Subject: Ta nea toy BTA 16-Feb-95[**] Ta nea apo thn Presbeia ths Boylgarias sthn Washington, D.C. * Aruro gia thn episkech toy Zhelev stis HPA. To DNT ua daneisei $150 ekatom. sthn Boylgaria. . O Prouyp. ths Boylgarias ua dwsei synenteyjh typoy me uema ton proypologismo. ** Epishmh episkech toy Ellhna Yp.Am. sthn Boylgaria stis 20 Febroyarioy. . To kratos ua zhthsei xrhmata apo idiwtes gia thn kataskeyh Oruodojwn ekllhsiwn. . Synedriash ths epitrophs poy elegxei to radio, thleorash kai ta nea toy BTA. * Optiko kalwdio ua beltiwsei tis epikoinwnies metajy Boylgarias-Toyrkias-Roymanias. . O antiproswpos toy DNT gia thn Boylgaria ftanei sthn xwra gia synomilies me kybernhtika stelexh kai oikonomologoys. . H Politikh Amyna mpwrei na xreiastei na metaferei 300 000 makria apo thn Sofia kata thn diarkeia toy Kalokairioy gia na antimetwpistei h elleich neroy. Giwrgos Kapodistrias ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: bulgaria@access.digex.net (Embassy of Bulgaria) Subject: BTA inf/Feb. 16, 95 Date: 16 Feb 1995 15:29:18 -0500 EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C. BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY BULLETIN OF NEWS FROM BULGARIA FEBRUARY 16, 1995 PRESIDENT ZHELEV'S VISIT TO THE U.S. Washington, February 15 - Bulgaria's fourth stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund for some 150 million US dollars will be signed most probably by the end of March, it emerged after a meeting of President Zhelyu Zhelev with IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus in Washington, D.C. The Bulgarian head of state is paying an official working visit to the US at the invitation of US President Bill Clinton. "Without IMF support, the economic part of the transition would be unfeasible," Dr. Zhelev told reporters. The Bulgarian President also conferred today with World Bank Vice President Wilfried Talwitz. Presidential Spokesman Valentin Stoyanov described the meeting as "very useful." Deputy Prime Minister Roumen Gechev said that the talks left him with the impression that "the ice has broken." The IMF and World Bank officials did not show any prejudice against the new Bulgarian Government and its serious intentions to press ahead with economic reforms in Bulgaria. They found that the Cabinet proposes an adequate economic policy. Several World Bank projects, which have been blocked so far, will be reactivated, the Deputy Prime Minister said. The projects in question will provide between 10 and 80 million US dollars in financing for the power industry, infrastructure, telecommunications and railways. Mr. Gechev also said that the International Monetary Fund put on the agenda the question of an introduction of a fixed exchange rate. In this case, however, the Fund should provide much larger assistance. Mr. Gechev believes, however, that at this stage the Government has no reason to fix the exchange rate. IMF and World Bank officials are expected in Bulgaria on Saturday for a to-the-point discussion of the prospective stand-by arrangement. The specific steps resulting from President Zhelev's talks with President Clinton, Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Defense Secretary William Perry were discussed by Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski at his meetings in Washington today. He conferred with the President's National Security Adviser Anthony Lake, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs Richard Holbrooke, and Vice President Al Gore's National Security Advisor Leon Firth. "The US clearly intends to make a specific step in the promotion of its relations with Bulgaria, in view of the Balkan stabilization policy which my country has pursued so far," the chief Bulgarian diplomat said, commenting on his sessions. He said his Government is committed to continued implementation of this policy. Mr. Pirinski said his hosts showed willingness to give a serious consideration to the problems into which Bulgaria is running in its efforts to cope with the economic crisis. At a ceremony at the Holocaust National Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., tribute was paid to the Bulgarian people for the saving of Bulgarian Jews from deportation to the Nazi death camps. The Chairman of the Memorial Board Miles Lehrman said that this gesture of compassion will never be forgotten. President Zhelev laid a wreath at the eternal flame burning in memory of the Holocaust victims. Mr. Lehrman handed the President a plaquette featuring the building of the Memorial. At a meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev briefed representatives of the U.S. business circles on the economic situation in Bulgaria. President Zhelev also spoke about Bulgarian legislation, foreign investment protection in this country and the prospects for bilateral economic cooperation. At a ceremony held in the building of the Rotary Club President Zhelev was presented with the Paul Harris Memorial Award, for his contribution and help in the Club's humanitarian and charity activities. Paul Harris was one of the founders of the Rotary Club. At the National Press Club President Zhelev informed U.S. journalists about the progress of the democratic reform in Bulgaria and this country's stabilizing role on the Balkans. Dr. Zhelev outlined the chief aims and principles underlying the Bulgarian foreign policy. Later today, President Zhelev will meet U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown. The last day of President's Zhelev's three-day official working visit to the U.S. will end with a few hour's stop over in New York. The President's schedule includes an interview for the New York Times, a meeting with business and financial officials, organized by the U.S.