Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), 97-01-16

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

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

16 January, 1997

CONTENTS

[01] INTERIOR MINISTRY ON CLASHES AROUND, IN PARLIAMENT ON JANUARY 10,11

[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

[03] FIRST VISIT OF PRESIDENT STOYANOV TO BE TO BRUSSELS

[04] REACTIONS TO EVENTS IN BULGARIA

[05] GREECE PROPOSES CROSSBORDER INDUSTRIAL ZONE

[06] PRESIDENT ZHELEV STARTS CONSULTATIONS

[07] PRESIDENT-ELECT STOYANOV MEETS SOCIALIST LEADER

[08] PRESIDENT ELECT STOYANOV OFFERS TO BROKER CONSENSUS

[09] OPPOSITION READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH SOCIALISTS, SETS CONDITIONS

[10] PARLIAMENT OPENS WINTER SESSION

[11] ONE-HOUR STRIKES LAUNCHED IN BULGARIA

[12] TURNOVER 40% UP AT SOFIA COMMODITY EXCHANGE

[13] NETHERLANDS - NO 1 INVESTOR IN BULGARIA IN 1996

[14] NEW ENTRIES IN GOLD BOOK OF INVENTORS

[01] INTERIOR MINISTRY ON CLASHES AROUND, IN PARLIAMENT ON JANUARY 10,11

Thousands joined a rally in front of Parliament on January 10 in support of opposition demands that the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party relinquish power as a step toward early elections. Regular elections are due in two years. Protesters broke through the fence around Parliament, breaking windows and a door, crushing into the building and damaging it inside.

Pointing out the good organization of law enforcement, Dobrev admitted some mistakes in the effort to contain the situation. "Coordination among the leaders of the Interior Ministry operation was insufficient; one could feel the absence of the riot unit disbanded years ago; the lack of funds has prevented us from acquiring the necessary equipment to protect both protesters and police; the police should have arrested more of the law breakers," Dobrev said.

The Interior Minister was tipped of a possible escalation as early as the morning of January 10, and discussed it with Union of Democratic Forces (UDF, the largest opposition force) leader Ivan Kostov. "In this sense I believe we could have used law enforcement units earlier and prevented the incidents," Dobrev said.

The operation on January 10 was carried out by 2,500 police. They included 62 anti-terrorist officers and 320 Interior Ministry troops. Dobrev asked the Defence Minister to put military police on alert, but no need arose for its use. Four cameras of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior documented the events. Six people have been arrested for breaking public order on the night of January 10 and charged with petty hooliganism. The search for other culprits continues.

Opposition leaders have charged police with using unnecessary and especially brutal force against the protesters around and after 3 a.m. on January 11. An Interior Ministry report publicized among the media Wednesday says that police headed toward a group of protesters after the officer on duty at the Sofia Directorate of the Interior received information that at that time protesters were building barricades using benches and other objects, breaking windows and throwing stones and bricks in Ivan Shishman and Aksakov streets, near the Sofia Grand Hotel in front of the main entrance to the National Assembly. The opposition claims this is false and says it has a video of the beatings.

"If police are found to have used unnecessary and unjustified force against citizens, they will be subject to disciplinary action or handed over to the prosecution," Dobrev said.

[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

[03] FIRST VISIT OF PRESIDENT STOYANOV TO BE TO BRUSSELS

[04] REACTIONS TO EVENTS IN BULGARIA

Moscow assesses highly the traditional good relations between Russia and Bulgaria. Our cooperation has been developing well recently. We want the continuity to be preserved, what has already been achieved to be consolidated and the expansion of bilateral relations to continue, reads the news release of the Russian Foreign Ministry's press office. Macedonian Foreign Minister Frckovski

Skopje, January 15 (BTA) In an extensive interview for the Macedonian television on his country's foreign policy, Foreign Minister Lyubomir Frckovski voiced hope that the tension in Bulgaria and Serbia will not escalate to a point of turning into acts of violence. Speaking about the relations with Bulgaria, Frckovski reiterated his stand that they have been progressing generally well, but are seriously affected by the still unresolved language problem. The Macedonian Foreign Minister believes that the trade liberalization agreement between Macedonia and Bulgaria will be worked out within a month and that the language problem could be settled.

[05] GREECE PROPOSES CROSSBORDER INDUSTRIAL ZONE

[06] PRESIDENT ZHELEV STARTS CONSULTATIONS

Last week Zhelev held consultations which were expected, under the Constitution, to result in asking the largest political force, the Socialist Party, to form a new cabinet. However, Zhelev announced on Saturday he would not do this as the country was being swept by demonstrations for early elections and the opposition walked out of Parliament after a row. Zhelev also called for early elections, as well as for an agreement between the ruling Left and the opposition to hold them. The Socialists claim that under the Constitution the President is bound to ask them to form a cabinet, and have called on him several times to do so.

