Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), 97-01-29

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

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

29 January, 1997

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT STOYANOV APPOINTS PM-DESIGNATE FROM RULING LEFT

[02] PRESIDENT STOYANOV LEAVES FOR BRUSSELS

[03] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY RIFKIND IN BULGARIA

[04] BULGARIAN NGOS RECEIVE US HELP

[05] GENNADY ZYUGANOV ON BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS, NATO

[06] PRIME MINISTER NOMINEE DOBREV CALLS FOR CONSENSUS, UNDERSTANDING

[07] REACTIONS TO DOBREV'S MANDATE LEFT'S STANCE

[08] BSP LEADER HOPES LEFT WILL PUSH THROUGH A NEW CABINET

[09] GENERAL STRIKE CALLED

[10] RADIO, TV REPORTERS STAGE PROTESTS

[11] PROTESTS CONTINUE NATIONWIDE

[12] BULGARGAS SETS UP JOINT VENTURES

[13] BALKANCAR HOLDING UP FOR SALE

[14] EX-PRESIDENT ZHELEV: BULGARIA NEEDS A PRESIDENTIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT

[15] NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY BUYS 8,000 VALUABLE ANTIQUES IN 1996

[01] PRESIDENT STOYANOV APPOINTS PM-DESIGNATE FROM RULING LEFT

In an address to the nation Monday Stoyanov announced himself in favour of early parliamentary elections the soonest possible, while the incumbent Parliament adopts the most urgent acts, an anti-crisis program and mandates a caretaker cabinet to conduct negotiations with the international financial institutions. Stoyanov appealed to the two principal political forces to make compromises: to the opposition - to return to Parliament (the opposition MPs walked out of Parliament on January 10, 1997) and to the Left - to decline to form a new cabinet.

The leaders of both the Left and the opposition said they hail the President's efforts to reach consensus and find a way out of the crisis.

[02] PRESIDENT STOYANOV LEAVES FOR BRUSSELS

During his three-day official visit to Brussels President Peter Stoyanov is expected to meet European Parliament President Jose- Maria Jil-Robles Jil Delgado, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, European Commission President Jacques Santer and WEU Secretary General Jose Cutileiro. The Bulgarian President will also meet Belgian King Albert II and Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dahaene.

"The latest events in Bulgaria will to a great extent influence my talks," the President said. He confirmed his intention to state clearly that the latest developments in Bulgaria have made him seek still greater understanding on the part of the EU and NATO. In Brussels, Stoyanov will repeat the thesis set forth in his inauguration speech, that despite the economic plight the morale of the Bulgarian people was growing and public attitudes have become more clearly defined.

Peter Stoyanov said that during his visit he would ask the EU for help that may ease social tension in Bulgaria. Stoyanov described the developments in this country as dramatic and said the Bulgarian society was mature enough and no matter what happened it would not violate civil peace.

Asked whether there was any hope of the Left returning the mandate, President Stoyanov said: "Hope dies last. I have taken note of the final words of Dobrev and the BSP that in the name of Bulgaria they would form a cabinet either supported by all political forces or on a broad expert basis. This makes me think that if they do not achieve this, again in the name of Bulgaria, they may return this mandate."

[03] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY RIFKIND IN BULGARIA

"We welcome the closer links between Bulgaria and the European Union," the British Foreign Secretary said. "This is a positive development and one which we wish to encourage," he said. Rifkind would not make any comments on domestic Bulgarian matters. "In this modern democratic world the government of Bulgaria is for the people of Bulgaria to decide, and as long as a government can emerge acceptable to the people of Bulgaria, how that happens is for Bulgaria to decide," he said.

"It will be a tremendous benefit if Bulgaria is able to emerge from its current problems, to have a strong and stable government and to reach an agreement with the international financial institutions. [...] The UK wants to be a champion for those who are seeking a greater access for the exports of countries like Bulgaria to the European Union," Rifkind said. He said there was a great unrealized potential in the area of bilateral trade and investment.

During the talks with acting Foreign Minister Bokova, Rifkind expressed an opinion European Union assistance to Central and Eastern Europe can be increased, Bokova said.

