Series of shootings from infantry weaponry were registered in Tetovo region overnight, MIA's special corespondent reported.

 

According to Tetovo Interior department, the shootings in the central city district were of increased intensity.

 

A series of shots came from Tetovo Teke, reformatory school, settlements of Gorna Carsija, Kupenik, Vonvardarska, the SEE University, the Red Cross warehouse, city stadiums and the military barracks "Kuzman Josifovski - Pitu".

 

Increased number of shootings was also evidenced from the villages of Mala Recica, Gajre, Lisec and several other villages.

 

The armed provocations continue in Kumanovo - Lipkovo region.

 

As MIA's special correspondent reported, bursts of fire were registered overnight on 13 occasions from the villages of Opae, Matejce, Lojane, Slupcane, Grusino and Alasevice.

 

According to army sources on the ground, the shootings had no definite targets.

 

 

 

As he reported, the realization of the project proceeds quite well; the pipeline is installed and the wells in the Gavato Pole have been constructed.

 

The minister underlined that the project is supported by the four largest construction enterprises in Macedonia: "Beton", "Pelagonija", "Granit" and "Mavrovo" as well as the factory "October 11" from Kumanovo, which produces the pipes.

 

The Ministry of Environment, as Dodovski said, is developing a study in order to assess the influence from the construction of the pipeline on the Vardar River. He added that the same water pipeline system will be used for watering of the farmland in Bogdansko Pole, Nikolic and Crnicko Pole regions.

 

The third segment from the project is purification of the water from the system and its use as drinking water.

 

Minister Dodovski could not specify the period when the water level of the Lake Dojran will return to normal, because, as he said, it greatly depends on the weather conditions.

 

"In conditions of drought, the period will last between seven and ten years, because we must keep in mind that the maximum capacity of the pipeline is 1,000 liters per second.

 

At this moment, the water has moved from the shore on 800 meters toward the center of the lake, and on some places over 1,5 kilometers. This in other words means that only one fourth of the water in the lake remained in the basin.

 

Dodovski also referred to the cooperation with Greece for saving of the lake, which, as he said, is led on local, non-governmental and governmental level.

 

Greece is interested in the project for saving of the lake, and this is proven by the fact that the Lake Dojran is included in their project for reconstruction, worth four million Euro.

 

Still, Dodovski said, there are information that indicate that there are water pumps that pump out the water from the lake.

 

There has to be an agreement for protection of the lake, signed with Greece," the Minister said.

 

He denied the alleges that the project for saving of the Lake Dojran was only a pre-election marketing of VMRO-DPMNE and the Liberal Party.

 

 

 

"The sale of "Nova Makedonija" has been the most successful so far, as it is sold for Euro 12,8 million, i.e. the Slovenian company is to pay Euro 2,3 million within fifteen days, plus Euro 10,5 million as debt to public companies due to be paid according to an agreement with these companies, and to invest Euro 6 million in the next five years. The new owner is also obliged to keep all employees for five years, " Fetai said.

 

The Government should solve the problem with unpaid salaries within 15 days, the period foreseen for the Slovenian company to pay the amount of Euro 2,3 million, Fetai said.

 

"We do not share Mr. Fetai's satisfaction, as we have expected greater assistance from the government, which persisted on keeping of all employees.

 

The demand has been met and I believe in opening of new job opportunities, offering employment to all of those who want to work, " Komac said.

 

Reconstruction of the publishing house would take five to seven years, including an installment of new machinery and launching of new editions Komac said.

 

 

A coal-miner threatened to burn himself together with his wife and eight children because he cannot provide for his family and the kids are starving. A 43-yer-old Dimtcho Kostadinov, worker in the Eliseina mine, says that the company hasn't paid his wage for a long time and he can't feed the family. Yesterday he and his colleagues laid on the railway tracks and stopped three express trains on Sofia-Varna destination. This is the fourth protesting action the desperate people stage against the neglectful attitude on the part of vice-premier and minister of economy Nikolay Vassilev, who is in charge of this state-run venture.

