Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - "Despite the serious social and economic problems facing the cabinet, itmust and it will make its best to solve the refugees problem in Bulgaria, according to this country'sinternational commitments," Prime Minister Zhan Videnov said, answering an MP's quesition inParliament. In Videnov's view, by solving the problem with the refugees in Bulgaria, this country willmeet European standards of human rights protection and implementation. According to Videnov, themass media are approaching the refugee problem from a peculiar angle, often associating it with drugs,prostitution and other negative phenomena. Videnov said people often confused the terms refugees andillegal aliens. He said that there are about 1,000 refugee status seekers in Bulgaria. So far, 26 people havebeen granted refugee status, two have been refused and the applications of five have been turned down asunjustified. These five people have departed from Bulgaria. In April 1992, Bulgarian Parliament ratifiedthe 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. A National Bureau ofTerritorial Asylum and Refugees with the Council of Ministers was set up in October 1992. The cabinet iscurrently preparing to open a reception centre for refugee status seekers in Bulgaria.
Vienna, June 2 (BTA) - Kiril Tsochev, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tradeand Foreign Economic Cooperation, and Johannes Ditz, Austrian Minister of Economic Affairs, signed anagreement on economic, industrial, scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.The agreement provides for the implementation of joint projects by meeting environmental standards andapplying new technology. Mr Tsochev arrived in Vienna on a three-day official visit yesterday. Before thesigning ceremony he had a meeting with Mr Ditz. "I was greatly impressed by the fact that you managedto improve the country's basic economic parameters," Minister Johannes Ditz told BTA. He said thatAustria is ready to support Bulgaria efforts for stabilization and for full integration with the EuropeanUnion. "I believe that it would be to the interest of both countries to seize the opportunities in the area ofinvestments, economic growth and development of trade. We considered several specific projects. To me itwas important to stress we are interested in the import of farm products from Bulgaria," Mr Ditz said.During the talks the sides discussed the problems arising in connection with the issue of visas toBulgarian citizens after the entry into force of the Schengen agreement.
The Austrian side said the problems would be discussed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; simplifying the procedure forBulgarians travelling to Austria on business would be also considered. "We discussed the major aspects ofbilateral economic relations," Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Tsochev said. "Both sides expressed adesire for their expansion. We agreed that the volume of trade which added up to 180 million dollars lastyear is satisfactory but believe that there are still untapped possibilities in this field," Mr Tsochev said. The sides considered Austria's participation in the Bulgarian privatization process and in specific projectstoo. This morning Mr Tsochev had talks with Brigitte Ederer, Secretary of State for European Integration."We discussed European integration and Bulgaria's accession to full membership in the EU. We hail the initiative of the Austrian Government about making Vienna a centre of consultations with the EastEuropean countries during the process of their gradual integration with the European structures andaccession to the EU," Mr Tsochev said. The sides considered transport connections, the support of theAustrian Government and the EU for the construction of a bridge across the Danube and Austrianinvestment in the project. The Bulgarian side brought up the problem of Bulgaria's losing somepreferences for its farm products after Austria joined the EU. The Bulgarian side extended formalinvitations to Mrs Ederer and Mr Ditz to visit Bulgaria which were gratefully accepted.
Yesterday Mr Tsochev presented a paper on "Basic Elements of the Programme of theGovernment of the Democratic Left in Bulgaria" at a meeting of the members of the Danubian Club, asociety for Bulgarian-Austrian economic cooperation. The meeting was hosted by Austria AG bank.
Sofia, June 3 (BTA) - The memorandum on the opening of talks with Slovakia about a free tradezone is the first step in the implementing of the government's foreign policy programme, said DeputyPrime Minister and Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation Kiril Tsochev. He returnedtoday from visits to Slovakia and Austria. A similar document will be signed with the Czech Republic onJune 15 and June 19 will see the beginning of talks at experts level in preparation for the signing ofagreements, Tsochev said. He believes they will enter in force on January 1, 1996. The documentsenvisage lifting the tariffs on 60 per cent of industrial products, with all others to follow within two years.Agricultural products are a more sensitive issue, Tsochev said. He expects memorandums for talks on freetrade zones to be signed with Hungary, Poland and Romania as well.