The British Government will do everything possible to support Bulgaria's efforts in establishing democratic institutions and in achieving economic prosperity, President Peter Stoyanov told the press after meeting Rifkind. The British Foreign Secretary said that his presence here now is an expression of the attention with which Britain and the European Union are following the events in Bulgaria.

A visit by a British Foreign Secretary is an important event for Bulgaria, an expression of confidence and encouragement when made in such critical days for Bulgarian economy and politics, President Peter Stoyanov said. Bulgaria needs a lobby on its road to NATO membership, he added. Rifkind said that the Bulgarian government has given confusing signals about its wish for NATO membership. Rifkind also told Stoyanov that if Bulgaria states its wish to join NATO explicitly, its wish will be considered seriously, the President's press office announced. The British Foreign Secretary hailed Bulgaria's wish to join the European Union as soon as possible.

Rifkind told the press he hoped the new Bulgarian cabinet would give priority to the investigation of the murder of Bulgarian writer Georgi Markov in 1978. "I will use my powers to throw more light on this case," President Stoyanov said.

[04] BULGARIAN NGOS RECEIVE US HELP

The grantees, approved out of 140 candidates, will receive financial support, technical assistance and training as the average grant equals 7, 000 US dollars. Among the DNP grantees are the Free and Democratic Bulgaria and the Perspectiva [Prospects] foundations, several NGOs supporting the Roma and the School and Health Bulgarian Association.

DNP is a three-year program, launched in Bulgaria in October 1995. It extends grant aid in four fields: democratic strengthening, social protection, economic development and environment protection.

[05] GENNADY ZYUGANOV ON BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS, NATO

At the news conference the Russian Communists' leader again insisted that Russia's President Boris Yeltsin step down. "The executive is bankrupt, the President is not at all doing his job, people are starving on a mass scale. A fire may break out which may engulf all Russia," Mr. Zyuganov said.

[06] PRIME MINISTER NOMINEE DOBREV CALLS FOR CONSENSUS, UNDERSTANDING

Dobrev said he will not be a slave of narrow party interests because, in the current situation, this would be irresponsible. "I have the great wish and I shall apply exceptional energy and will to attract to the team the best among the most respected experts and politicians. I lend a hand to all talented Bulgarians, to all political forces and I pledge that we draft together an anti-crisis programme, the realization of which will outline the guidelines for overcoming the crisis," he said.

Dobrev said that he sympathizes with the just protests and the discontent of the people, but at the same time he thinks that playing with politics, daily rallies and devastating strikes should stop. "We must save Bulgaria and we must to it now, immediately. Let us do this through consent, understanding and cooperation. Confrontation and hate are now fatal and suicidal for all of us," Dobrev said. After his statement he declined to speak with the reporters.

[07] REACTIONS TO DOBREV'S MANDATE LEFT'S STANCE

"We assess positively the President's efforts to start a political dialogue, seek consensus and consider his address as a step to this end," Purvanov stated. He said the Left praises the fact that the President recognized the necessity of a working parliament and strong government. The Left shares Stoyanov's view that Parliament should urgently adopt amendments to the National Budget Machinery Act and the package of laws on the introduction of a currency board, but according to Purvanov, there are other urgent laws as well. He described as unrealistic the term of 10 days for the adoption of these laws, proposed by President Stoyanov in his Monday address.

THE OPPOSITION

"We accept the President's appeal to compromise and return to Parliament in order to pass all necessary bills in a short but strenuous term," said Yordan Sokolov, Floor Leader of the largest opposition formation, Union of Democratic Forces (UDF). Sokolov said that during the consultations the opposition promised to help draft the national budget machinery bill, the laws on the establishment of a currency board and an anti-crisis program. "We walked our way to the national consensus, and now it is the Left's turn; we hope the Left is aware of the large responsibility it would take, if instead of making a compromise it accepts to form a government which is already rejected by the majority of the Bulgarian people, Sokolov added.

