Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), 97-01-21

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From: Embassy of Bulgaria <[email protected]>

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

BTA - BULGARIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY

21 January, 1997

CONTENTS

[01] ION PROPOSES TALKS ON CARETAKER CABINET

[02] LEFT REFUSES TO ACCEPT OPPOSITION'S APPROACH

[03] OPPOSITION PROTESTS CONTINUE

[04] PRESIDENT PETER STOYANOV: THE POLITICAL SITUATION DEPENDS ON THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

[05] JOURNALISTS RATE PRESIDENT STOYANOV AS TOP POLITICIAN

[06] RUSSIAN DUMA DECLARATION ON EVENTS IN BULGARIA, FR YUGOSLAVIA

[07] KOZLODOUI'S UNIT ONE BACK ON LINE

[08] BULGARIAN SCIENTIST TO LECTURE ON MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ISSUES IN U.S.

[09] FRENCH EMBASSY HOLDS EIGHTH TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST FOR INTELLECTUALS

[10] EX-COMMUNIST DICTATOR RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST

[01] ION PROPOSES TALKS ON CARETAKER CABINET

At a meeting on Monday, the Political Council of the United Democratic Forces (UtdDF), which includes the leaders of the three opposition forces in Parliament: the Union of Democratic Forces, the Popular Union and the ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms, discussed the situation in Bulgaria after the inauguration of President- elect Peter Stoyanov on Sunday. According to the opposition, President Stoyanov is a new major factor in resolving the political crisis in Bulgaria, evidence for which can be found in his message that Bulgaria wants general elections as soon as possible.

The Political Council approved a decision which reiterates the stand that Bulgaria needs early parliamentary elections and the formation of a caretaker cabinet. Under the Constitution, the President appoints a caretaker cabinet which organizes general elections within two months, after three parliamentary forces refuse to form a cabinet or if it fails to recive a confidence vote.

The opposition also said on Monday it is ready for a consensus in the incumbent Parliament that, under an express decision, the caretaker cabinet be authorized to hold negotiations with the international financial institutions on introducing a currency board in Bulgaria and implementing genuine structural reform, so that the next Parliament can immediately adopt the drafted bills. The UtdDF appealed to all parliamentary political forces to express their readiness in this respect and motivated their appeal that reaching consensus will be a guarantee for resolving the political crisis in Bulgaria.

The opposition reiterated it will return in Parliament to hold talks about its initiative as soon as the Left refuses the mandate to form a new cabinet. However, Left leaders stated on several occasions that they will not refuse the mandate to form a new government and that they expect President Stoyanov to ask them to do so after his inauguration. The statement was confirmed on Sunday by Left premier-designate Nikolai Dobrev. On January 19, Dobrev familiarized the senior leadership of the Bulgarian Socialist Party with his short-term programme until general elections take place. "We agree to form a competent and energetic cabinet with broad political limits which will be ready, by means of a programme to this end, to resolve the most acute problems of the society," Dobrev said on Sunday.

[02] LEFT REFUSES TO ACCEPT OPPOSITION'S APPROACH

Dwelling on the meetings of members of the Left with foreign diplomats, he said that most of them are firmly in favour of observing the Constitution and giving the Socialist party a government-formation mandate. He believes quite a few of the diplomats seemed to like Socialist PM nominee Nikolai Dobrev.

Purvanov further said that the idea for immediate early elections or even elections in four or five months' time is unacceptable. It will take nine to twelve months to solve the legal problems and one of these days the BSP will publicize an anti-crisis programme that will provide the motives for being against quick early election. "I am convinced that despite the political pressure that will surely be exerted upon him, the new Bulgarian President Peter Stoyanov will do his best to carry out his constitutional obligations," Purvanov also said.

Negotiations with the opposition United Democratic Forces are unlikely, the Socialist leader also said, without denying the Socialists' share of responsibility for the lack of political dialogue in the Bulgarian society over the past two years. He said "we have overlooked the importance of this factor for solving the problems of Bulgaria" and pledged that the BSP will make dialogue its major principle in the future.

Purvanov sees two scenarios in the current political stalemate. In the first - gloomy - one no agreement is reached. In the second one, an agreement is reached under the influence of external factors and Parliament serves its full life.

The Socialist leaders believe that not all Socialist party members are adequately informed of the difficult political situation in the country. According to them, Sofia has become the centre of public protests, but the opposition rallies organized daily here are joined by no more than 10,000- 15,000 people.

"Street protests are not the way to make politics. They will not solve the problems of the nation," Socialist floor leader Krassimir Premyanov said at a meeting with Socialists in the Black Sea city of Varna. He believes the BSP does not have all the responsibility for the crisis in the country.