-Bulgarian Enterprise Fund and a meeting with George Soros - a prominent businessman and founder of the Open Society Fund. Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski is planning to meet with U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. All dailies front-page reports about President Zhelyu Zhelev's visit to the United States and run photos from his meeting with US President Bill Clinton. "Demokratsiya", the daily of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) gives prominence to the signed joint declaration on the relations between the two states. The editorial article in the Socialist daily "Douma", headlined "The Balkans Unaware of a Balkan Meeting", comments on President Zhelev's invitation to Warren Cristopher "to meet his Balkan colleagues in Sofia". According to the editorial, Zhelev's initiative came as a surprise. "The natural role of Bulgaria is to revive the cooperation between the Balkan states which it initiated. Unfortunately we have done too little in that direction and retreated hugely on certain issues," Prime Minister Zhan Videnov comments on the issue for "Douma". The Chairman of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Nikolai Kamov describes Zhelev's initiative in the US as "an example of poor coordination in Bulgarian foreign policy initiatives." "The proposal of the Bulgarian President is not new. It is however unclear why only one of the superpowers, the US, was invited," press advisor at the Russian embassy in Sofia Leonid Reshetnikov says for "Douma". He also voiced his country's readiness to take part in the stabilization processes in the Balkans, if invited. The Embassy of Yugoslavia believes that it is still early to comment on Dr. Zhelev's initiative. No preliminary consultations about a meeting in Sofia had been made, political advisor Djukic told "Douma". In his view, Belgrade's response may be expected within a week. Advisor at the Croatia's Embassy in Sofia Mr. Bozhinovic was also categorical that no preliminary consultations had been held. The Greek embassy denied comment, "Douma" says. American companies want sanctions against Bulgaria, "Continent" writes in a front-page report, run in parallel with the report on President Zhelev's visit to the US. US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor reportedly received requests from American producers of software, audio and video equipment to take measures against Bulgaria's intellectual piracy, the daily says. According to "Continent", the issue was on the agenda of Zhelev's talks with Clinton. Bulgaria's negligence about these matters will face it with a number of difficulties in its application for membership in GATT successor, the World Trade Organization, the daily quotes Ivan Peev, head of "Copyright Protection" department with the Ministry of Culture as saying. In his view the fines currently charged on pirates are but ridiculous. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PM VIDENOV TO SPEAK TO JOURNALISTS Despite the restrictive budget and the limited number of investment projects, the cabinet has projected GDP growth at 2 to 2.5 per cent, even 3 per cent, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov told an unprecedented news conference at the Sofia Press Agency today. Videnov is the first prime minister to speak to journalists outside the government building or the party headquarters, Sofia Press Agency chief Kolyo Georgiev said. The Prime Minister promised he would be meeting journalists for verbal duels once every 20 days until the cabinet's first 100 days in office are over. The cabinet will aim to keep the budget deficit at its 1994 level. This target has been set in the context of a feasible GDP, not of estimates based on 'reading the cards' which is what happened when the 1994 budget was being drafted, Videnov said, referring to commentaries in the press describing the projected cut in the deficit as "too unrealistic". No preparations have been made for a Balkan summit of the kind that President Zhelev proposed in Washington, Videnov said. In his view, such a major diplomatic initiative would take months to prepare and a lot of work on the part of the Foreign Ministry, while in this case nobody has been informed that there was such an idea. However, the Bulgarian Socialist Party and its coalition partners are convinced that it would be natural for Bulgaria to revitalize the Balkan process which came to a standstill a few years ago, Videnov said. The Prime Minister described the forthcoming talks with officials of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as important despite their preliminary and informative nature. The negotiations proper will be held in March, he recalled. The government will seek to coordinate its position with the international financial institutions and to sign an agreement on a Financial Sector and Enterprises Structural Adjustment Loan (FESAL) and a fourth standby agreement with the IMF, though it will not rely on them alone. If external financing is not available, the cabinet will resort to the central bank's reserves, mass privatization, and the reviving agriculture which is this country's largest reserve, the Prime Minister said. In his view, 150 million dollars in financial support would be insufficient and the cabinet should try to ensure several hundred million dollars, or even 1,000 million dollars, in external financing. The State Fund for Reconstruction and Development, now redressing the balance