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News from Bulgaria / Nov 02 '95From: bulgaria@access1.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria)Bulgarian Telegraph Agency DirectoryEMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCYCONTENTS[01] BULGARIA EXPECTS FRESH FOREIGN INVESTMENTS[02] BULGARIA LAUDS MEETING[03] DEPUTY PM TSOCHEV RETURNS FROM JORDAN[04] BULGARIA, GERMANY FAVOUR ARMS LIMITATION IN BALKANS[05] BUSINESS PRESS[06] OPPOSITION FORCES UNITE FOR RUN-OFF ELECTIONS[01] BULGARIA EXPECTS FRESH FOREIGN INVESTMENTSSofia, November 1 (BTA) - Some 50-60 million US dollars in investments may be expected in Bulgaria from Europe Merchant Fund, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Roumen Gechev said here today upon his return from a two-day international conference in Greece. Mr Gechev said that the conference was in itself a Balkan summit on political and economic issues and on the conditions for making investments in the region. During the meeting with the fund's director Angelos Plakopitas, who is also executive director of Global Financial for Greece, it emerged that a large part of the money in the recently established fund will be directed to Bulgaria. In his address to the conference Deputy P.M. Gechev focused on three main issues: Bulgaria's progress in financial stabilization, the restructuring of economy and economic growth, which has been projected to reach 2.5-3 per cent of the GDP in 1995. During the conference Mr Gechev had a number of meetings with representatives of the EU, the EBRD, the European Investment Bank and others. Voucher privatization and the major infrastructure projects were the issues which chiefly attracted the interest of the other parties. The fact that voucher privatization has been attracting even greater interest than cash privatization, is not surprising, considering the fact that it will denationalize assets worth more 90,000 million leva, Minister Gechev said. Particular interest was shown in the prospects for combined participation in the two types of privatization as well as the fact that the shares, acquired in the process will later participate on the capital market, Roumen Gechev said. In his view this is an exceptional possibility for the foreign investors and in particular the Greek companies, which are largest in number in Bulgaria.
[02] BULGARIA LAUDS MEETINGSofia, November 1 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski and Deputy Foreign Minister Irina Bokova praised the Luxembourg meeting of foreign ministers of European Union (EU) member-states and East and Central European associated countries, in which the two officials took part.
The meeting discussed the PHARE Programme, the developments in former Yugoslavia and the Middle East. The Bulgarian side hailed the PHARE Programme. During the discussions, Pirinski expressed a view that since PHARE entered a new stage of development, the Programme's implementation in this country should, to a greater degree, take into account the potential of countries such as Bulgaria. This country would like to see the streamlining of the procedures for applying for PHARE funding, the improved use of internal resources and of investment shares, Bokova told a news conference here today.
In Luxembourg Pirinski attended the discussion of the developments in former Yugoslavia. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister raised the issue about the participation of the countries affected by the U.N. sanctions against former Yugoslavia in the postwar restoration of the region. At today's news conference Bokova stressed this country's satisfaction that several speakers at the meeting mentioned Bulgaria as participating country in the postwar restoration of former Yugoslavia. During his meeting with European Commissioner Hans van den Broek, Pirinski discussed the time limit for the preparation of the European Commission's views on the individual countries applying for full EU membership. During his meeting with Italian State Secretary in charge of foreign affairs Emanuele Scamaca, Pirinski discussed the East-West corridor. According to Pirinski, participants in the meeting expressed the view that the East-West corridor will be much more useful if it is synchronized with the transport links between Central Europe, the Mediterranean and the Baltics. The two officials discussed the possibility for Italian Foreign Minister Suzanna Agnelli to visit Bulgaria. Summing up her impressions from the meeting in Luxembourg, Bokova stressed Bulgaria's assessment that the forum is a form of high-level dialogue between the EU member-states and associated countries during which this country had the opportunity to set forth its positions on a number of issues.
[03] DEPUTY PM TSOCHEV RETURNS FROM JORDANSofia, November 1 (BTA) - Bulgaria expressed its wish to regain its positions in the Arab markets, Deputy Prime Minister Kiril Tsochev said upon his return from Amman today where he attended a three- day forum of the Middle East and Northern Africa countries. During the sessions and meetings Tsochev expressed the wish of Bulgarian engineering and trade organizations to take part independently and in cooperation with foreign companies in energy and construction projects financed by the World Bank and other funds. Information on the results of a tender on energy systems connecting Jordan and Syria are expected today, Tsochev told journalists. In Amman Tsochev met senior statesmen of Germany, Brazil, Japan, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Spain the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic and other countries. Arab countries leaders expressed a wish to assist Bulgaria in regaining its positions in the Middle East, Tsochev said.
[04] BULGARIA, GERMANY FAVOUR ARMS LIMITATION IN BALKANSSofia, November 1 (Andrei Sharkov of BTA) - General Klaus Naumann, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, arrived on a three-day official visit here today at the invitation of Colonel General Tsvetan Totomirov, Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Army. The visit is under the two-year Bulgarian-German programme on the enlargement of military contacts.
Asked upon his arrival about the imbalance in weapons in the Balkans and the situation in the region, General Naumann said: "Germany believes that the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which enters into force on November 17, 1995, should be an important stabilizing factor. As a participant in the contact group for former Yugoslavia, Germany proposed that the CFE non-signatory countries be under sustained control in respect of their armament."
General Naumann told Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimiter Pavlov he was convinced that Bulgarian-German military-to-military contacts will be ever more successful. Mr Pavlov assessed in positive terms a port call to Varna by a German squadron this summer. "Germany is ready to accept Bulgarian military for training next year in compliance with a plan which is to be drafted with the participation of the Bulgarian General Staff," the German guest said after talks at the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army.
