The European statisticians assessed that the Census of population, households and buildings in Macedonia, which was held from November 1 to 15, was carried out excellently.

"I congratulate to the Statistics Bureau and the State Census Commission, to the Highly Expert Group and the monitors for the successful work," Director of the European Statistics Organization (EUROSTAT) Photis Nanopolous told the press conference.

He reiterated that there was no information about any incidents in the reports of the Highly Expert Team, while the minor omissions would not significantly affect the final results.

Nanopolous said that the foreign observers would stay in the country until the final results are announced in June 2004.

The post-census research should reveal the volume and the type of omissions and the coverage of the population with the census.

The census material will be distributed to the Statistics Bureau where the data will be processed in order to examine their validity.

The initial results such as the number of population, households and buildings are expected in January 2003, while the main results will be obtained in September 2003.

Considering that fact that some regions of the cities were not registered, Nanopolous said that this was normal as there were many illegally built buildings in the country. "In that case the State Census Commission should send teams on the ground or the persons should register in the regional or State Census Commission," he said.

International monitoring mission to Macedonia is comprised of seven top European statisticians and 50 monitors on the ground. The mission was established upon the Memorandum of Understanding signed among the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the Macedonian Government.

The post-census activities have not begun in Zajas - Kicevo area, Otlja - Kumanovo area and part of Studenicani village in Skopje area, spokesperson of the Statistics Bureau and the State Census Commission Tatjana Mitevska announced.

"The Statistics Bureau and the Census Commission make maximum efforts to start the post-census activities in these villages," Mitevska said.

Similar difficulties are registered in Gostivar and part of Cair municipality in Skopje.

The post-census research is carried out in order to review the census's successfulness and to assess the quality of data obtained during the largest statistical operation in the country.

Considering the Census 2002, the international monitoring mission also registered significant progress in this statistical operation, and the general assessment is that the census was conveyed in peaceful atmosphere, without any major incidents or problems.

Chairman of the International Census Monitoring Mission Hallgrimur Snorrason from Iceland told the press conference Sunday that it was too early to draw final conclusions, because the census ended two days ago. He underlined that post-census research would be carried out over the next few days, which would provide useful information on the volume and the quality of obtained census data.

According to Snorrason, the conditions were more favorable than during the census in 1994 and the public showed more interest.

"However, several incidents and irregularities were registered such as the problem with identification papers, the hesitation how to deal with these problems and the doubts of the public whether to register the persons living abroad," Snorrason said.

The other difficulties were local, mainly referring to the deployment of enumerators regarding the nationality and the language and the right of every citizen to be registered in a language of his choice.

"These factors complicated the registration, but did not have negative impact on collected data," he said.

Assessing that certain groups did not influence the census in the major part of the country, Snorrason said that there was a tendency to register the persons that were living abroad for more than 12 months.

"They might have affected the registration in some municipalities, but it is less likable that they would affect the census results in the entire country," he concluded.

The international monitoring mission included 50 experts from 26 European countries, which were organized in nine teams and deployed in several regions throughout the country.

The counting will follow the monitoring of the post-census research, which began Sunday. The final report from the groundwork of the international monitoring mission should be completed in January 2003.

The largest statistical operation in Macedonia - "Census of Population, Households and Apartments 2002" - carried out in the last 15 days, was completed on Friday.

"According to the reports from the enumerated regions, the census is proceeding by the specified dynamics and citizens response is great. The post-census research will be carried out from November 15 to 22. Its task is to evaluate census' successfulness, collected data quality and census statistic units range," State Statistic Bureau Spokesperson Tatjana Mitevska said.

This post-census research includes 80 census districts randomly selected.

"Cases when people or properties were enumerated by copies or other kind of documents will be checked for regularity and than taken into consideration," Mitevska said.

The census was carried out in 39 regions and 7,712 census rounds, encompassing 50 - 100 households each. Total of 120 state instructors, 778 regional instructors and 9,012 census enumerators have been engaged.