In Slovakia, Tsochev signed anagreement on cooperation in trade, industry, science and technology. He met with almost all cabinetministers. In Vienna, KirilTsochev asked Austria to help solve Bulgaria's problems arising from theSchengen Agreement. He suggested that multiple entry visas be issued to Bulgarian businessmen. Austriais ready to invest in the building of a bridge over the Danube in Northwestern Bulgaria, Tsochev said. Inaddition, it is willing to invest in Bulgaria's tourist and chemical industry and metallurgy. Tsochev heldtalks with Austria's Minister of Economic Affairs Johannes Ditz and with Secretary of State for EuropeanIntegration Brigitte Ederer. A Bulgarian-Austrian agreement on cooperation in trade, industry, scienceand technology was signed.
Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - Parliament voted down today the Cabinet's motion for economist BistraDimitrova (41) to head the State Savings Bank (SSB). The debates were heated and though there were twoballots, the Government's proposal was defeated. The main argument of the opposition was that MsDimitrova is a full-time employee of the Balkanbuilding firm, associated with the powerful economicgrouping of Multigroup. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechevsaid he was unaware of any ties between Balkanbuilding and Multigroup. "There may be some indirectlink, but Bistra Dimitrova was proposed by the Cabinet for her professional merits," Gechev said.Dimitrova has been working for Balkanbuilding for almost ten months. Her previous appointments wereat the SSB and the United Bulgarian Bank.
The State Savings Bank is an independent savings andlending institute with the National Bank since 1971. Unlike the commercial banks, the public holdings init are guaranteed by the state. At the debates it was stressed that the appointment of Dimitrova as chief ofthe SSB would give Multigroup control over lending in Bulgaria. The SSB has had no president since1990. Now its acting President is Assen Droumev. The Commercial Banks Association protestedyesterday against his removal. After Dimitrova's defeat today, the leader of the largest opposition force ofthe Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) , Ivan Kostov, congratulated all honest people who did not givethe State Savings Bank to Multigroup.
Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - The Secretariat of the Association of CommercialBanks (ACB) has sent a letter to Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, expressing the bankers' concern overpress reports that ACB Co-chairman Assen Droumev might be dismissed as chairman of the State SavingsBank, "Pari" reports on its front page. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Roumen Gechev, quoted byseveral dailies, confirmed that Bistra Dimitrova would replace Droumev. She is indirectly linked toMultigroup. This way of making personnel changes smacks of scandal and will adversely influence thebanking system, says the letter quoted in "Continent".
The Golden Sands resort on the Black Sea should be parcelled out and privatized, themanagement proposed to the Privatization Agency according to "Douma". The management puts the costof renovation at 36,000 million leva (today the dollar is trading at 66.366 leva).
Bulgarian tour operators owe the budget and their partners 2,100 million leva for 1994, "24Chassa" reports. Their outstanding debts rose by 32 per cent from 1993 and receivables by 21 per cent.The biggest debtors to the budget are Sunny Beach which owes 166 million leva, Vitosha 51 million leva,Golden Sands 45 million leva and Albena 48 million leva.
"Russia and Switzerland are trying to lure Bulgartabac; in two years' time tobacco may stop to begrown in Bulgaria," says an extensive story in "24 Chassa" on the development of Bulgaria's tobaccoindustry in the last few years.
Japan's International Cooperation Agency will provide 2 million dollars in grant aid for theimplementing of an energy-saving project in Bulgarian industry, "24 Chassa" and "Continent" report,quoting Dobrin Obreshkov, Head of the Energy Efficiency Department of the Industry Ministry.
The export to Turkey of seventeen wagon-loads of oil-bearing sunflower seed, falsely documentedas oil cake which is exempt from customs duty, was prevented yesterday, Svilengrad Customs Chief PetkoPetkov told the press, says "Continent". Customs duties collected from natural persons increased fivefoldover the past two weeks since the Customs were streamlined, Petkov also said.
Sofia, June 4 (BTA) - More than 300 Bulgarian and 100 foreign companies took part in theEurocontact business forum held in Plovdiv on June 1 and 2. The foreign countries represented at theforum were Belarus, Venezuela, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Moldova, Russia, the UnitedStates, Ukraine and South Africa. Foreign companies showed a great interest in Bulgarian textiles.
