Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), 96-11-20

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From: Embassy of Bulgaria <bulgaria@access1.digex.net>

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

20 November, 1996

CONTENTS

[01] BULGARIA AT WEU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING

[02] PRESIDENT ZHELEV CONGRATULATES ROMANIA'S NEW PRESIDENT

[03] PRESIDENT ELECT STOYANOV WRITES TO E.U. URGING GRAIN AID FOR BULGARIA

[04] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIANS MEET BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

[05] POLITICIANS, TRADEUNIONISTS ON POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF CURRENCY BOARD IN BULGARIA

[06] U.D.F. TO EVOLVE INTO A PARTY

[07] BSP CONGRESS - AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO CURRENT SITUATION, SOCIALIST SPOKESPERSON SAYS

[08] MEASURES AGAINST CORRUPTION AND INCOMPETENCE WITHIN INTERIOR MINISTRY SYSTEM

[01] BULGARIA AT WEU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING

Shortly after his arrival here last night, Pavlov met with Dutch Defence Minister Joris Voorhoeve. At a briefing for the Bulgarian press after the meeting, Pavlov said he shared with his counterpart Bulgaria's political will and desire to more actively participate in peace keeping operations, and more specifically in IFOR-2. "We met with understanding and a willingness for support when the issue is coordinated and decided by the NATO command," the Bulgarian Defence Minister said.. According to him, Bulgaria can join Dutch, Belgian and Czech forces in the southwestern sector, under British command. Asked what contingent Bulgaria is ready to send, Pavlov said it will probably be a company, but that depends on the NATO understanding of the needs and tasks to be performed.

Bulgaria's desire to send a military contingent to IFOR-2 in Bosnia was on the agenda of the talks of Minister Pavlov and Belgian Defence Minister Jean-Paul Poncelet.

Today Minister Pavlov had a series of meetings with his Balkan counterparts to discuss the preparation of a meeting of the defence ministers of South Eastern Europe due in Sofia.

Dimiter Pavlov met with Romanian Defence Minister Gheorghe Tinca who reiterated that Romania will take part in the meeting in spite of the upcoming change of the Romanian government. Minister Tinca undertook to inform his successor about the commitments Romania has taken in connection with the meeting.

Minister Pavlov also conferred with his Greek opposite number Apostolos-Athanasios Tsochatzopoulos. The two made a brief review of the relations between the two countries' defence ministers describing them as satisfactory. The Greek Defence Minister also confirmed Greece's active participation in the preparation and holding of the defence ministers' meeting in Sofia.

This evening Bulgaria's Defence Minister is to meet his Turkish counterpart Turhan Tayan.

Later in the day Pavlov conferred with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana who said he will attend the Sofia meeting due in the spring of 1997. Today Minister Pavlov also met with WEU Secretary General Jose Cutileiro who said a WEU representative will take part in the defence ministers' meeting.

Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimiter Pavlov and Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Hristov addressed the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union at its meeting in the afternoon today.

Minister Pavlov stressed Bulgaria's desire to participate more actively in WEU operations in its capacity as an associate partner. Bulgaria is resolved to expand its political ties and practical cooperation with the WEU in accordance with its status; it will take part in the development of the WEU operational capabilities within its actual powers, the Bulgarian Defence Minister stated. Bulgaria hails the WEU decisions to include the associate partners in the discussions on security problems and on the military and political aspects of the WEU activities, he said. He pointed out that the Permanent Council's decision to consider the possibility of expanding the associate partners' participation in current work on enhancing the WEU operational role is of particular importance for Bulgaria. Minister Pavlov stated that Bulgaria sees the future development of its relations with the WEU as an inseparable part of its integration with European and Euro-Atlantic structures. The WEU is instrumental in creating the European identity in defence and security, which is closely related with the further strengthening of the WEU operational capabilities in the context of its double role as a defence component of the European Union and as means for strengthening NATO's European pillar.