At a news conference later in the day UDF Leader Ivan Kostov warned that "in case the Left accepts to assemble a new government it will run a tremendous risk of destabilizing the country and will push Bulgaria towards an ever more serious aggravation of the political crisis." The opposition MPs will return to the incumbent Parliament as winners, because their main demand will be met: early parliamentary elections and "no" to a new cabinet of the Left, Kostov stated. According to him, the responsibility now rests mainly with the Left's nominee Nikolai Dobrev and the pressure in the next few days will be directed against him so that he declines to assemble a new government. Leaders of the opposition Popular Union and ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms and the three independent MPs, who earlier left the parliamentary group of the Bulgarian Business Bloc (BBB), also said they hope that the Left will decline to form a cabinet.

THE BBB

Yasho Minkov of the BBB expressed the hope that both the Left and the opposition will keep on seeking compromises. Minkov recalled the position of his parliamentary group that it will not take part in a vote of a second government of the Left, if it is not supported by all parliamentary groups in the incumbent Parliament. Georgi Dilkov of the BBB does not rule out the possibility that certain MPs of the BSP will oppose a new cabinet of the Left. Last Friday two MPs of the BSP declared themselves against a government on the mandate of the Left. Nikolai Kamov, MP of the Left and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, told journalists that the Left should accept the President's proposals. Socialist ex-leader Alexander Lilov also said that the President's efforts to find a way out of the crisis and seek compromises should be backed.

During the consultations with the President a large group of protestors gathered in front of the building, chanting "Elections". The protestors cheered the opposition leaders and jeered the representatives of the Left.

[08] BSP LEADER HOPES LEFT WILL PUSH THROUGH A NEW CABINET

"I harbour no illusions that we will receive the largest possible parliamentary support for a 'grand coalition' cabinet, but even if we will have to resort to the second option of a programme government on a broad expert basis, I believe that the people who will be included in it deserve the confidence of a large part of the representatives of every parliamentary group," the BSP Chairman said. He voiced concern that the participation of such MPs in the vote may be deliberately obstructed, or that they may be subjected to some other form of influence and control, which is why support might not be far in excess of 120 votes.

"Our best answer to the idea of strike action - and I don't think it will be nationwide and massive - is vigorous law-making and forming a strong representative cabinet supported on a broad political basis, whose first actions would defuse tensions and thus erode the very ground for such actions," Mr. Purvanov said.

He believes that the Left needs to take a specific approach to each opposition parliamentary group. "We have so far treated them only as United Democratic Forces, while each one of them clearly has its own peculiarities and style which is relevant to the future development of the political dialogue," Mr. Purvanov observed.

[09] GENERAL STRIKE CALLED

In a joint address to the Bulgarian people, made public by CITUB Vice President Hristov and United Opposition Protests Coordinator Evgenii Bakurdjiev, the structures of the labour amalgamations and all citizens are called to take effective strike action nationwide "against the cynicism of a failed policy." "Videnov's outgoing Government has led the country to a national catastrophe," the address indicates.

[10] RADIO, TV REPORTERS STAGE PROTESTS

National Radio reporter Dimiter Dimitrov read a declaration which said that together with the National Television the radio has become a key manipulator and thus has ruined the authority of the institution. We want amnesty for the freedom of speech and resignation of the management of the National Radio and only then shall we come up with our social demands, Dimiter Dimitrov said.

The radio reporters then marched to the National Television where they were joined by their TV colleagues. The rally in front of the National Television was addressed by Boiko Stankoushev, Alexander Velev, Krassimir Ganev, Vessela Petrova and independent MP Orlin Draganov. All speakers declared themselves against media censorship, against the promotion of non- professionals, dummies and servants who damage the prestige of the media institutions in the eyes of the public.

The trade unions at Bulgarian National Radio - the Trade Union of Bulgarian Journalists BNR, the Podkrepa Radio Association and the National Radio and Television Trade Union BNR, condemn the attempts to divide and oppose those working at Bulgarian National Radio, says a declaration received at BTA. The trade unions declare that all negotiations with the employee were conducted in compliance with the Labour Code and all agreements and protocols were made public immediately in written form at generally accessible places.

