Subject: Anafores apo thn USIA gia thn episkech toy Z. Zhelev Anafores apo thn USIA se sxesh me thn episkech toy Boylgaroy Proedroy stis HPA. * ZHELEV SAYS DEMOCRACY UNSTOPPABLE IN BULGARIA * PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BULGARIAN PRESIDENT ZHELEV MEET * USAID ANNOUNCES GRANT TO ASSIST DEMOCRACY IN BULGARIA Giwrgos Kapodistrias ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ These are excerpts from the latest USIA daily report re the visit of Bulgaria's President Zhelev to the USA. *EUR20014 02/14/95 UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY EUROPEAN WIRELESS FILE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1995 *EUR210 02/14/95 ZHELEV SAYS DEMOCRACY UNSTOPPABLE IN BULGARIA (Thanks United States for its help in promoting it) (420) By Wendy S. Ross USIA Congressional Affairs Writer Washington -- Bulgaria's President Zhelyu Zhelev told a luncheon meeting here February 14 that his nation is committed to democratic reform and a solid break from Bulgaria's communist past. "A lot has changed over the past five years and a lot of achievements have been made," toward promoting democracy in Bulgaria, he said, especially in turning a centralized economy into a market one. "The democratic process is advancing and is unstoppable," Zhelev said, noting that he is not concerned about the election last December of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), a party composed largely of reformed communists. "I don't think there is any cause for concern" about these election results, he said. Even though the people may have elected former communists, they were voting for the future, not the past. Any attempt to return to the past in Bulgaria or elsewhere in the region "is doomed to failure," he said. The luncheon was organized by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for International Affairs. Zhelev thanked the two organizations for their helping Bulgaria with its transition to democracy. IRI and NDI have conducted programs in Bulgaria since 1990. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), training has included party organization, communications, campaign techniques, election monitoring, civic education, parliamentary procedure, coalition-building and constituency outreach. NDI and IRI also co-sponsored international election observer missions to the 1990 and 1991 legislative and local elections in Bulgaria, and since then the organizations have provided training to leaders of political parties and civic organizations on basic grassroots organizing techniques. Republican Senator John McCain, who chairs IRI, toasted Bulgaria's president and praised Zhelev's remarkable career. He pointed out that Zhelev, a former professor and dissident, was elected president of Bulgaria by the Parliament in 1990 and reelected by popular vote in 1992. NDI Chairman Paul Kirk said he was honored to speak about Zhelev. He said Bulgaria's president symbolizes the vibrancy of the Bulgarian transition process and has provided vital political continuity in the challenging first five years of Bulgaria's multiparty democracy. The transition in Bulgaria illustrates how an amalgam of peaceful demonstrations, political activism, courageous leadership, civic organizing, and elections can create the environment for the evolution to a truly democratic society, Kirk said. On February 15, Zhelev's last day in Washington, he will address the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Press Club. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *EUR211 02/14/95 PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BULGARIAN PRESIDENT ZHELEV MEET (Text: Joint statement) (740) Washington -- President Clinton met with Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev at the White House February 13. Following is the text of a joint statement on relations between the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria. It was issued by the White House Press Office February 13 after the meeting between the two leaders. (Begin text) At the invitation of President Bill Clinton, President Zhelyu Zhelev visited Washington, meeting with President Clinton at the White House on February 13. President Clinton and President Zhelev stressed the value of the close cooperation established over the past five years in maintaining regional stability and supporting Bulgaria's democratic and market economic transformation. They agreed that relations between the two countries rest on the values of democracy and human rights. President Clinton noted that the security of Bulgaria and the other Central European democracies is inseparably linked to that of the United States and praised Bulgaria's balanced and constructive policy in the Balkans. Both Presidents noted the importance of continued implementation of Bulgaria's market economic reforms. In this context, they noted the need for Bulgaria to solidify its efforts at stabilization, to accelerate implementation of privatization and to complete the legal and regulatory conditions necessary to a market economy. President Clinton offered continued U.S. assistance to support Bulgaria's efforts in this direction. As part of the planned 1995 $30 million U.S. foreign assistance program in Bulgaria, President Clinton told President Zhelev of a new $7 million loan program designed to support small and medium-sized private businesses, especially