News from Bulgaria / Mar 4, 96

From: bulgaria@access1.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria)

Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Directory

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

4 March, 1996

CONTENTS

[01] BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON INCIDENT WITH AIRCRAFT

Sofia, March 1 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Pantelei Karasimeonov expressed regrets over the incident in which the Cuban Air Forces shot down two U.S.-registered aircraft and the incurred casualties. We share the concern of the international community over the growing tension between the U.S. and Cuba, Karasimeonov said, expressing a hope that the circumstances of the incident and the reasons for its occurrence will be soon clarified and that the tension will be overcome on the basis of the international law, sensible dialogue and negotiations.

[02] FOREIGN MINISTER PIRINSKI TO VISIT CYPRUS

[03] BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN TRADE MAKES A STEP FORWARD

Sofia, March 1 (BTA) - "I'm satisfied with he fourth session of the Bulgarian-Russian intergovernmental committee on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation," Deputy Prime Minister Doncho Konakchiev said on his return from Moscow.

Aspects of trade, finance, the energy sector, industrial operations and forestry were on the agenda of the two-day session, Konakchiev said. The sides agreed to form three new working groups on joint ventures, construction and tourism, Konakchiev said. "We made a step forward in the liberalization of two-way trade. From now on the two countries' Governments, Parliaments and financial institutions will direct their efforts to the lifting of trade barriers". During the session the sides discussed the settlement of Russia's 100-million-dollar debt to Bulgaria, he said. In his view, there is no obstacle to its settlement but no time scale can be defined. During his visit to Moscow in March Prime Minister Zhan Videnov is expected to sign agreements prepared at the session, BTA learned from Konakchiev.

[04] RUSSIAN PRESIDENT YELTSIN CONGRATULATES ZHELEV

Sofia, March 1 (BTA) - President Zhelev received today congratulations from Russian President Boris Yeltsin on the occasion of Bulgaria's National Day - March 3, the day of this country's liberation from Turkish rule. In his cable President Yeltsin expresses his conviction that the historical roots of Russo-Bulgarian relations will continue grow in the interest of the two peoples, contributing to strengthening international peace and security, equality and mutually advantageous cooperation. "I wish the friendly Bulgarian people success and prosperity," the Russian President says in his cable.

[05] BULGARIA, TURKEY: BORDER COOPERATION

This is the second working meeting held under an agreement on economic, cultural and sport cooperation signed by Haskovo Regional Governor Angel Naidenov and the Vali of Edirne Koru Engin. The first meeting was held at the Kapi Kule checkpoint on Turkish territory three months ago. Manufacturers from the two regions will exchange visits under the agreements reached today. The two regions will host industrial expositions in Edirne in March and Haskovo in April. Seminars will familiarize businessmen with tax and customs regulations on the other side of the border.

[06] PARLIAMENT AMENDED PENSIONS ACT

The amendment introduces a new method of updating pensions as from April 1, 1996 when the Government will have to fix a new old-age pension. Pensions will be adjusted to the cost of living through a personal coefficient calculated as a ratio between the average monthly pay the pension is based on and the average gross monthly wage announced for the period by the National Statistical Institute. An earning-related pension shall not exceed the treble amount of old-age or non-contributory pension. The amendment provides more favourable terms for the retirement of certain categories of employees - teachers, servicemen and disabled persons. Teachers can retire after 25 years length of service, at the age of 57, for men and after 20 years length of service, at the age of 52, for women. Servicemen can retire on pension after 20 years length of service regardless of their age.

By proposal of the municipal councils, the Government may pay pensions to people who are past pension age if they have not qualified for a contributory pension. Such pension is payable to mothers with three or more children and persons who have cared for severely disabled relatives for more than 10 years.

[07] MILITARY PRIVATIZATION FUND TO BE SET UP

The fund will raise the capital for its registration from a joint- stock company of senior military officials, Pavlov said. Under the Defence and Armed Forces Act, which became effective on February 26, 1996, military officials are barred from trade and financial transactions. Under the Privatization Funds Act, which Parliament passed in December 1995, juristic persons where the state holds more than a 51 per cent stake cannot establish a privatization fund. According to Pavlov, legal obstacles make it necessary for the fund to be established through a steering committee which will include civilians.

In no case shall we link the raising of capital with financial groups or with private persons, Pavlov said. We have developed all mechanisms to avoid speculations, he said. Opinion polls in the Army show that 89 per cent of the military officials believe that the Ministry will be able to resolve the army's financial problems through the privatization funds, while 75 per cent said they wanted that a special privatization fund be established.