This week's consultations started with the smallest parliamentary force, the Bulgarian Business Bloc. Its representatives said after the meeting with Zhelev they would support a task-force government after some political force is asked to form a cabinet. BBB Spokesman Yasho Minkov said the opposition proposal to all political forces to decline to form a cabinet would lead to anarchy and the BBB would not accept it.

Zhelev also met with representatives of the influential Confederation of Independent Trade Unions. Union leader Krustyo Petkov said the situation in the country would calm down when a date is set for early parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, President-elect Stoyanov met with the Socialist leaders. On Tuesday he held talks with the top leaders of the largest opposition force, the Union of Democratic Forces.

[07] PRESIDENT-ELECT STOYANOV MEETS SOCIALIST LEADER

Over the past few days outgoing Interior Minister Dobrev manifested a worthy and mature stand during the events and I believe that as a future prime minister he will have a good showing in Europe and before the rest of the world, Purvanov said, answering a question if Dobrev's image was not tarnished to some extent by the January 10-11 events.

[08] PRESIDENT ELECT STOYANOV OFFERS TO BROKER CONSENSUS

In a declaration circulated on Wednesday, Stoyanov says the current crisis can be overcome only if the political forces come to a common understanding on who can rule the country effectively over the coming days and months. "Speaking in a strictly legal sense, the Socialist party expects to be asked by the President to form a new government, but in a political sense, this idea gets increasingly unacceptable for the public," the declaration says. If the efforts ot outgoing President Zhelev to mediate bring no result before the expiry of his term, Peter Stoyanov is determined to use his prestige to broker a political agreement. At a news conference on Wednesday he said he has identified convergence of the opposition and Socialists' stands and is optimistic about the prospects for an agreement.

The President elect further says in his declaration that if no solution is found in spite of the efforts, he will carry out his constitutional obligations. The Constitution provides that after a resignation of the government the Head of State gives the largest parliamentary group (in this case, the Democratic Left) a mandate for the formation of a new one. "Even if I am forced to mandate only the Socialist-led coalition, I must warn them that the crisis will deteriorate and people will not return to their homes," the declaration goes.

Speaking to journalists he rejected the view that while people in Belgrade are protesting for their freedom, Bulgarians protest for their bread. "It is not only bread that drove people in Bulgaria to the streets, but the feigned reforms, the corruption in the high corridors of power and financial instability that drove Bulgaria away from the market economy," the declaration goes. Stoyanov is positive that during his term Bulgaria will overcome the crisis and make a tangible progress.

[09] OPPOSITION READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH SOCIALISTS, SETS CONDITIONS

The opposition set the following conditions for agreeing to negotiations: the Left must give up its mandate to form a new government; election of new managers of the country's central bank; appointment by consensus of a working group to negotiate with the international financial institutions; adoption of the legislation required to introduce a currency board and the acceleration of structural reform; jointly determining the parameters of the external financial aid needed for the social protection of citizens worst hit by the crisis.

On Monday the BSP said it agrees to early elections in principle; on Wednesday its leaders stated they agree to early elections at the end of 1997, on condition that a new cabinet of the Left is voted into office immediately. BSP leader Georgi Purvanov said the Socialists will propose a strong government comprised of professionals and experts which will have to resolve the country's most pressing problems in a year's time.

Later the opposition stated that "there is no way of accepting to support a new cabinet of the Socialist party during the term of the present Parliament". The opposition held its eighth big rally in Sofia. Protest rallies were staged in a lot of other cities and towns. There were students' demonstrations and protest actions by taxi drivers, physicians and miners.

Earlier on Wednesday BSP representatives said they expected President Zhelyu Zhelev to ask the Socialists to form a new cabinet. According to BSP leader Purvanov, it would be good if the country has a new government on January 19 when Presidentelect Peter Stoyanov is expected to be inaugurated. In the meantime it emerged that outgoing President Zhelev started a round of talks to promote the reaching of agreement among the political forces in Parliament.

[10] PARLIAMENT OPENS WINTER SESSION

Today there were almost no traces of the attack on Parliament building apart from several new unpainted doors, fresh putty on the windows and some scattered pieces of broken glass. Most of the damages have already been repaired. The area around Parliament is being guarded by several scores of policemen with helmets and shields and there are two rows of fences around the building as well as fire engines and police cars.

A Declaration of the PGDL, read by its Floor Leader Krassimir Premyanov, proposes an immediate formation of a cabinet of the Democratic Left and the holding of early parliamentary elections at the end of 1997. The Declaration recognises that the Left is also responsible for the present situation in this country as its cabinet delayed reform, failed to ease confrontation and make dialogue and accord a style of its policy. The Declaration also admits that the peaceful protests of citizens at the end of last week were provoked by their economic and social plight. However their peaceful protest was abused for extremist purposes, the declaration says, adding that this threatened democracy and civil peace in the country and tarnished Bulgaria's image as a State of peaceful transition and a factor of stability in the Balkans.