 

 

World Cup finalists, the team of Germany, lacking a string of injured first-choice players, fought back for a 2-2 draw away to Bulgaria in their friendly international on Wednesday, thanks to debutant Arne Friedrich. Hertha Berlin defender Friedrich, a second half substitute, spared coach Rudi Voeller's blushes in the 57th minute by unleashing a 25-metre shot through a crowd of players and past Bulgaria goalkeeper Zdravko Zdravkov to salvage a draw. Bulgaria had more than matched Germany for much of the contest, twice taking the lead. Striker Dimitar Berbatov gave the home side the lead in the 21st minute after a cross from captain Krassimir Balakov. Germany midfielder Michael Ballack was precise from the penalty spot to level at 1-1 just two minutes later after Zdravkov brought down forward Miroslav Klose. A second penalty five minutes after halftime saw Bulgaria go 2-1 up as Balakov converted from the spot after Berbatov had his shirt tugged by Germany defender Carsten Ramelow, who is also his Bayer Leverkusen team mate. Germany begin their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign with an away match in Lithuania on September 7, while Bulgaria travel to meet Belgium on the same day.

 

 

 

Libyan Foreign Minister Arrives on Official Visit.

 

Sofia, August 21 (BTA) - Meetings with President Georgi Purvanov and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha are on the programme of an official visit here by the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation of Libya, Abd Al-Rahman Shalgam. The Libyan top diplomat arrives Wednesday and will be here for two days. He has been invited by his Bulgarian counterpart Solomon Passy.

 

It will be the first visit by a Libyan Foreign Minister to Bulgaria in 17 years. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has visited four times: in 1978, 1981, 1982 and 1983. The two countries have had diplomatic relations at embassy level since July 1, 1963.

 

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Passy paid an official visit to Libya in December last year. He went again this year and met with Colonel Gaddafi, his Libyan counterpart and the Justice Minister. The latter is a former chairman of the People's Claims Bureau, the Libyan prosecution office, which has charged six Bulgarian medical workers with intentional infection of 393 Libyan children with the HIV virus.

 

On August 26 an Arraignment Chamber in Benghazi is expected to decide whether to close the case against the Bulgarians or to forward it to a criminal court. The last session of the Chamber last Monday heard the prosecution and the defence. The Bulgarian and the Libyan lawyer of the six Bulgarians want all charges against their clients to be dropped.

 

The Libyan side has provided all conditions for a nonpolitical and objective trial of the Bulgarians. A Bulgarian delegation was assured of that during its visit to Libya last week under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Vassilev.

 

During the visit the two sides agreed that a subcommittee on finance with the Bulgarian-Libyan mixed committee would meet in September to discuss the possible settlement of Bulgaria's 54 million dollar receivables from Libya, as well as Libya's debt to private Bulgarian companies.

 

The Bulgarian side said another success was the agreement they reached for opening negotiations on changes in the Bulgarian concession agreements for operating oil and gas deposits in Libya. Bulgarian investors have already put some 160-200 million dollars in investment in the projects. Over 300 million dollars are needed for the operation of all deposits, including some 150,000 for the development of the technical plans alone.

 

During Vassilev's visit Libya reconfirmed its interest in investing in Bulgaria.

 

The Bulgarian Economy Ministry promised to prepare shortly and present to the Libyan side a list of Bulgarian producers and exporters and another one of companies put up for privatization.

 

The Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade is expected in Bulgaria soon.

 

 

 

First Bulgarian Contingent in Afghanistan Praised, Defence Minister Svinarov Meets President Karzai.

 

Kabul, August 21 (BTA) - The Bulgarian contingent in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was commended for its work, the Bulgarian Embassy in Kabul told BTA.

 

Bulgaria's contribution to ISAF was praised by Brigadier General Manfred Schlenker, Commander of the German-led Kabul Multinational Brigade of which the Bulgarian contingent is part, in the presence of this country's Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov and the Chief of its General Staff, General Nikola Kolev. The two arrived in Kabul Wednesday leading an official delegation.

 

The second Bulgarian contingent to Afghanistan arrived by the same flight to take over the mission from its predecessors.

 

So far the Bulgarian decontamination shower facility has been used 45,406 times. 1,175 tonnes of water have been used and 6,150 km have been travelled for its delivery, the senior national officer of the Bulgarian contingent, Lt.Col Milko Berner, reported handing over the command to his successor, Major Stoyan Mirchev, at a ceremony in the Bulgarian camp. The Bulgarian servicemen also had the chance to raise some of their problems.