Companies of Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the CIS will take part in a business meeting inthe southern town of Hissar from June 6 to 9. Tatarstan will be represented by the largest number ofcompanies. During the forum Bulgaria and Tatarstan will sign an agreement on cooperation in trade, theeconomy, science and technology. A month ago at a similar meeting in Tatarstan Bulgarian companiessigned contracts for the export of canned food, flour, furniture and machine tools, and the import ofpolymers, rubber and tyres. Bulgarian canneries, cigarette factories and distilleries will be built inTatarstan.
Bulgarian and Romanian businessmen will hold a traditional meeting in Dobrich (NortheasternBulgaria) on June 15 and 16. It is organized by the chambers of commerce in Dobrich and Constanta.Romanian companies will offer fresh and canned fruit, building materials, cosmetics, clothes, footwear,glass and lamps. They will seek to import agricultural machinery and spare parts, steel, dental surgeryequipment, stationery and office equipment.
Digicom, a Bulgarian-German joint venture, will launch the production in Bulgaria of state-of- the-art telecommunications equipment. It was set up by Incoms-Telecom of Bulgaria and Siemens, with acapital of over 10 million Deutsche marks. Digicom will be making public telecoms systems, includingdigital exchange switches. A digital exchange of this type has been in operation in Varna since last year.Similar exchanges will be installed in Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Turnovo, Rousse and Blagoevgrad in 1995and 1996.
The oil refinery Plama in Pleven (Northern Bulgaria) will be renovated by the German companySKL based in Magdeburg. The revamped refinery will have three new product lines: ethylated petrol A-91and A-98 and unethylated A-95, which will bring Bulgaria closer to the European standards ofenvironmental protection, says Deputy Director Valentin Trifonov. The three types of petrol will meet onefifth of domestic demand.
White wines made by Vinex - Veliki Preslav in Northeastern Bulgaria were highly commendedat the Olympia wine festival in London. Over three million bottles of quality white wine will be exportedto Britain in 1995. Four million bottles of white wine and three million bottles of brandy have been madeby Vinex Veliki Preslav this year, BTA's local correspondent reported. Ninety per cent of the products areintended for export.
Some 300,000 private companies with over one million employees are working in Bulgaria'stourist industry, the General Amalgamation of Sectoral Trade Unions told a national conference ontourism held near Varna. In the next four years the state holding is expected to halve. The participantsinsisted on the speedy passage of a Tourism Act. They also called for the replacement of the Committeeon Tourism by a ministry.
Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - Today Russian Marshal Viktor Kulikov, who is on an informal visit toBulgaria, met with Dimiter Pavlov, Bulgarian Defence Minister, and Colonel General Tsvetan Totomirov,Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army. A Defence Ministry press release says that Pavlov andKulikov exchanged views on the progress of democratic reforms in Bulgaria and Russia. They agreed thatthe positions and approaches of the time of the Wasaraw Pact are outdated and that it is necessary to showmutual understanding and tolerance in the seeking of new paths towards future development. Bilateralmilitary cooperation should be based on a new type of relations, the sides are cited as saying in the pressrelease. Defence Minister Pavlov told Marshal Kulikov about Bulgaria's good relations with its neighboursand familiarized him with the balanced policy it implements, pointing out the potential danger Bulgariamay find itself exposed to as a result of the conflict in ex-Yugoslavia.
The Bulgarian Defence Minister said that the efforts of military diplomats to promote the country's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures is one of the ways to achieve greater security. Minister Pavlov stated that Bulgaria'sDefence Ministry is trying to adapt the experience of advanced democracies in military legislation to therealities in Bulgaria and to help in the development of an adequate concept about national security and amilitary doctrine. The reform in the Bulgarian army and the difficulties it faces in the transition to amarket economy were on the agenda of the talks between Marshal Kulikov and Colonel General TsvetanTotomirov. Today's press quotes Viktor Koulikov as saying that Bulgaria's accession to NATO now wouldbe precipitate: Europe needs an organization for collective security. Marshal Viktor Kulikov, who isformer commander-in-chief of the Warsaw pact, arrived in Sofia yesterday at the ivitation of theBulgarian Atlantic Club. At present Kulikov is an advisor to Rusiian Defence Minister Pavel Grachyev.
Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - A Dutch, a Greek, an Italian and a Turkish NATO frigates arrived todayat the port of Varna (on the Black Sea). They will take part in a military exercise codenamed "JointSalvage '95" in the framework of the Partnership for Peace. Commodore Van Der Lugt, commander ofNATO's standing naval forces in the Mediterranean and the captains of the four frigates were received byCommander of the Bulgarian Naval Forces Vice Admiral Hristo Kontrov and by the regional governorKiril Yordanov. 933 NATO sailors will take part in the exercises on June 7 in the Black Sea. Bulgariawill participate with three corvettes, two life-saving ships, two helicopters and two civilian vessels. The standard NATO communication procedures will be used during the exercise. On June 6, a day before theexercise, in Varna will arrive admiral Mario Angeli of Italy, NATO Commander Naval Forces SouthernEurope.
Sofia, June 4 (BTA) - The Government Committee on European Integration (GCEI) metyesterday afternoon, the government press office said late last night. Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinskibriefed the committee members on his participation and the results of the first session of the Bulgaria-EUAssociation Council and the regular meeting of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) atforeign ministers' level in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, on May 31. In Brussels, during an exchange ofviews on a wide range of subjects, Bulgaria was praised for its reform process, and at the same time it wasstressed that privatization in all sectors, the financial sector included, should be speeded up and that directforeign investment in the economy should increase. It was emphasized that Bulgaria is a factor of stabilityin Southern Central Europe. Cooperation in infrastructure projects was discussed as a way to facilitatecommunications between Bulgaria and the EU.
Trade liberalization, projects under the PHARE programme, cooperation in justice and internal affairs, especially in the combating of organized crime,were other subjects for discussion. The Bulgarian delegation categorically raised the issue that Bulgariansare not treated on an equal footing with the EU member countries and the Schengen countries as far as thefreedom of travel is concerned. The equal treatment and equal start of all associated countries and thedrawing up of the White Paper on the approximation of legislation were also discussed at length. After itapproved the Foreign Minister's report, the GCEI discussed the cabinet's participation in the finalizing ofthe White Paper, which is expected to be approved at the Cannes summit meeting between the EU headsof state and government and their counterparts of the six associated countries on June 27. The Committee discussed and approved Pirinski's report on the NACC session, which focused on the state and prospectsfor cooperation within NACC and the Partnership for Peace plan, as well as the new architecture ofEuropean security.
Sofia, June 4 (BTA) - Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski is making an official visit to SouthAfrica from June 4 to 6 at the invitation of his counterpart Alfred Nzo, the Foreign Ministry's press officesaid. Pirinski is scheduled to meet with the ministers of industry, construction, defence and culture. Thefollowing documents will be signed during the visit: agreements on a relaxed visa regime, on theavoidance of double taxation, and on investment protection, as well as a protocol on cooperation betweenSouth Africa and Bulgaria. The new building of the Bulgarian Embassy will be inaugurated.
The participants in a two-day seminar in Sofia on "Women in the Balkans and the Problems of War" adopted an appeal, calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities in former Yugoslavia and anegotiated solution to the contentious issues. They insist that women take part in the peace talks and thatthe UN hold an international conference on "Women for Peace and Tolerance" in Sarajevo. Leaders ofwomen's organizations of Albania, Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Macedonia and Bulgaria adopted aprogramme for cooperation, including more active control over the respect for human rights at nationaland regional level. The forum was organized by the Olof Palme International Centre, Sweden's NationalFederation of Women Social Democrats, and the Federation of Women Clubs with the Bulgarian SocialDemocratic Party.
"100 Per Cent Stoichkov", the book which sold like hot cakes in Spain, was launched in Sofia today. Helped by Spanish journalists Aguilar and Torres, the football star Hristo Stoichkov told the story of his growth, his participation in the World Cup last year and his strained relations with Barcelona coachJohan Cruyff. "Everyone in Spain knows who is Stoichkov. His coming to Spain marked the beginning ofa new stage in its football championship. More Bulgarian footballers went to the Pyrenees after him," saidSpanish Charge d'Affaires Guillermo Kirkpatrick de la Vega.
The Federative Council of the Federation of Independent Students' Organizations today assignedits representative on the board of publishers of the "Demokratsiya" daily to call for the resignation ofEditor-in- Chief Ivo Indjev. The Council stated in a press release that in its present condition the daily,which is the main vehicle for propaganda and information of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF),cannot influence the Union's supporters or a larger readership and thus win broader support for thepolitical stand and actions of the UDF. The Federative Council believes that Indjev and the editorial staffare largely responsible for the unsatisfactory condition of the daily.