BTA has received declarations by BSP structures in Doupnitsa, Bobovdol, Sapareva Banya, Kocherinovo, Rila and Boboshevo (Southwestern Bulgaria), which appeal to the President and Parliament to observe the Constitution in regards to the formation of a new government with the mandate of the Democratic Left.

MPs of the Democratic Left met with supporters in many population centres of the country. Meetings of the BSP municipal structures in Veliko Turnovo (Central Bulgaria), Kurdjali (Southern Bulgaria), Shoumen (Northern Bulgaria) and others stated BSP should be asked to form a cabinet and condemned "anarchy and street pressure."

[03] OPPOSITION PROTESTS CONTINUE

A successive students' march was staged under the motto: "Let's Wake These Asleep". The students marched along the streets chanting, "Elections", "Victory" and "All with Us." As in the previous days, the march ended before the St Alexander Nevski Cathedral where students' rock bands gave concerts.

After the rally, opposition supporters headed for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) chanting: "Resignation" and "Red Scum". The protestors demanded the resignation of Ivan Tokadjiev, acting BNT General Director. They claimed the national media does not provide objective coverage of the opposition's protests.

A striking committee of the BNT employees has started negotiations with the BNT management insisting that censorship in BNT is lifted, that the main culprits for compromising the television before the public are discharged and that a reasonable BNT budget is provided to guarantee its normal operation.

Trade unions' actions continue nationwide, reads a press release of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) sent to BTA. The workers of the Dinamo plant based in Sliven (Southern Bulgaria) and the city hospital staged an one-hour strike Monday. A declaration of the CITUB National Striking Committee warns that central and local government have undertaken a series of counteractions and manipulations aimed against the preparation of a general strike by the trade unions.

Members of CITUB and the Podkrepa Labour Confederation staged one-hour striking actions at enterprises in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria), Sandanski (Southern Bulgaria) and in certain schools in the country.

Parties, coalitions, organizations and citizens keep sending declarations, appeals and letters in connection with the events around the Parliament on January 10 and 11, 1997, Parliament's press office told BTA.

Most of the declarations insist that negotiations between the parliamentary represented political forces, the President and the Executive are launched to find a solution of the pressing political, social and economic problems in the interest of the state and the people, the message says.

[04] PRESIDENT PETER STOYANOV: THE POLITICAL SITUATION DEPENDS ON THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Attending the meeting were various MPs, as well as members of the President- established economic council, which includes many prominent Bulgarian economists as well as experts who participated in the negotiations on rescheduling of Bulgaria's foreign debt. Other participants in the meeting included central bank Governor Lyubomir Filipov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce Bozhinov and Chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association Danov.

Today's meeting did not seek to reach a decision or to evaluate political developments in Bulgaria, Stoyanov said. The aim was to discuss the economic consequences of the introduction of a currency board, as well as the options for finding a way out of the political crisis in Bulgaria. Participants in the meeting considered two hypotheses: what will be the likely economic situation after early general elections and under a Left cabinet until the end of 1997, Stoyanov said. Stoyanov said the meeting has achieved its aim. He described the discussion as "calm and sensible" and said it showed concern for the future of Bulgaria. He would not disclose the views that dominated the discussion.

An MP of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces who attended the meeting said 90% of participants were supportive of holding immediately early general elections.

Immediately after that the Council for National Development started a sitting. The Council is chaired by Peter Stoyanov and includes public figures, professionals, scholars, intellectuals and economists. Invited to the sitting were the Rector of the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Prof. Ivan Lalov, and the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Ivan Yuhnovski.

The sitting sought to focus the attention to problems of strategic importance for the Bulgarian future, Stoyanov said adding that the current crisis in the country was a major issue. He said Bulgarian intellectuals suffer both from the low living standards and from the lack of opportunities to implement their ideas and use their professionalism. He also described the activity of the Council as a corrective of his own action.

[05] JOURNALISTS RATE PRESIDENT STOYANOV AS TOP POLITICIAN

Ivan Kostov, leader of the UDF and the united opposition, who heads and coordinates people's protests, was rated the politician of the week by three editors-in-chief; another three named Nikolai Dobrev, outgoing interior minister and candidate for prime minister of the Left. Some preferred Sofia's Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski, who personally took part in preventing clashes in the streets.

One of the polled named the people "politician No. One"; street pressure urges politicians stronger and stronger to solve the political crisis and the country's painful economic problems, "Troud" writes.

[06] RUSSIAN DUMA DECLARATION ON EVENTS IN BULGARIA, FR YUGOSLAVIA

The Russian Duma is particularly alarmed by the fact that tension is escalating in countries situated in the Balkans - the most volatile region in Europe, that has just began to overcome the consequences of dramatic events of the past years, and the losses brought by the economic sanctions, the declaration goes.