in rural areas. Recognizing the significant cost to Bulgaria of enforcing United Nations sanctions against Serbia/Montenegro, President Clinton and President Zhelev agreed about the continuing importance of sanctions as a key tool to resolving peacefully the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. President Clinton reaffirmed that the United States will remain engaged in efforts to improve regional transportation infrastructure in the southern Balkans, including Bulgaria. The two presidents agreed that such projects can help mitigate the interruption of trade routes and promote regional stability and democracy. President Clinton noted that he has asked Congress for $30 million for this regional project. The United States and Republic of Bulgaria affirmed their determination to enhance regional and European stability through support of the OSCE, United Nations and Partnership for Peace. Both countries will work to advance Bulgaria's integration into international and Euro-Atlantic economic and security institutions. President Clinton and President Zhelev affirmed support for the Partnership for Peace as the path for all countries of Central Europe and other Partners who wish to work toward NATO membership. President Clinton stated that under his Warsaw Initiative the United States will seek $5 million in security-related assistance for Bulgaria to support the purposes of the Partnership for Peace plus additional resources to support security cooperation. Recognizing the international dimension of many crimes, the two presidents agreed to deepen cooperation between their respective law enforcement agencies in the struggle against terrorism and organized criminal activities including narco-trafficking, money laundering and smuggling of cultural and historical objects. The two leaders agreed to encourage and promote trade and investment between their countries, based on market principles. The two nations intend to work together to create the conditions necessary for such market cooperation, taking into account such issues as protection of investments and new technologies, adequate and effective protection of intellectual property and other elements necessary to a friendly investment environment. Agreements concerning trade and investment have already been signed, including a Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty, and the two presidents placed high priority on the conclusion of a Treaty on the Avoidance of Double Taxation. Following the announcement of a new Central Europe Initiative by the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the Presidents agreed to work to establish a cooperative financing arrangement to support Bulgarian exports that also involve U.S. goods and services to third country markets. The two presidents agreed that this initiative could help create jobs in both Bulgaria and the United States. President Clinton recognized the importance of the removal of Bulgaria from application of the provisions of Title IV of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 (the Jackson-Vanik Amendment). The U.S. Administration has made determinations that Bulgaria is in full compliance with Title IV criteria and will consult with the U.S. Congress concerning legislation to remove Bulgaria from application of Title IV at an early date. Both presidents agreed to support ongoing educational and cultural projects such as the American University in Blagoevgrad and to seek to conclude and implement a Science and Technical agreement. Through cooperation to advance common political, economic, security and humanitarian interests, the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria continue to build a strong and enduring relationship. (End text) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *EUR212 02/14/95 USAID ANNOUNCES GRANT TO ASSIST DEMOCRACY IN BULGARIA (Assistance to NGOs) (230) Washington -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) February 13 announced a grant to assist Bulgaria in strengthening democratic institutions. The announcement came on the first day of a visit to the United States by Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev. "President Zhelev is leading his country through a difficult transition to a market economy and to open, democratic governance," Brian Atwood USAID administrator said. "We applaud him and democratic leaders throughout Bulgaria for their courage. USAID is proud to support Bulgaria to develop a key element of a functioning democracy -- civic participation -- by promoting indigenous non-governmental organizations," he added. The $3.5 million project will be run by the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), a Vermont-based, non-governmental organization. The company will assist Bulgarian NGOs to serve as vehicles for public policy debate and to solve economic, social, and environmental problems, USAID explained. Specifically, over the next three years, ISC will: -- provide training and technical assistance to NGOs; -- offer assistance with long-term and strategic planning to NGOs; and -- provide sub-grants to indigenous NGOs. According to USAID, since 1990 the agency has provided over $180 million to assist Bulgaria's political and economic transition. The award is part of President Clinton's Democracy Network Initiative for Central and Eastern Europe announced in Prague last year.