Speaking on behalf of the BBB, Hristo Stoyanov MP called on the Left MPs and the opposition to show common sense and reach a compromise. After two hours the sitting was closed on the motion of the BBB. Georgi Dilkov, MP of the BBB asked for adjourning Parliament and setting up a working group to discuss amendments to the Electoral Act, "We do not wish to boycott Parliament as we do not believe this would help. But it would be misunderstood if we supported the Left unreservedly," Dilkov explained.

Parliament should not have started work at all," UDF Deputy Floor Leader Ivan Kourtev said. "In a democratic state Parliament cannot operate surrounded by police," he believes. "Now the street is Parliament", this opposition MP said.

[11] ONE-HOUR STRIKES LAUNCHED IN BULGARIA

The mechanical engineers in Sopot Central Bulgaria were the first to join the strike at 00:00 h on Wednesday. Miners of three mines in "Maritsa- Iztok", as well as in Marbas, Bobov Dol and others have also called one- hour strikes. The medical staff of the Aleksandrovska Hospital in Sofia staged a one-hour protest in front of the hospital.

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CITUB) reported that its branches in mining, the chemical industry and the military industrial complex have decided to join the protests.

Of 50 municipalities in the Sofia district only two have announced strikes.

On Wednesday railway workers of the second biggest city of Plovdiv started warning strikes under a Tuesday decision of their trade union to back the protests organized by the Promyana Federation. About 200 Podkrepa members in the Marbas coalfield in Western Bulgaria staged a one-hour stoppage on Wednesday. Another 150 members of this trade union working in the Maritsa- Iztok thermal power plant launched a token strike. In Dimitrovgrad, only the municipal council members appointed on the ticket of the opposition are on strike and have walked out of a sitting of the municipal council.

The Transport Ministry reported that of 2,500 workers at the Black Sea port of Varna, 19 have staged a token strike. 42 workers of a Gorna Oryahovitsa, Northern Bulgaria, manufacturer of warehouse equipment on Wednesday started a symbolic strike without disturbing work. One-hour effective strikes were staged at some other towns.

Emilio Gabaglio, Secretary General of the European Confederation of Trade Unions, and Marian Krzaklewski, President of Poland's Solidarity, sent letters to outgoing prime minister Zhan Videnov expressing their solidarity with strikers in Bulgaria, the Podkrepa Labour Confederation said at its news conference.

A press release of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction said that a check was made at 60 of the 300 construction enterprises and companies employing about 18,000 people. It was established that about 300 people at some of them stopped work raising political demands and insisting on better wages. One of 33 water and sewerage companies employing 16,7000 was on a token strike.

According to information the Ministry of Industry received from 51 companies employing 47,979 people, 3,070 workers and employees are on strike, 1,477 of them rasing political demands.

[12] TURNOVER 40% UP AT SOFIA COMMODITY EXCHANGE

The commodity composition of trade remained unchanged over the past two years, with a considerable predominance of non-foods over foods. Metals worth over 411 million leva changed hands in 1996, as against 166 million leva in 1995. Chemicals and detergents were very much in demand. Demand for timber rose at the end of the year and its turnover, paper included, was 57 million leva. Trade in sugar was brisk as usual and accounted for 66 per cent of food turnover (121 million leva), followed by locally made canned food and pulses (beans, lentils and peas). Beans accounted for 85 per cent of trade in the grain ring. The proportion of wheat fell to 13 per cent in 1996 from 60 per cent in 1995 because grain trade is ever more frequently carried out outside the commodity exchange, said SCE deputy director Hristo Milenkov.

[13] NETHERLANDS - NO 1 INVESTOR IN BULGARIA IN 1996

Last year the financial sector attracted the largest portion of the foreign investment (43.86 per cent of the total investment), followed by industry (28.78 per cent) and trade (11.81 per cent). With 42.37 per cent in 1996, industry accounts for the largest foreign investments to Bulgaria made over the past six years.

[14] NEW ENTRIES IN GOLD BOOK OF INVENTORS

Among the six are Prof. Chavdar Roumenin, the inventor of the high- sensitivity magnetotransistor sensors, Prof. Rahamin Shekerdjiiski, the inventor of some of the most widely used Bulgarian-made medicines including Benalgin, Pyramidon and Alurex. Some of his inventions in pharmacy are used in space research and particularly in studying the taste analyzer in emergencies. His work has also found application in the wine industry, beekeeping and the production of vaccines. Another name in the Book is that of Prof. Georgi Vassilev, a biologists with over 250 inventions including anti-virus substances and growth regulators. Prof. Tsolo Rashev was also enlisted in the Book. He holds the 84 patents in metallurgy, 21 them issued abroad. Prof. Maria Baltadjieva has invented several cheese formulas, Prof. Lilyana Stanoeva has over 40 inventions in pharmacy. Prof. Staneov has invented a film-forming transparent bandage replacing successfully the traditional gauze bandage. The new bandage gives physicians free access to the wound, preventing infection.

The Book was started in 1981 and new entries are made each year. The 1996 nominees add up to a total of 91, including 34 discoverers, 47 inventors and another 10 with outstanding contribution in the protection of intellectual property.

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