"Relations between the two countries' defence ministries keep diversifying," Mr Pavlov told General Naumann. He familiarized the guest with Bulgaria's desire to become a full member of EU and WEU and to take more active part in the Partnership for Peace initiative (the PfP Framework Document was signed by President Zhelev in 1994), Defence Ministry Spokesman Tsvyatko Donchev told journalists. "Germany admires and welcomes Bulgaria's progress along the road to European and Trans-Atlantic structures," Klaus Naumann said.
"Bulgaria praises the peacekeeping role of Germany in the Yugoconflict," Mr Pavlov also stated. He reiterated to the German guest Bulgaria's stance on non-involvement in the conflict and its appeal to neighbouring countries to refrain from participation in peacekeeping operations in former Yugoslavia. Mr Pavlov insisted on the establishment of a mechanism for arms reduction on the Balkans. The German guest was highly appreciative of the Bulgarian position. "Bulgaria's application of the Yugoembargo helped bring the warring parties to the negotiating table and facilitated the signing of the cease- fire," General Naumann said, quoted by the Defence Ministry Press Centre.
The two countries started exchanging military delegations in 1991. That year a group of Bulgarian officers visited the NATO military academy in Oberammergau. Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev described this as the beginning of closer cooperation between Bulgaria and NATO. In 1993, after a break of 50 years, a Bulgarian military delegation, led by the then defence minister Valentin Alexandrov, visited Germany. Concrete agreements on closer cooperation were achieved.
In March 1994 a German delegation, led by the then defence minister Volker Ruehe, paid a visit to Bulgaria. The two countries' defence ministers signed an agreement on cooperation envisaging exchange of information on military, political and legal matters, armed forces management etc. The two countries cooperate in the military field mainly by exchanging delegations, working groups, information and specialization trainees. In August 1995 Bulgaria and Germany signed an agreement on cooperation in military medicine within the framework of two-year bilateral programme for cooperation. Since last year Germany has sent three consignments of communication, medical and transport equipment.
General Naumann was scheduled to confer with Prime Minister Zhan Videnov but the meeting was postponed. The German guest is to tour military units and service training establishments and place wreaths at war monuments. Before his departure on Friday, he will be received by President Zhelyu Zhelev.
[05] BUSINESS PRESSSofia, November 1 (BTA) - The Neftochim oil refinery in Bourgas starts today the production of unleaded Eurosuper A-95 petrol. Its ceiling retail price fixed by the Government is 29.50 leva a liter (USD 1 currently exchanges for 68.64 leva), the press writes today. The State Savings Bank will introduce credit cards for members of the public within one to two months, "Troud" writes. Balkan Airways is negotiating loans with Bulgarian and foreign banks, "Continent" writes. The credits will be easier to obtain if the State Fund for Reconstruction and Development grants the national air carrier the US$ 45 million it is asking for. Balkan Airways is planning to reorganize its sidelines activities and is auditing its losing services. The Governing Board of the Association of Commercial Banks held an extended session yesterday at which it adopted a declaration against the attempts to discredit the financial system in this country," "Douma" writes. The final text of the declaration will be published today. Most probably it will give prominence to First Private Bank which has recently experienced financial problems. The bankers protest against statements about forthcoming bankruptcies and predict chain reactions.
A seminar at the Transport Ministry is discussing a rise in road tolls. British consultants recommended a rise in road tolls to 1,200 leva a year. Now the annual road toll is 500 leva.
[06] OPPOSITION FORCES UNITE FOR RUN-OFF ELECTIONSSofia, November 1 (BTA) - Today the opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), the Popular Union and the ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) agreed to support single candidates in the second round of local elections. After a nearly three-hour meeting, the leaders of the UDF, the Popular Union and the MRF signed an appeal, in which they urge their local structures to support, among the candidates of the three forces, the one who has garnered the highest vote in the first ballot. The rest of the candidates should withdraw their candidacies in favour of the candidate of the united opposition. UDF, the Popular Union and the MRF also called on to the extra-parliamentary forces, seeking their support. Today's meeting was held on the initiative of UDF Leader Ivan Kostov. "UDF hails the adoption of the appeal. It is an important component of the opposition's uniform actions not only for the local elections, but also for the future," Kostov told reporters after the meeting. "The document which was signed today proves the opposition's unanimity against its sole opponent - the policy of the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party, as well as on the importance of local power," Anastasiya Dimitrova-Mozer, Co-chairperson of the Popular Union said. "This was the only wise decision we could take," Stefan Savov, the Popular Union's other Co-chairperson said. MRF Leader Ahmed Dogan commented that an "anti-communist bloc in action" was set up today. None of the opposition leaders mentioned any differences they have had during the negotiations. According to participants in the negotiations, however, the UDF and the Popular Union argued on the selection of the candidates to be supported by the united opposition in some of the cities. Already in the summer the UDF and the Popular Union signed a memorandum for cooperation in local elections. The argument over the mayoral candidacy in Sofia strained the relations between the two forces, but in some population centres and municipalities their local structures managed to come up with single mayoral candidates and councillor lists. In the night of October 29, after preliminary returns were announced, the mayoral candidate of the Popular Union Reneta Indjova said she intends to withdraw from the race. Polling 17.18 per cent of the votes, Ms Indjova was third among the mayor candidates in Sofia and may run in the second round of voting under the amendments to the Electoral Act. UDF's candidate in Sofia Stefan Sofiyanski garnered 44.14 per cent of the votes, followed by the BSP-backed independent candidate Ventsislav Yossifov with 32.64 per cent. Reneta Indjova said today she would vote for the candidate of the political force, which, throughout the election campaign she has referred to as "partner". Mrs Indjova used the word when she addressed UDF's candidate Stefan Sofiyanski. At a news conference today she called on to those, who had voted for her in the first round, to "vote their conscience".
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