From: bulgaria@access1.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria)
Subject: BTA inf/ Apr. 05, 95
EMBASSY OF THE REPUB;IC OF BULGARIA BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY
BULLETIN OF NEWS FROM BULGARIA
Seoul, April 4 (BTA spec. corr. Roumyana Kinkina) Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev, who is paying an official visit to the Republic of Korea, was conferred the title of Honorary Doctor of Political Sciences at a ceremony at the Hankuk University in Seoul for his contribution as a dissident and author of comprehensive works. Albeit all difficulties, the process of transition from communism to democracy and market economy in Bulgaria is irreversible, President Zhelev said in a lecture read before students and lecturers of the university. The current left wave, which swung former communists back to power in some East European states cannot stop this process. The worst it can do is delay or deform it, Dr Zhelev said. Where the communists have actually ceased to be communists and have approached social democracy, the reforms may continue, he noted. Dr Zhelev's lecture was devoted to the stages in the transition from communism to democracy and market economy. According to him, the stages are three: first comes the disintegration of the totalitarian system and the holding of democratic elections, followed by the establishment of new democratic state institutions and the passing of constitutional laws and finally the transition to market economy. Dwelling on the second stage, Dr Zhelev stressed the role of legislative institutions and above all the Constitutional Court which according to him plays the role of an arbiter in disputes between the ruling majority and the opposition in Parliament, between the President and Parliament and between the Government and Parliament. Sofia St Kliment Ohridski University Rector Ivan Lalov, who is member of the official Bulgarian delegation, signed a contract for cooperation with the Hankuk University. This private Seoul university, with 15,000 students and 400 lecturers, is expected to open a Bulgarian studies department. There is no group for friendship with the Republic of Korea in the Bulgarian Parliament, while such a group already exists in the Parliament of the Republic of Korea, it became known today after President Zhelev's meeting with the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Mr Hwang Nak Joo. At separate meetings Assen Agov MP and Stoyan Denchev MP assured their South Korean colleagues that a friendship group will be set up in the Bulgarian National Assembly within two weeks. During the meetings at the National Assembly both sides expressed a wish for cooperation between the two Parliaments. In the evening President Zhelev opened a Modern Bulgarian Painting exhibition. The opening was attended by sculptor Vezhdi Rashidov and graphic artist Zahari Kamenov whose works have been included in the exhibition. The exhibition also displays works by two South Korean artists who graduated the Sofia Art Academy. The first Bulgarian book translated in the Korean - Yordan Radichkov's "We, the Sparrows", was launched. Last night's newscasts of the state TV gave prominence to Dr Zhelev's visit and his meeting with President Kim Young Sam. The visit was also frontpaged by the English language papers "Korea Times" and "Korea Herald". "Korea Times" underscored the intention expressed by the South Korean President to encourage the participation of South Korean companies in the privatization of Bulgarian loss-makers. "Korea Herald" came out with a special supplement on Bulgaria, stressing this country's wish to set up joint ventures with South Korean enterprises. This daily points out Dr Zhelev's support for the stand of the Republic of Korea for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Tomorrow morning Dr Zhelev will have a working breakfast with the president of the Daewoo concern and then leave on an official visit to Mongolia.