[08] POSTS AND TELECOM CHIEF KOLAROV RECEIVES AIDE MEMOIE

Sofia, March 1 (BTA) - The Chairman of the Committee of Posts and Telecommunications Lyubomir Kolarov has received an Aide Memoire from the review delegation of the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank on its visit to Bulgaria, the Committee said in a press release. According to the document, the Overlaid Digital Network (DON) Project, which is co-financed by loans from the three international financial institutions, is being successfully implemented and the Bulgarian Telecommunication Company (BTC) may complete the building of this network by the middle of 1997. The delegation believes that the audit of the BTC annual accounts for 1995 is making good progress, with most of the work in the major divisions completed. The financial results are very close to the estimates made during the visit of the review delegation in July 1995. The delegation stresses the importance of the preparations for BTC's privatization, in view of the related complicated issues, the long-term obligations and the adoption of a strategy for accelerared development of the sector in line with global tendencies.

[09] RALLY DEMANDS RESIGNATION OF HEALTH MINISTER

Sofia, March 1 (BTA) - At a protest rally today, doctors and nurses demanded the resignations of Health Minister Mimi Vitkova and of Deputy Health Minister Radka Argirova because of the AIDS scandal. Participants in the rally demanded that the two government officials go to court since the tragedy resembled that of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The rally demonstrated the unity among the members of the medical federation in the Podkrepa Labour Confederation, the Federation of Trade Unions of Health Workers in the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Health Democratic Trade Union, the association of private doctors and the regional doctors' union in Sofia. Participants in the rally said that their unity stems from their desire to protect the common interests of health workers.

The rally protested against the Cabinet's health care policy and the small amount of funds for health care provided in the 1996 national budget. The budget provides for an average monthly wage of doctors of 5,904 leva, which is below the subsistence minimum and by 2,000 leva lower than that for public employees. The insufficient monthly wage humiliates the Bulgarian doctor who is at the same time accused of corruption, speakers at the rally said.

The protestors criticized Vitkova for her actions which "antagonize the different categories of health workers". The doctors' discontent is caused by the stalling health care reform, the delay in the introduction of health insurance, and the passage of legislation without public debate, speakers at the rally said. In a declaration to BTA, the Executive Council of the Podkrepa Labour Confederation voiced its support for the demands of the participants in the rally. Meanwhile, the Haemophilia Society issued a declaration in which it expressed its support for Vitkova. "We categorically oppose the politicization of the tragic incident in which haemophiliacs were infected with HIV," the declaration, which was received at BTA, says. The Haemophilia Society expresses its support for Vitkova, who is "the first health minister since 1982 who has done something to help haemophiliacs". The Haemophilia Society Deputy Chairman Ivan Chilev told a BTA reporter that Vitkova included in the list of lifesaving medicines those for the cure of haemophilia as well. The Health Minister helped provid US$ 1 million last year and as much money this year to ensure the supply of antihaemophilic globulin, Chilev said. We drafted letters to the prime minister, the parliamentary chairman and the president in which we demand that the HIV-infected haemophiliacs be compensated for the tragic incident, Chilev said.

[10] UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINISTER TO VISIT BULGARIA

[11] UNESCO CHIEF GREETS BALKAN STUDIES FORUM

Sofia, March 2 (BTA) - The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Federico Mayor Zaragoza today sent greetings to the jubilee round table of an international scientific forum on Balkan studies in Bansko, Southwestern Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry announced. Mr Mayor commends highly the 5th International Workshop on Forefathers and Forerunners, Myths and Utopias in the Balkans, which is taking place in Bansko. He describes the forum as effective dialogue of different cultures in the name of pragmatic and open humanism. Bulgaria is hosting this forum under UNESCO auspices for the fifth time running. This year it is attended by 25 foreign scholars from ten countries and some 60 Bulgarian scholars. A month- long specialization course in Balkan and Bulgarian studies for young researchers and undergraduates from ten countries is part of the workshop.

[12] BUSINESS NEWS BRIEFS

Sofia, March 3 (BTA) - The Solidus Foundry Works of Pernik is making steel castings for Canada, said Manager Zdravka Manolova. The first lot, worth 50,000 dollars, will be shipped in early April, after which the contract is expected to be renewed for larger quantities.

Between January and Septmeber 1996, the Sodi Company of Devnya (Northeastern Bulgaria) exported as much ammonia ash as it did throughout 1993, the company's management said. Sodi is planning to establish contacts with 42 countries this year. Ammonia ash output is projected to reach 900,000 t by the end of 1996.

The Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation has picked the area cooperative union in Plovdiv and the canneries of Pazardjik and Assenovgrad (all three in South Central Bulgaria) to supply goods worth 200,000 US dollars each to NATO's Implementation Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Gaborvo will be one of the first towns outside Sofia with a comprehensive gas supply system, the local BTA correspondent reports. The gas pipeline will bring fuel to Gabrovo, Sevlievo, Tryavna and Dryanovo. In the first phase of the project, the Gabrovo Thermoelectric Power Station and the Industrial Quarter will switch to gas, which will considerably improve the efficiency of energy consumption and the condition of the urban environment.

The Balkanbank shareholders resolved to increase the bank's capital from 517 million leva to 1,034 million leva through a new share issue of a par value of 1,700 leva per share. Existing shareholders will be entitled to a portion of the new issue equal to their previous holding. The principal shareholder of the bank is the Bank Consolidation Company (76 per cent). The bank showed a loss for the financial year 1995, according to Supervisory Board Chairman Ivan Angelov. The amount of the loss will be specified after Deloitte & Touche complete their audit of the annual accounts.

[13] MARCH 3rd: BULGARIA'S NATIONAL DAY CEREMONIES MARK ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION

Sofia, March 3 (BTA) - Bulgarians celebrated their national day today. For the first time this year, the observances began with a national flag-hoisting and wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Sofia in the presence of President Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, government ministers, MPs and leaders of political forces. The flag was lowered this evening, after a solemn roll-call and tattoo. "The Treaty of San Stefano, signed 118 years ago today, marked the revival of the Bulgarian State, set a new beginning of its development, and re-legitimated its membership in the family of civilized European countries," Prime Minister Zhan Videnov said, opening the the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The example of the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War of Liberation shows that peoples can act together when they must defend peace, humanity and progress, the head of government noted. The Preliminaries of Peace, signed in San Stefano near Constantinople on March 3, 1878, concluded the war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire and restored Bulgarian statehood after 482 years of Turkish yoke. March 3 has been observed as Bulgaria's national day since 1991. National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov attended the celebration on Mt Shipka in the central part of the Balkan Range, scene of a crucial battle for the Russian victory in the war. Speaking at the gathering, Mr Sendov described March 3 as "the great beginning of the freedom of a young, clever and viable nation: the Bulgarians." Patriarch Maksim of Bulgaria celebrated a festive liturgy at the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the morning. In his exhortation he called March 3 "the greatest, the most Bulgarian day, which brought to an end a long night of bondage." "If Bulgarians are to be a pinnacle, freedom is their only possible mountain," said Prof. Milcho Lalkov, winner of the 1995 Herder Prize for History, addressing a March 3 ceremony at the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Bulgaria ought to be proud that it is marking its national day yet again without civil war, a sine qua non for the nation to realize its historic mission in the Balkans and in Europe. The University Rector, Prof. Ivan Lalov, welcomed the audience which included President Zhelev, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski and Patriarch Maksim. Reports from across the country, filed by the local BTA correspondents, tell about ceremonies and church services held on the occasion of the national day and in memory of the fallen in the Russo-Turkish War.

[14] PRESIDENT ZHELEV: A NATION'S STRENGTH IS IN ITS UNITY

Sofia, March 3 (BTA) - President Zhelyu Zhelev delivered a speech at a solemn roll-call and tattoo, held here this evening on the occasion of Bulgaria's national day, March 3. The function was attended by Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, government ministers, leaders of political forces and top brass. "Bulgaria was reborn 118 years ago today. The March 3, 1878 Treaty of San Stefano was the birth certificate of the new Bulgarian State," Dr Zhelev said. "The yoke cannot but evoke painful memories, as it interrupted the natural development of our State and our people. At the same time, we cannot but pay tribute to the strength and endurance of our forefathers: dozens of generations of Bulgarians, who preserved their language and religion, their culture and customs, the awareness of their Bulgarian roots," the President said. He noted that "the freedom did not come as a gift, its way was paved by centuries of struggles of the Bulgarian people who never became resigned to the bondage. The way to freedom was paved by the Bulgarians' national economic, spiritual and political revival in the 18th and the 19th centuries, when they declared firmly their presence on the Balkan Peninsula and formulated their national ideal." "Bulgaria's liberation from the Turkish yoke, the establishment of an independent Bulgarian state opened the floodgates of our nation's spiritual and economic creativity," the head of state observed. "History shows that Bulgaria prospered only when it realized that the strength of a nation is in its unity, in the ability and readiness of its members to put the common national interest before their personal, group and partisan interests. When our people has rallied behind a common national idea, when it has fought against foreign rule and for liberation, it has always succeeded," the President emphasized. In his speech Dr Zhelev said that today Bulgaria remembers the Russian, Romanian, Finnish, Byelorussian and Ukrainian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War and the heroic self-sacrifice of the fighters for Bulgaria's national liberation.