Children will study Bulgarian language lessons in the kindergartens, reads the amendment to the Public Education Act promulgated in the State Gazette yesterday. The amendment proves necessary due to the poor knowledge of the Gypsy children in Bulgarian language. 12% of the first-year pupils of Romany and Turkish origin don't speak Bulgarian. For the last 5 years the number of the illiterate Gypsies increased twice.
OLD REACTORS-CLOSURE.
BTA
President Purvanov Pledges to Work Towards Technical Inspection of Kozloduy by European Council's Nuclear Group.
Sofia, September 25 (BTA) - Bulgaria is the first EU membership candidate requesting an on-site inspection of its nuclear power plant by the group on atomic energy with the Council of the European Union, Energy Minister Milko Kovachev said Wednesday.
Kovachev had a working breakfast with journalists Wednesday morning to tell them about a seminar that the Bulgarian Atomic Forum (BULATOM) is organizing in Brussels for October 1. At the seminar the Bulgarian side will give a presentation on the condition of Unit 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy N-plant to an audience of European Parliament and other EU institutions' representatives.
The seminar will be followed by a working dinner where Kovachev will be the main speaker.
Kovachev believes that Bulgaria "owes the European community objective information on the modernization of Kozloduy". He said the country has fulfilled all prescriptions and should not fear another check.
Kovachev was referring to a government decision Tuesday that Bulgaria should accept conditionally the EU position for closing down Unit 3 and 4 before the end of 2006, and demand a technical check with a possibility for additional negotiations on a closure date.
Kovachev has no fears that the EU might take advantage of the Bulgarian acceptance of the 2006 deadline or that the EU nuclear energy experts might come under strong political pressure in favour of early closure of the power units.
Asked by reporters why they did not consult the opposition before taking the decision, the Energy Minister said that the ruling majority had mandated the Government to go to accession negotiations and asking for the opposition's approval would have been interpreted as an attempt to shun responsibility.
Anyway, the response of the opposition showed that a good decision has been taken.
The efforts towards getting a technical inspection by EU experts have the support of President Georgi Purvanov.
"I believe that such an inspection will make use of the credible conclusions of the International Atomic Energy Agency," Purvanov told reporters in Dobrich Wednesday. According to him, "the most we can afford to do is say clearly that we will accept any conclusions by the EU nuclear energy group, but we should also require an identical declaration from the EU member states. He also said that it remains to be seen whether the member states will accept "a positive development for Unit 3 and 4 of Kozloduy or will disregard the matter and say nothing".
Purvanov promised to raise the issue at his talks with European Commission officials during his upcoming visit to Brussels.
"We must very firmly put our demands. But we also have to be aware that some countries have a generally negative attitude to the nuclear energy industry, and therefore we must work with each one of the countries," said also the President.
He believes that the ruling majority in the Bulgarian parliament made concessions by accepting 2006 as the deadline for closing down Unit 3 and 4 of Kozloduy. He said though that he understands and supports the Government's efforts to step up the negotiations with the EU and avoid a possible halt over the nuclear energy industry.
According to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, the idea for a technical inspection of Unit 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy N-plant is not an ultimatum but an initiative that will allow objective assessment of the possibility to close down the power units.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ljubomir Todorov told the press Wednesday that "in the coming weeks it should become clear whether the initiative is acceptable for both sides".
He also said that the results of such an inspection should be accepted as final, "no matter what".
A day earlier the parliamentary groups of the ruling Simeon II National Movement (SNM) and their partners of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) announced their support for the government's initiative for a technical checkup of Unit 3 and 4.
According to European Affairs Minister Meglena Kouneva, the inspection will allow room for negotiations on the closure.
The chief of the Nuclear Regulation Agency, Emil Vapirev told BTA that after all the positive assessments of the safety and performance of the Kozloduy reactors, an outcome of the requested inspection that is negative for Bulgaria, "will not be our fault but of the EU inspectors".
Vapirev also said that there are no standard European criteria for such checkups to be sure they will be totally objective. "The inspection we are requesting from the EU has already been done in 1999 by the association of Western European nuclear regulators and some of the experts who will be on this mission have been here on earlier missions.
BULATOM president Evgenii Balabanov said the whole nuclear energy industry in Bulgaria wants the checkup to be made soon, as early as this year, to use objective criteria and to recruit experts who have participated in earlier missions at Kozloduy.