At a lecture organized by the Bulgarian Atlantic Club today, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, stressed that Balkan security is a condition for European security. Videnov's lecture on "Bulgaria and the Future Security Systems" was attended by ambassadors, MPs, cabinet ministers and public figures. The lecture comes at the opening of a week of events marking the fourth anniversary of the Bulgarian Atlantic Club and NATO's 46th anniversary. The only way to prevent conflicts in Eastern and Central Europe in the future is to integrate it into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, Videnov said. Military cooperation within NATO's Partnership for Peace plan should be coupled with active political cooperation, according to Videnov. Prime Minister Videnov said the Bulgarian government is going to concentrate its efforts on three major issues: the alleviation and resolution of Bulgaria's economic difficulties arising from the sanctions against Yugoslavia, stabilization of the Balkan region and integration into the European structures. There is an ever increasing economic and political need for the phasing out of the Yugosanctions, Videnov said. He emphasized that the huge losses sustained by this country as a result of sanctions enforcement are recognized by the international organizations. Videnov recalled that the Bulgarian government suggested that the states hit by sanctions enforcement against Yugoslavia appeal to the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council for technical and analytical assistance, as well as for the working out of an adequate mechanism for action in similar cases in the future. President Zhelev is expected to deliver a lecture organized by the Atlantic Club on April 17.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski ended a visit to Germany at the invitation of Federal Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Klaus Kinkel. The two foreign ministers discussed a wide scope of issues, including bilateral relations, the progress of reforms in Bulgaria and the process of Bulgaria's accession to the Euro-Atlantic structures, the National Radio said in its evening news cast. In a statement for the Bulgarian National Radio, Klaus Kinkel said that people in Germany and Europe in general attach great importance on the irreversible transition to democracy, rule of law and market economy for Bulgaria's speedy admission to the European Union and NATO. The German Foreign Minister further evaluated in highly positive terms Bulgaria's contribution to stability and security in Europe. The meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers laid special emphasis on the situation in the Balkans, the war in former Yugoslavia and the losses Bulgaria sustains as a result of the implementation of the Un embargo against Serbia and Montenegro, said the National Radio correspondent in Bonn. Georgi Pirinski today had meetings at the Bundestag and the Ministry of Defence, talked with the leader of the German Social Democratic Party, Rudolf Scharping, and delivered a speech on the reforms in Bulgaria at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attended by representatives of Germany's major banks, concerns, commercial partnerships and foundations, said this radio correspondent.
The President of the Republic of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrossian, arrives here on April 10 on a three-day official visit, the President's press office said.
The economic aspects of Bulgaria's accession to the European Union, the reform in this country and reform policies were the subjects for discussion at today's meeting between a Swiss parliamentary delegation and National Bank Vice Governor Mileti Mladenov. The delegation which arrived here yesterday is headed by Jean-Pierre Berger, leader of the Swiss representatives to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The guests showed interest in the ways to restore the Western countries' confidence in Bulgaria, given its foreign debt. Earlier today the Swiss delegation met with Deputy Foreign Minister Stefan Staikov. The conversation focused on Bulgaria's participation in Council of Europe activities as a member of the organization. Georgi Faitondjiev, Chairman of the National Waters Board, discussed Swiss and Bulgarian water use laws with the Swiss delegation. It also met with the Chairman of the Committee on Tourism Vassil Velev.
Anders Stendhalen, President of the Miners' International Federation (MIF), today attended a meeting of the national leadership of the Independent Miners Union with the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria. He familiarized himself with the problems of workers in the coal and ore industry in Bulgaria, BTA's correspondent reported from Blagoevgrad. The MIF's experience may come in handy now that a way is sought to restructure Bulgaria's mining industry. The trade unions want the changes to be made at the lowest possible social cost. Tomorrow Stendhalen will be visiting Asarel-Medet in Panagyurishte, the first mining enterprise in Bulgaria subject to privatization. Privatization and its consequences is another issue that will be discussed with the Swedish trade unionist.
Two Turkish fishing boats with some two tonnes of turbot aboard were arrested by the State Shipping Inspectorate today, BTA's correspondent in Varna reported, quoting Captain Nikolai Simeonov, chief of the inspectorate. The boats, Cinar Temel Reis and Mehmed Handem-2, were seen about midnight respectively 9 and 11 miles off the Bulgarian coast east of the mouth of the Kamchia River. The crews did not stop at the border guards' signals and tried to escape. The two vessels were sanctioned for a similar offence in 1991, the BTA correspondent recalls.