Minister Pavlov also dwelled on Bulgaria's stand about the concrete dimensions of cooperation in the field of defence and military cooperation: to further enhance the work of the planning group with the defence representatives of the associate partners, to use the existing potentials of the partner states in the planning and the realization of WEU exercises and their coordination with those under NATO.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Hristov voiced the conviction of the Bulgarian party that the WEU will play an essential part in the process of building the new European architecture as a defence component of the EU and as an instrument for strengthening the European support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Deputy Minister Hristov said that the WEU should keep on developing along the already established directions: first, development of its own mechanisms for crisis management and of the needed operative potentials and second, building and improving the interaction with NATO for conducting operations using the potentials of the WEU. In that connection we share the common view that the concept for multinational combined joint task forces will significantly help the European efforts for managing crises, as well as for strengthening European identity in security and defence, Ivan Hristov said. He specified that Bulgaria believes that the associated partners can and should participate adequately in both processes. In connection with the decision in Ostende to transform the Western European Armaments Group into an organisation Ivan Hristov said that Bulgaria is much interested in that field of European cooperation and integration and has potentials to take part in it. We are convinced that the inclusion of the interested associate partners in a suitable kind of organisation, even at this early stage, will be of benefit both for us, and for the consolidation of a common European potential, Ivan Hristov said. He described as expedient WEU's participation in the process, which was launched with the Sofia meeting of foreign ministers of states from Southeastern Europe in connection with regional cooperation, security and stability.

[02] PRESIDENT ZHELEV CONGRATULATES ROMANIA'S NEW PRESIDENT

[03] PRESIDENT ELECT STOYANOV WRITES TO E.U. URGING GRAIN AID FOR BULGARIA

In his letter Mr Stoyanov emphasizes that following the presidential elections which he won convincingly by nearly 60 per cent of the vote, there is already a new majority in Bulgaria. It wants continued reform and economic recovery of Bulgaria which will lead up to this country's accession to the European Union and NATO, Mr Stoyanov writes. He is expected to take office on January 22, 1996.

Mr Stoyanov made the letter public today, on his arrival home from a two-day official visit to Britain, where he held talks with Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind on assistance on bilateral basis and asked him to intercede for Bulgaria's interests with the European Union so that Bulgaria could receive humanitarian aid for the coming harsh winter. The IMF-proposed introduction of a currency board in Bulgaria was also on the agenda of Mr Stoyanov and his British hosts, Mr Rifkind and Treasury Minister Angela Nite.

[04] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIANS MEET BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Deputy Foreign Minister Bokova familiarized the guests with some major aspects of Bulgaria's foreign policy, dwelling on its European orientation and the regional approach to security and stability in the Balkans which Bulgaria and Turkey share.

Bokova pointed out the importance which Bulgaria attaches to the meeting of transport ministers of the Central European Initiative and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation countries that opens on November 21 in Sofia. The sides discussed the preparation for a meeting of defence ministers of the countries in South Eastern Europe provided for in the Sofia Declaration adopted in July 1996 by the Balkan Conference on Stability, Security and Cooperation in South Eastern Europe.

The sides agreed that the expansion of bilateral relations in all areas, including the combat against terrorism and the illicit trafficking of drugs and arms, economic cooperation and the implementation of infrastructure projects, is of mutual interest.

Meeting with the Turkish parliamentary delegation, Interior Minister Nikolai Dobrev voiced his satisfaction with the interaction between the interior ministries of the two countries.

Speaking on behalf of the Turkish parliamentarians, Sedat Aloolu agreed with Minister Dobrev that bilateral relations should be promoted further. He said that Turkey pursues a consistent and tough policy against crime and pointed out that being a bridge between the East and the West, the two countries should take joint actions to fight crime. Both sides agreed that the priority areas of cooperation in future will continue to be combatting terrorism, the smuggling of narcotics, weapons and excisable goods, the forging of passports, visas and other documents.

[05] POLITICIANS, TRADEUNIONISTS ON POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF CURRENCY BOARD IN BULGARIA

The opposition, however, made it clear that it will agree to the introduction of a currency board only if this is linked with the holding of of early general elections which it hopes to win.

The currency board will not create but will solve a number of social problems, the Prime Minister said. Inflation will be dramatically reduced, and real income will rise almost automatically, Mr Videnov said. The budget will have to be restructured in its part on social programmes which by no means will be jeopardized, he added.

The currency board would take over monetary policy applying strict rules to its implementation, and BNB would retain the rest of its functions as a central bank, the Prime Minister also said. Currency issue should categorically be separated from the BNB, and its other functions will not be affected, Finance Minister Dimiter Kostov confirmed, speaking to journalists.

"A currency board with a Bulgarian Socialist Party Government spells the risk of discrediting this last resort for the country's stabilization," Yordan Sokolov, floor leader of the main opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), told reporters today. He stressed the Union's stance that the currency board should by no means be allowed to lead to stabilization of the Zhan Videnov Government. "We cannot accept a board without a clearly assumed commitment to the holding of early elections," Mr Sokolov stressed today.

"I told the trade unions what I think in principle: that political reshuffles, early elections, cabinet crises and strikes cannot solve such a formidable problem," Mr Videnov said, asked about the national strike which CITUB has scheduled for December 4 to press demands for urgent social measures to rescue distressed workers, civil servants and the socially disadvantaged. CITUB presses for resignation of the Government which it says has brought this country to disaster and for calling of early parliamentary elections.