The MPs of the socialist-dominated Coalition for Bulgaria have proposed an emergency meeting of SNM, MRF, the United Democratic Forces and themselves later on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest, to discuss and adopt what they described as "a nationally responsible position of Parliament and the Government".
Coalition for Bulgaria deputy floor leader Ljuben Kornezov said also they have suggested that the Prime Minister should come to Parliament on September 27 "to shed more light on the government's initiative for Unit 3 and 4".
The socialists believe that the position of the European Affairs Minister and the Energy Minister for shutting down the two units is not nationally-responsible and does not comply with the national interests. "By approving the national energy strategy, Parliament mandated the Government to hold consultations with the European Commission, but not to sign any agreements on a date for the decommissioning of Unit 3 and 4," Kornezov said.
VMRO, one of the strongest Kozloduy advocate in Parliament, described the idea for an early closure of Unit 3 and 4 as "a blow on Bulgarian national interests".
VMRO was one of the parties that organized a campaign in April collecting signatures against the decomissioning of the two reactors.
They also called the recent decisions of the Government on Kozloduy "a national treason for which Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and his ministers should be held legally liable". VMRO goes on to call on "Bulgarian citizens not to remain inactive observers of the demise of the national energy industry and, if necessary, use the power of protest to make the power-holders act as the national interests require".
MUNICIPALITIES - CONFERENCE.
BTA
Mayors of 110 Municipalities, Regional Governors, Businessmen Attend Conference on "Municipalities in Support of Business"
Sofia, September 25 (BTA) - Mayors of 110 municipalities, regional governors and private business officials attend a conference on "Municipalities in Support of Business" organized here by the United Nations Development Programmes project Job Opportunities through Business Support, JOBS.
JOBS is executed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy with the support of the UNDP.
The JOBS project demonstrates a replicable model for stimulation and creation of micro and small enterprises. The project is implemented in 24 communities throughout Bulgaria. The JOBS project has created a sustainable network of 24 business centers, including 11 business incubators and 3 business information venters that provide services to businesses in order to help them grow, e.g. business plan development, market information, financial consultations and access to the Internet.
JOBS offers starting businessmen a financial leasing scheme with funds adding up to 3.7 million leva, Project Director Hanna Ruszczyk explained. Each business centre manages a resource of 160,000 leva. The maximum amount of the leased funds is 22,000 leva. The conditions for applicants for this instrument are to create new jobs and to engage in a business activity on the territory of the business centre.
Labour and Social Policy Minister Lydia Shouleva says that nearly 3,800 new jobs have so far been opened thanks to JOBS and 5,622 firms sought consultations in the JOBS business centres. These included companies in the wood-working industry, apparel-making, bakeries and small farms. Another ten JOBS business centres will be opened next year, Shouleva said.
The agenda of the conference includes topics such as The Municipal Policy in Attracting Business, How to Meet a Business Delegation, The Businessmans Info Desk, Business Centers in Support of the Private Sector, among others.
IMF MISSION-FINAL NEWS CONFERENCE.
BTA
Pensions to Rise 6.2%, State-Financed Sector to See Two 3.5% Pay Rises in 2003.
Sofia, September 25 (BTA) - The government is planning to increase pensions by 6.2 per cent from June 1, 2003, and wages in the state-financed sector by 3.5 per cent in January and July each. Agreement to this effect was reached by Finance Minister Milen Velchev and IMF Mission Leader for Bulgaria Jerald Schiff during the latest IMF visit to Sofia.
Velchev said on Wednesday that the pay rise for 2003 was set at 7 per cent instead of 9 per cent as was announced earlier due to lower inflation than initially projected for 2003.
The macroeconomic framework for 2003 projects GDP growth at 4.8 per cent, average annual inflation at 3.5 per cent, end-year inflation at 4 per cent, and a current account deficit of 5.4 per cent. The budget deficit is projected at 0.7 per cent of GDP, Velchev told the final news conference.
The government and the IMF differ on the expected revenues from VAT and social insurance contributions in 2003. As to the expenditure side, the IMF projects larger subsidies on account of the delayed health sector reform. The debate on these points will continue in Washington on Saturday, when Velchev will attend the IMF/World Bank Annual Meeting.
STABILITY PACT-DANUBE BRIDGE.
BTA
Sofia, September 25 (BTA) - Stability Pact Special Coordinator Erhard Busek hopes that the construction of Danube Bridge 2 between Bulgaria and Romania will start in 2003.