 

At a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Marshal Mohammad Kasim Fahim, Svinarov stressed Bulgaria's resolution to fulfill the commitments it undertook at the Donor Conference on Afghanistan in Tokyo. He expressed Bulgaria's readiness to provide military and economic assistance and invited his colleague to visit Bulgaria. The invitation was accepted.

 

At a briefing that followed the meeting the Afghan Defence Minister also commended Bulgaria's contribution to ISAF.

 

Defence Minister Svinarov also met ISAF Commander General Hikmi Zorlu.

Later on Tuesday Svinarov was received by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

 

A protocol on the arms and ammunition provided by Bulgaria for the Afghan Army was also signed Wednesday.

 

 

By TANALEE SMITH, Associated Press Writer

 

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Bulgaria has donated a large number of weapons and ammunition to the Afghan National Army, an example of the international community's commitment to help the country, a U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.

 

The donation, to be used for training and equipping the new army, included 400 AK-47 rifles, 8 82-mm mortars, 12 SPG-9 anti-tank missile launchers, 15 RPG-7 launchers, 8 PKM machine guns and 30 radio sets, said Col. Roger King at Bagram air base.

 

He said Bulgaria also donated more than 120,000 rounds of 7.62-mm ammo and nearly 900 grenades, as well as 300 mortar rounds.

 

The Afghan National Army has processed about 100 recruits for training in its 4th Battalion, King said. The army's 3rd Battalion is scheduled to graduate at the end of September.

 

On Tuesday, a coalition patrol near Kandahar air base was engaged by small arms fire. King said there were no casualties, and the patrol returned to base, where they reported to the Afghan militia forces commander. An Afghan patrol sent out to find the enemy made contact, killing one and capturing two men, one of whom was wounded in the shooting. The two men are being held by coalition forces, King said.

 

Also Tuesday, U.S. Special Operations Forces conducting patrols in Oruzgan province found two anti-aircraft guns and destroyed them in place, King said.

 

The guns were found near a village where a U.S. airstrike killed at least 46 people July 1. The attack is under investigation.

 

American special operations troops, meanwhile, continued to inventory a large weapons cache found on Saturday near Shkin in Paktika province. The cache included 200 RPG rounds, 400 82-mm rounds, 50 BM12 rockets and several thousands rounds of 12.5-mm machine gun ammunition.

 

Defense Minister Mohammed Fahim met with the Bulgarian defense minister, Nikolai Svinarov, in Kabul. Fahim told a news conference that U.S. and Afghan commanders were working together.

 

"The joint operation by American forces and Afghan forces which has been launched in areas where we suspect al-Qaida and terrorist groupings are, is being carried out with the coordination of the corps headquarters of the Afghan forces."

 

Near the eastern city of Jalabad, two children died and one was injured Tuesday when an land mine they were playing with exploded. The 10 and 12-year old boys thought the mine was a toy, the survivor said. The children found the mine near Osama bin Laden's former compound and training camp, which was heavily mined.

 

 

 

Sofia Offers Aid to Flood-Stricken Central Europe.

 

Sofia, August 21 (BTA) - Deputy Foreign Minister Petko Draganov Wednesday received Ambassadors Georg Potyka of Austria, Bela Kolozsi of Hungary and Petr Dokladal of the Czech Republic, and the German Charge d'Affaires in Sofia Winfried Schlote, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

 

The sides discussed an initiative that Bulgaria send engineers and restorers to assist the restoration of damaged buildings and cultural monuments in areas hit by the current floods. The Foreign Ministry also suggested that children from evacuated families spend their holidays in Bulgaria.

 

The Foreign Ministry is opening a special bank account to raise relief funds for the European countries affected by the natural disaster.

 

 

Krastina Marinova

A holiday in a blue-chip hotel to decrease by 10 levs from today.