[11] PROTESTS CONTINUE NATIONWIDE

Students marched again in the main streets of Sofia. They voiced their protest against the formation of a new government by waving Bulgaria's white-green-red tricolor upside down. President Peter Stoyanov cheered the protesting students and the marching opposition supporters. The tension will be alleviated if the Left declines to assemble a government, Stoyanov said. He added he believes that in case the Left fails to form a coalition or expert government, as it has pledged in advance, it will decline the mandate.

Bulgarian Teachers' Trade Union said it will appeal to its members to stage all legal forms of protests. "We will even insists not to complete the 1996- 97 school year, if today the political forces and the President do not reach a consensus to resolve the political crisis," said BTTU Chairman Yanka Takeva. According to its own data, this trade union has 123,000 members. Some 120 schools have declared effective strikes and - 5,925 symbolic ones, Takeva stated.

The Plovdiv-Asenovgrad road was blocked for one hour, Podkrepa said.

[12] BULGARGAS SETS UP JOINT VENTURES

Bulgargas and Russia's giant gas supplier Gazprom set up Topenergy in 1995. Its core business is gas supply and transmission through Bulgaria to third countries, reconstruction and expansion of Bulgaria's gas supply systems. In mid-January the outgoing government gave Bulgargas the go-ahead for three more joint ventures with German and Russian companies.

The other Bulgarian-German joint venture, set up by Bulgargas and Zimmerman & Jansen GmbH, will be manufacturing gas and industrial equipment in several Bulgarian plants. Most of its output will be exported, Vachev said. The demand for the equipment is expected to be strong because it is the first production of this kind in the Balkans and because of the forthcoming construction of the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

[13] BALKANCAR HOLDING UP FOR SALE

Interest in the company was expressed by South Korean Daewoo, two Russian and one Bulgarian group. The preferred offer is that of Russia's Elit. The group would like to buy all the shares. A joint venture will be set up to service 1 million such trucks in Russia. The firm would also preserve the trade mark and ensure markets.

[14] EX-PRESIDENT ZHELEV: BULGARIA NEEDS A PRESIDENTIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT

According to Mr. Zhelev the holding of early elections for which the opposition insists, and the replacement of one team for another are not sufficient. What is needed is a new type of government, replacement of the parliamentary republic with a presidential one. That form of government is no less democratic than the parliamentary one and is more suitable for the current situation of great social changes, Zhelev says. According to Zhelev, the Bulgarian opposition has models to follow, because there are countries where reforms succeeded, like Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, even Russia. He emphasizes again that strong executive power is a necessity. I fear, however, that the Bulgarian opposition is not aware of that, Zhelev says.

The former president believes that the solution for Bulgaria lies in his unrealized idea for an interim government of technocrats governing until the early elections, negotiating with the IMF and launching the reforms. The chance for Bulgaria is in the formation of this kind of government, one enjoying broad public support and at the same time committed to holding early elections, the former president says at the end of his interview.

[15] NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY BUYS 8,000 VALUABLE ANTIQUES IN 1996

Among the museum's most valuable acquisitions last year are an original 19th century icon by Zahari Zograph and the oldest icon of the inventors of Slav letters - St. Cyril and Methodius.

The icon by Zahari Zograph was painted in 1831 and is one of the oldest works of this famous Bulgarian icon painter. The icon of Sts. Cyril and Methodius was painted by Ioan the Icon Painter in the 1860s. Experts declared it a sensational find because it is the oldest icon of the inventors of Slav letters known in Bulgaria.

The National Museum of History also acquired the largest collection of royal seals in Europe. It comprises 300 seals of prominent Bulgarian rulers till the 15th century. Its purchase by the museum in January was declared the cultural event of the year.

This valuable collection was later added to by a treasure of early Bulgarian coins - minted by King Ivan Assen II (12th century), a Chiprovo treasure and the oldest Thracian treasure found so far.

The National Museum of History also acquired a magnificent Thracian helmet of the 5th-4th centuries B.C. after a successful operation of the Organized Crime Control Service in Satovcha (Southwestern Bulgaria). The museum already had two helmets but the new one is more valuable, according to experts.

Roman bronze vessels, glass table top sculptures and icons are among the other acquisitions of the museum, following the crack down on antique smugglers by the Bulgarian specialized police services.

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