He met with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy on Wednesday and praised the results of the foreign ministerial of Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia in Vidin on Tuesday.
He also said that a memorandum will be signed in Athens in mid-November whereby the countries in the region will join the EU energy market.
The Stability Pact Special Coordinator believes that the recent decisions of the Bulgarian government concerning the atomic energy industry, are very important. He said that he is supportive of the idea to turn Bulgaria into a regional energy centre in the Balkans and said that this issue, too, will be reflected in the Athens memorandum.
BTC-DEAL.
BTA
Covernment Has Backup Option in Case BTC Deal Fails.
Sofia, September 25 (BTA) - The government has a backup option in case the sale of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) fails, Transport and Communications Minister Plamen Petrov said.
This is a working scheme under which the EBRD and the International Finance Corporation, part of World Bank Group, will put up a loan ranging between 100 and 200 million euros, which will be used "for the company's aggressive development".
"I hoped the bidders would offer between 50 and 80 per cent higher prices," Petrov said. It should be taken into account that the company does not have a large debt and has not granted a large number of licences, which puts it at an advantage over other operators. "I find the bids slightly disappointing," he said.
September 24 was the deadline for submission of final bids for a 65 per cent stake in BTC. A Turkish consortium between Koc Bilgi Grubu Iletisim Ve Teknoloji Hizmetleri and Turk Telekomunikasyon bid 235 million euros. The Vienna-registered Viva Ventures Holding GmbH offered 250 million euros.
Both bidders promise to invest 400 million euros over five years.
A few hours after the bids were opened, Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Vassilev expressed satisfaction. "I am pleased, each bidder offered approximately 650 million euros in foreign investment," Vassilev said.
BULGARIA - PORTUGAL - PRESIDENT.
BTA
Portuguese President Sampaio Arrives on State Visit to Bulgaria.
Sofia, September 25 (BTA) - Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio arrived Wednesday on a two-day state visit to Bulgaria. He is accompanied by a large delegation and First Lady Maria Jose Rita.
At the Sofia Airport the Portuguese President was welcomed by Foreign Minister Solomon Passy.
The Portuguese guest will hold a tete-a-tete meeting with Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov on Thursday and confer with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha at a working lunch.
The Portuguese delegation and their Bulgarian hosts will sign a governmental agreement on employment of the other country's nationals.
The Portuguese Head of State will meet leaders of the opposition political forces in Parliament.
The relations between Bulgaria and Portugal are of critical importance.
Portugal is one of the countries who support Bulgaria towards membership in the EU and NATO, Passy told reporters. He said that the agenda of the visit of the Portuguese guests includes a discussion of Bulgaria's candidacy to be elected chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Passy recalled that the current chair of OSCE is Portugal and that Bulgaria's bid for the post will be decided at a meeting in Lisbon in early December.
Passy also said that revitalizing economic ties between the two countries is of primary importance.
1 000 Levs Penalty for a Slap in The Family.
Standartnews
Ralitsa Krusteva
Family violence is to be considered a crime according to a new bill.
Fines from 200 to 1000 levs will pay the violators in family, envisages a new bill of act against family violence worked out by foundations "Animus" and "Bulgarian Gender Research". The draft act will be tabled for voting in the cabinet till end-year. The new bill refers not only to physical violence but to psychic terror as well. For in many cases the psychic terror follow-ups are fatal and health damaging. The new bill provides over 24 hours detention for the violators and ban on home access.
The Mob Is after Stephen Segal Even in Sofia.
Standartnews
Georgi P. Dimitrov
The action star cannot hit it off with the Gambino family.
Stephen Segal who arrived in Sofia on Sunday is in big trouble with the Mob. He has been chased and racketeered for $60 mill. by the Gambino family, some Western newspapers assert. According to the rumours the action hero has come to Bulgaria to seek shelter from his blackmailers. He has two bodyguards and three dark Mercedeses follow him everywhere he goes around Sofia. What happened that Stephen Segal got into trouble? This is because of his Buddhistic faith, "New York Post", elucidated. His Buddhistic guru advised him not to hold weapons in his films any more so Segal had to break the contract with the producer he had worked for 15 years. The two had signed a contract for 4 films and now Segal's producer wants $60 mill. default. Segal refused to pay the money. The producer got enraged, he contacted one of the most powerful mob families - Gambino and the gangsters dashed after the star.