[06] U.D.F. TO EVOLVE INTO A PARTY

UDF was set up in late 1989 shortly after ex-communist leader Todor Zhivkov was ousted from power. The Union was formed as a coalition of informal organizations established already at the time of the communist regime. It was also joined by reinstated parties existing in democratic Bulgaria before 1994. One of the coalition's co-founders and first leaders was incumbent President Zhelyu Zhelev. The Union split in 1991 in the eve of the parliamentary elections which it won by a slight margin ahead of the Socialist Party (set up by the ex-communists). The internal bickering in the Union led to the UDF cabinet's stepping down in late 1992 before the expiry of its term of office. Other UDF members broke away before the latest parliamentary elections held in 1994. Currently there are 17 parties and organizations in the Union.

Bulgaria is facing early parliamentary elections and the opposition will win them, the Union's leaders said in the address made today. "We need to solve our internal problems and to forget any group or personal interests in order to save Bulgaria," it is said in the address. The Union will be reformed into a party at the Ninth National Conference of UDF which will become the new party's constituent meeting.

Yesterday the UDF leadership started consultations to this effect with the leaders of the parties within the coalition, UDF Chairman Ivan Kostov said. "We are aware of all risks and enter the discussion confident in our cause," Kostov stated. The ideological platform of the new party is about to be specified, the UDF leaders say in the address.

"There are political means to settle controversies and we will not allow the UDF to split," Ivan Kostov said answering a question about a danger of a possible split of the Union. According to him, the question about the Union's evolving into a party should be resolved before early parliamentary elections are provoked and the UDF takes the responsibility for the country's governance. The ideological differences of the separate parties in UDF, including Liberals, monarchists, human rights activists, Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Radicals and agrarians, should not be overestimated.

"The UDF is a mature political organization and I am sure that after a serious debate it will find the most sensible solution for itself and for Bulgaria," President Elect Peter Stoyanov, who was a member of the UDF top leadership until recently, said today upon his return from London. According to Stoyanov, now UDF is apparently in the ascendant especially after its landslide victory in the presidential elections.

[07] BSP CONGRESS - AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO CURRENT SITUATION, SOCIALIST SPOKESPERSON SAYS

"Although it will be held two years ahead of schedule, the congress is an adequate response to the political and economic situation in the country," Klara Marinova said. In her view the congress will make a review of the Government's policy and will draft an action plan for 1997 and 1998. The participants will make a detailed analysis of the current situation in Bulgaria and will draw conclusions about the readiness for dialogue of all political forces, Marinova said.

The proposal of the International Monetary Fund to introduce a currency board in Bulgaria further reasons the decision of the party to reconsider its policy, the Socialist Party Spokesperson said. The proposal was made by IMF's European Department I Deputy Director Michael Deppler during his visit to Bulgaria about a week ago. The BSP will have a number of other occasions to analyse and, if necessary, correct its policy again in 1997, Marinova said.

The decision for holding an extraordinary congress was taken at a BSP plenum early last week after the Socialists suffered a resounding defeat in the presidential elections. The plenum was also prompted by an open letter signed by 19 Socialists which urged for a new cabinet and for changes in the party policies. The results of the elections were seen as a major loss of confidence in the BSP and in the current policy of the Socialist Government.

Following 20 hours of debates, 87 delegates to the plenum voted in support of Videnov and 69 backed the idea of a new cabinet and new policies. Videnov received a 40-day mandate. Meanwhile, in the middle of last week Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski tendered his resignation, reasoning his decision with the insufficient confidence gained by the Prime Minister.

[08] MEASURES AGAINST CORRUPTION AND INCOMPETENCE WITHIN INTERIOR MINISTRY SYSTEM

"An analysis shows that these manifestations are attributable to lack of professionalism shown by the rank and file and to a negligent attitude to their duties taken by leaders of the Interior Ministry system and gross infringements of established operating procedures," the press release reads.

The measures outlined include tightened control over the strict observance of the organizational and technological requirements as provided by various statutory instruments for street policing, criminal investigation, information gathering and guard duty. In proven corruption, the culprits and their immediate superiors down the chain of command will be held to the strictest account, and such cases will be brought to the notice of the Ministry personnel and the general public.

Annually by January 30, all Interior Ministry officers will mandatorily declare their income and the income of their family members. The Ministry leadership is launching targeted checks of the regional directorates of internal affairs, the national and the central services.

For better coordination and control, it was decided to set up a specialized unit within the Inspectorate Service of the Interior Ministry, the press release says.

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