhelev said. In his view, the potential of free speech has not been fully realized and competition is the only way to do so. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BULGARIA, ALBANIA: MILITARY COOPERATION Sofia, February 14 - Today Lieut. Gen. Anyo Angelov, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, and his Albanian counterpart Lieut. Gen. Agim Baryti signed a plan for military cooperation between the defense ministries of Bulgaria and Albania in 1995. Baryti leads a military delegation, which arrived on an official visit to Bulgaria yesterday. The protocol for cooperation between the medical departments of the two armies, signed along with the plan, represents an integral part of the document. This year's cooperation envisages meetings of Bulgarian and Albanian military officials on different levels, including on the level of chiefs of general staff and armed forces commanders, studying the systems for training military specialists on reciprocal basis and exchange of experience between military schools, Gen. Angelov told journalists later. The documents are a very important step in the only right direction: promotion of relations between the two armies and the two countries, he stated. According to its individual plan under NATO's Partnership for Peace initiative, Albania will invite Bulgarian to take part in joint exercises, as well as in bilateral ones, Gen. Angelov and Gen. Baryti said. The Albanian guest recalled that the 1993 agreement on cooperation between the two countries' defense ministries laid the foundations of bilateral relations in this sphere. The Bulgarian military atache in Tirana, Lieut. Col. Doikov, attended the exercises of the Albanian army in January this year. He said that Bulgarian army surgeons would be invited by their colleagues to exercise in military medicine to be held in March 1995. The bilateral military cooperation and joint activities under the Partnership for Peace initiative are the first step to the integration of Bulgaria and Albania with the military structures of NATO, Gen. Baryti said. According to him, the new plan signed today will serve to strengthen peace and stability on the Balkans. The Albanian Defense Ministry has nothing to do with the deal for deliveries of Bulgarian mortars and other military equipment concluded through the agency of the Bulgarian Defense Ministry in 1993, Gen. Baryti said in reply to a question. For the Albanian party the contract was signed by Sali Kuca but he was not authorized to do it. He was dismissed and now is serving a jail term for the conclusion of an earlier unprofitable transaction with a Bulgarian company for the delivery of cars, Gen. Baryti said. For more than a year now the Bulgarian press has been publishing articles about the delivery of 100 mortars (120-mm), 10,000 mines and Dragounov sniper rifles of 650- 740,000 US dollars' worth which are said to have disappeared in the territory of Macedonia and have not been paid for yet. The investigation, initiated by the Armed Forces Prosecutor's Office, has not yet been completed. Recently "24 Chassa" wrote that last week the civil investigative authorities arrested Col. Valentin Popinski (Ret.), then head of the Procurement and Trade department with the Ministry of Defense and in charge of the deal, and searched his home. Popinski was dishonorably discharged by the then minister of defense Valentin Alexandrov. At today's talks in the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, the Albanian Defense Ministry representatives said that they would be grateful to their Bulgarian counterparts if they give them details about the deal, a Daily News reporter learned from a military source who attended the talks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EBRD AND EIB TO FINANCE BULGARIAN ROADS REPAIRS Sofia, February 14 - A program for repairing the road network in the country was considered today by a collegium of the Ministry of Transport. The program covers the period between 1995 and 1998 and envisages that 1,500 km of road sections in particularly bad state be repaired. The program is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). In addition to the loan granted this year the project will need another two loans. A special financial scheme will be worked out for servicing the credit lines. The average construction rate is envisaged at 500 km a year. PHARE program will grand ECU 10 million in gratuitious aid for the country's integration with the European road network. Under the project the EBRD grants ECU 25 million and the EIB provides annually 30 million US dollars. 1.7 million US dollars is the average price for the repair of 1 km of road, experts say. In their view the program will need at least 9,000 million leva from the public purse. ==============================================================================