in times of financial crises, should be used for the purpose for which it was established: to support the real economy, Videnov said. Videnov confirmed that there would be government orders in industry. In his view, it is inadmissible for the army to buy products of the military-industrial complex through several intermediaries. In the future the state will stand in the middle, he said. Videnov confirmed that preferential treatment of a number of activities will be an important feature of tax policy so as to encourage sponsorship, charity and patronage. Videnov said the cabinet is inclined to expand the range of participants in tripartite cooperation. Its social commitments remain unaltered: to achieve stable growth in living standards within four years and decelerate impoverishment this year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER ARSENIS TO VISIT SOFIA Sofia, February 15 - Greek National Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis will pay an official visit to Bulgaria as of February 20 after a visit to Romania from February 16 to 19, BTA learned from Captain Tsvyatko Donchev, chief of the Defense Ministry's press office. Bulgarian-Greek agreements are expected to be signed for the further promotion of bilateral relations in the field of defense. The Greek defense minister's schedule includes meetings with President Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski, Defense Minister Dimiter Pavlov and other top officials, Captain Donchev said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WEDNESDAY NEWS BRIEFS National Assembly Chairman Sendov would call upon patriotically-minded businessmen to finance the construction of Orthodox churches in the Rhodopes, Southern Bulgaria. Academician Sendov took a commitment to that effect after a meeting with Boyan Saruev, leader of St. Joan the Precursor Movement for Christianity and Progress. Saruev reportedly demanded that legislative measures be taken to protect the rights of individuals and individual choice of religion. He believes that attempts are being made to impose the term "Bulgarian Mohammedans" on pure Bulgarians in the Rhodopes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PARLIAMENTARY NATIONAL MEDIA COMMITTEE STARTS WORK Sofia, February 15 (BTA) - At its first meeting today the Parliamentary Committee on Radio, Television and the BTA discussed its priorities: debates on a National Radio and Television Bill, fast formulation of an opinion on the 1995 budget of the national media (radio, television and the Bulgarian news agency), and a decision on the Committee's relations with the state Posts and Telecommunications Committee. The Parliamentary Committee on Radio and Television was set up first within the Grand National Assembly (1990- 91), when Parliament decided that until the passage of a special Act, the two national media should be supervised by a parliamentary body. The future Radio and Television Act is expected to introduce a public council monitoring the operation of the national media. In 1993, by a decision of the previous parliament, the Committee's powers were extended to cover the BTA as well. At the beginning of today's meeting Committee Chairman George Ganchev, leader of the Bulgarian Business Bloc, familiarized the MPs with his views on the state and the future of the Bulgarian news agency and national television. According to him, the BTA had been crippled by the discontinuing of some of its periodicals, the closure of its bureaus abroad and unfair competition. George Ganchev believes that the BTA should make improvements in information dissemination and start new electronic news services. In his view, the BTA should become a joint-stock company with the state as the principal shareholder. Ganchev recommended that the two national television channels split as a step to forming two separate national TV networks. In his view, Channel One should remain the official state television, while Efir Two should be given greater latitude to experiment with programming. Ganchev will set forth his views on national radio at the Committee's next meeting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BUSINESS PRESS An agreement for improvement of communication links was signed yesterday in Istanbul between the Bulgarian, the Turkish and the Romanian communications on the one side, and the British STC company on the other. Under the 30 million US dollar project a 600 km long under-water optical cable will be put in the Black Sea. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IMF's Mission Leader for Bulgaria Russel Kincaid is arriving to Bulgaria tomorrow, the financial daily "Pari" says. Mr. Kincaid will stay here for a week and is expected to meet ministers of the new cabinet and financial experts of the BNB. He will also discuss the parameters of the fourth stand-by agreement. The country did not receive the last tranche of payments on the third stand-by agreement as the latter was suspended last autumn, "Pari" specifies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Civil Defense department is prepared to evacuate 300,000 people from Sofia during the summer, the dailies say. The Government will discuss tomorrow whether to request the Parliament to announce an emergency situation in the capital city because of the water supply crisis, the daily recalls. According to experts of the Health Ministry, the water crisis is reaching critical levels and the capital is threatened by epidemic diseases, especially hepatitis A and typhoid fever. ==============================================================================