A two-day meeting of some 50 businessmen of the Haskovo region and Northern Greece opened today. It is attended by the presidents of the chambers of commerce and industry in Haskovo, Komotini, Orestias and Alexandroupolis. Dialogos Stergyudas, Chairman of the EU Interreg programme for Thrace, familiarized the participants with the programme objectives. Over the two years since its start 120 million drachmas have been utilized. The programme is intended to bring fresh investment in Bulgaria. Problems of Bulgarian-Greek trade, the setting up of joint ventures and eased visa regulations for businessmen from the two countries were discussed as well.
National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov left for Strasbourg this afternoon to attend a meeting of European Parliament President Klaus Haensch with the parliamentary leaders of the associated countries. The Bulgarian delegation will also meet the delegation of the European Parliament for contacts with Bulgaria to coordinate the forthcoming setting up of a joint parliamentary committee.
Earlier today National Assembly Chairman Sendov met the Argentine Ambassador here, Ms Nelly Maria Freyre Penabad, to discuss possibilities for promoting Bulgarian- Argentine relations in different spheres. The sides also discussed ways to establish permanent contacts between the parliaments of the two countries and to set up friendship groups in the two parliaments. Ms Penabad expressed the wish of Argentine entrepreneurs to establish contacts with Bulgarian companies and enterprises for the import and processing of Argentine meat for export to Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS, the parliamentary press office said.
Acad. Sendov also met newly appointed Indian Ambassador here, Nirupam Sen. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and possibilities for their further upgrading.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechev received today Turkish Ambassador here Mr Yalcin Oral, the government press office said. The talks focused on bilateral economic ties and possibilities for their broadening. The two sides agreed that Bulgaria and Turkey could activate their cooperation in the construction, updating and perfection of Balkan infrastructure.
The Bentonit state-owned company - Bulgaria's only producer of non-metal mineral resources, signed long-term contracts for the bulk of its output with the Netherlands, Austria, Israel and Tunisia. Negotiations are underway with Russia.
A multinational inspection group headed by an American expert arrived on a four-day visit here today. It will inspect arms cuts in the Bulgarian army in compliance with the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, the Defence Ministry said.
Major General Victor Suanses, Director General for Defence Policy at the Spanish Defence Ministry who is visiting here, was received today by Deputy Defence Minister Dimiter Mitkov and the Deputy Chief of the Bulgarian General Staff, Colonel General Petko Prokopiev. The sides discussed Bulgaria's foreign policy priorities, BTA learned from the Defence Ministry's press office. Mitkov stressed the key priorities are confidence building and good relations with the Balkan countries, participation in initiatives, the establishing of a European security system and closer contacts with the Euro-Atlantic structures. In this respect Bulgaria will take every opportunity for its phased integration offered by the Partnership for Peace plan, Mitkov said. He suggested that the two defence ministries consider exchanges of personnel for training at military academies, as well as joint participation in peacekeeping operations.
If the implementation of the project for an oil pipeline between Bourgas (on the Black Sea) and Alexandroupolis (Greece) is assigned to one ministry or department only, sooner or later this will give rise to suspicions of corruption or protection of foreign interests, the "Troud" daily writes citing a "well informed insider and techocrat". The most probable way out is the appointment of a joint working group with the Govewrnment and a special department in charge of international infrastructure projects with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the article says. Dragging out the negotiations may frustrate the Trans-Balkan Project which, according to experts, provides a unique chance for the Bulgarian economy, the "Capital Press" financial weekly warns.
If the National Bank of Bulgaria (BNB) declares and strictly applies certain objective criteria to the base interest rate changes and the money supply regulation as a whole, the financial market will improve its stability, the base interest rate will keep to a comparetively low level and this will stimulate production, the author of a signed article on the BNB interest policy writes in "Pari". The record-high interest rate in Bulgaria's most recent Bulgarian history keeps on delivering blows on the country's economy; importers appear to be the sole money-makers, which kills Bulgaria's production, a commentary in "Zemya" says.