 

Bulgarian holiday-makers will spend 10 levs less in Albena resort from today on. The offers of 'Albena Tour' is effective till September 10. In a 2-star hotels 'Dnepar', 'Kiev', 'Zvezda' and 'Arabela' a night's lodging plus breakfast costs 15 levs. The accommodation costs 14 levs in 'Prague' and 'Kardam' hotels, while in 'Bratislava' and 'Kamelia' - just in the center of the resort - it is 16 levs. Bulgarian tourists will pay 28 levs for room in the deluxe 'Leipzig' hotel, where the price before yesterday was 25 levs for a bed only. New price reduction is envisaged for Bulgarians after September 10. The accommodation plus breakfast in 3-star hotels will cost 29 levs only.

 

Milena Nikolova

President Georgi Parvanov will pay a visit to the USA and Russia this autumn.

 

The international tour of the Head of state starts as early as September with a visit to Johannesburg. Parvanov will be in Iceland on September 9, to fly further to the USA. Currently, his possible meeting with the President of the United States is being specified. Parvanov will be in Russia within September 18 and 20, to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

 

 

25 Westbound Trains Stopped at Bulgarian-Turkish Border Over Floods.

 

Haskovo, Southern Bulgaria, August 21 (BTA) - About 25 trains bound for Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic are being held at the Turkish station of Kapi Kule, on the border with Bulgaria, on the request of the Bulgarian authorities, the duty officer at the Svilengrad railway station, on the Bulgarian side of the border, told BTA following a conference with the Bulgarian representative at the Kapi Kule station.

 

On August 17 the management of the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) banned the passage of trains bound for Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic over the floods there. The decision followed a ban by all European countries on the route from Bulgaria to Western Europe.

 

The trains will be allowed to cross Bulgaria only after the railway authorities of the countries went of Bulgaria guarantee their safe passage, said Teofil Teofilov, the duty officer of the Svilengrad railway station.

 

Reports of long lines of trains on the Turkish side of the Bulgarian-Turkish border appeared in the Wednesday issue of the Turkiye paper. It explained that the floods impede traffic and the Bulgarian authorities have decided not to let through trains. Some 70 train cars pass through Kapi Kule every day on their way to Bulgaria and the Bulgarian side must take measures to normalize traffic, writes the paper.

 

 

 

Istanbul, August 21 (Metin Karagullu of BTA) - Drills have begun to take samples in preparation of repairs of the Bulgarian Church of St. Stephen in Istanbul, said the Bulgarian Church Board of Trustees in Istanbul which is in charge of the Bulgarian property on the territory of Turkey.

 

The church is situated on the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Everything in it from its superstructure to much of its internal decoration is made of cast iron. Pieces of the church were cast in Vienna and floated down the Danube to Istanbul. The church was consecrated in 1871, after the Sultan granted the Bulgarian church autonomy from the Greek Orthodox Patriarch.

 

The samples will be analyzed in a laboratory to find out how far the groundwork of the building has been undermined and what is the degree of corrosion of the metal construction. Proper repair works will begin only then.

 

The sampling is expected to be over a month from now.

 

The Bulgarian side has provided some 75,000 dollars for the repairs. The money was released for a project developed by the Sofia-based Institute for Monuments of Culture. The Church Board of Trustees have been authorized by the Turkish authorities to do the repairs.

 

The church is more the 100 years old and is in a very bad condition. Its foundations are sagging, the iron construction is severely damaged by corrosion as it is continuously eaten away by the waters of the Golden Horn, there are cracks in the walls. Experts fear that the church will not survive a stronger quake.

 

Due to a combination of fund shortage and red tape both on the Bulgarian and the Turkish side, it has taken years to start the repairs. Only at the beginning of this year were the necessary permits obtained. St. Stephen in on a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on reciprocal protection of monuments of culture in Bulgaria and Turkey.

 

 

PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Peacekeepers in Kosovo said on Wednesday they had detained five people of Algerian origin suspected of posing a threat to security in the Yugoslav province.

 

The NATO-led KFOR force said in a brief statement that the five had been detained during the past two weeks in two separate intelligence-led operations.

 

They were being held at Camp Bondsteel, the main U.S. military base in the south of Kosovo.

 

Peacekeeping forces in the Balkans have intensified efforts to crack down on possible threats from Islamic extremists since the September 11 attacks on the United States. KFOR did not say if the latest arrests were linked to those operations.

 

"As the investigations are continuing, no further information is available at the present time," it said.