There is no doubt that the events in question are internal affairs for the two countries. The two nations must find the way to solve the conflicts by themselves and the Russian Duma hopes that a way out of the crisis can be found by way of constructive dialogue involving all political forces with the respect due to democracy and the supremacy of law. The declaration further says any assistance of the international community in handling the crises must be based on respect for the two countries sovereignty.

The Russian Duma denounces any open and provocative interference in the internal affairs of the Balkan states, including by parliament officials of some countries. Efforts of some external forces to avail themselves of the complex situation in Bulgaria and FR Yugoslavia in the pursuit of their own political goals with no regard for the interests of the country is question, are a dangerous approach threatening to destabilize the Balkans and to undermine European security, the document says.

[07] KOZLODOUI'S UNIT ONE BACK ON LINE

In connection with the restart of Unit One, the N-plant was visited by outgoing Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov. He inspected the upgrading conducted so far of the four old units and the prospects for their future functioning in compliance with the international standards for nuclear and operational safety. All the six units at the Bulgarian N-plant with total capacity of 2,800 megawatts are currently operating.

[08] BULGARIAN SCIENTIST TO LECTURE ON MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ISSUES IN U.S.

The Bulgarian scientist is member of several international organizations, among which the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, the Society for Advancing Engineering and the Gas Turbine Institute. He has been taking part in international scientific symposia, including forums in the Netherlands and the United States. He was also invited by the London University where he conducted research and gave lectures in energy converting systems. Dr Danov has authored 65 scientific reports, articles, inventions and two university textbooks, of which 12 articles and reports have been published in foreign magazines or read at international scientific forums, "Bulgarska Armiya" writes.

[09] FRENCH EMBASSY HOLDS EIGHTH TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST FOR INTELLECTUALS

On January 19, 1989, during his first visit to Bulgaria the then President of France, Francois Mitterrand, invited to breakfast at the Embassy 12 Bulgarian cultural figures, of whom six were dissidents, members of the Glasnost and Perestroika Support Clubs. The original participants were a prominent chemist, Academician Alexei Sheludko (who has died since), writers Blaga Dimitrova, Ivailo Petrov, Stefan Prodev and Yordan Radichkov, philosophers Zhelyu Zhelev and Prof. Nikolai Vassilev, journalists Barouh Shamliev and Koprinka Chervenkova, artist Svetlin Roussev, director and screenwriter Angel Wagenstein, and satirist Radoi Ralin.

This year's breakfast was hosted by Ambassador Marcel Tremeau. The invitees discussed a way out of Bulgaria's present crisis. Ambassador Tremeau did not take sides in the dispute but said that problems should be solved within the framework of democracy and of the Constitution, Prof. Vassilev said.

The participants also disagreed on whether outgoing President Zhelev should ask the Democratic Left to form a new government. Dr Zhelev drew criticism for refusing to do so and thus violating the Constitution. The President answered that he strictly observes the basic law.

Poetess Blaga Dimitrova sees a symbolic significance in the meeting, as Bulgaria is now starting everything from square one, just like in 1989 after the fall of the Todor Zhivkov regime. She and poet Radoi Ralin find much hope in the present situation in Bulgaria, with great expectations and trust in young people and in the future, Mrs Dimitrova said. They were referring to the opposition's anti-government protests which have enlisted mass public support. Prof. Vassilev expressed the view that democracy in Bulgaria will take a lot more time to mature.

"The only point of these meetings is to keep alive a tradition in a country where we are inclined to discard everything quickly," Koprinka Chervenkova told reporters. The participants paid tribute to the late President Francois Mitterrand. Monday's breakfast at the French Embassy was attended by all participants in the original meeting in 1989 with the exception of writer Ivailo Petrov and the late Alexei Sheludko.

[10] EX-COMMUNIST DICTATOR RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST

Zhivkov, who was at the helm of the state and communist party for 33 years, was toppled in November 1989, expelled from the Bulgarian Communist Party and stripped of his titles and decorations. He was later on charged in several legal cases and in July 1990 placed under house arrest. In January 1994 he was found guilty of abuse of office and sentenced to 7 years in prison and a fine of 21 million leva.

In February 1996 the sentence was revoked by the Supreme Court, which ruled Zhivkov, as head of state, was liable only in cases of high treason or violation of the Constitution. Zhivkov is still under investigation for the economic catastrophe of Bulgaria, for the forcible renaming of ethnic Turks and for granting assistance to totalitarian regimes in developing countries. In a telephone interview for the national television, Zhivkov said he was nottold yet told about the step officially.

"I think this is a just decision. The measure has lost any meaning long time ago. Zhivkov is not a person dangerous to the public, and his acts do not necessitate such a measure," his lawyer Reni Tsanova said.

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