The persons that were not registered until November 15, can check in the regional census commission or the Statistics Bureau between November 16-20.

The first results of the census will be announced in January 2003.

This year's census is the third after Macedonia's independence. The first two were in 1991 and 1994.

 

 

Reuters
By John Chalmers

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - France blocked plans for an extension of NATO's military presence in Macedonia for a second day on Tuesday, insisting that a door must be left open for the European Union to take over the mission if it is ready.

Diplomats said ambassadors of the 19-nation alliance failed to reach an agreement during a meeting in Brussels that went late into the evening on Monday and were no more successful when they reconvened twice on Tuesday.

They said a fourth session of the North Atlantic Council was set for Wednesday morning to break the deadlock in time for NATO's summit in Prague at the end of this week.

"Positions are closer but the saga goes on," said one diplomat, who asked not to be named. "We continue tomorrow."

NATO's 700-strong Task Force Fox was deployed in Macedonia last year to protect international monitors observing the return of government forces and displaced people to areas controlled by ethnic Albanian guerrillas during a bitter insurgency.

The EU had hoped to take over the mission when NATO's mandate ends on December 15, marking a peacekeeping debut for the fledgling Rapid Reaction Force.

But Britain and other EU nations have insisted that the bloc must first reach an agreement with NATO on assuring access to alliance planning and assets to help the EU force's operations.

The pact, known in jargon as "Berlin plus," has been held up for two years by a stand-off between EU member Greece and Turkey, a NATO ally but a distant candidate for EU accession.

WRANGLING OVER HOW LONG.

France withdrew from NATO's integrated military structure in 1966 and has sought to build a European defense capability in the EU able to operate independently of the U.S.-led alliance.

A French diplomat said Paris was not opposed in principle to NATO rolling over its mission in Macedonia after December 15, but not for more than two months and certainly not for the six months mooted by the United States.

"In the details (of a new NATO mandate) we want a clear-cut prospect for the EU," he said.

France also wants any new mandate for NATO to be delinked from other alliance missions in former Yugoslavia -- especially the backup operations in Macedonia for peacekeeping forces in neighboring Kosovo -- to make an EU takeover easier.

German Defense Minister Peter Struck told reporters in Brussels that France's demand for a review of NATO's mission in January was much too early.

"At that time the difficulties on the EU side will probably not be cleared," he said. "We expect an extension of the mandate for a maximum of six months." Asked if a force would still be needed by mid-2003, he said: "I expect half a year for Task Force Fox. Then it's finished."

Macedonia has by far the smallest NATO peacekeeping force in the Balkans. But the mission still has more than twice as many people as the U.N. will have to comb through Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction.

The troops have never been involved in any shooting: teams usually arrive after violent incidents, which are now isolated, to assess the situation and determine its origins.

Macedonia wants NATO to stay. The presence of its vehicles patrolling former crisis zones gives confidence to the people, especially the minority Albanians.

A new report by the International Crisis Group also says the force is essential and should stay for another six months.

 

SKOPJE, Macedonia - Western envoys to Macedonia on Tuesday warned the struggling Balkan country's leadership to cooperate fully with the U.N. war crimes tribunal or face serious consequences.

 

The European Union envoy, Alexis Brouhns, U.S. Ambassador to Skopje, Lawrence Butler, NATO's Ambassador Nicolaas Biegmann and Craig Jenness from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged Macedonia to allow U.N. tribunal investigators "full jurisdiction" in five suspected cases of war crimes committed in last year's ethnic conflict.

In a joint letter, the four Western representatives warned that "full compliance with the (U.N. war crimes) tribunal is an obligation under international law."

Failure to do so could have "serious implications," the letter stated, referring to Skopje's failure to react to a U.N. tribunal decision from a month and a half ago to take over jurisdiction in the cases.

The letter threatened to report Macedonia to U.N. Security Council should it not comply with the tribunal.

Last year, ethnic Albanian insurgents rebelled against Macedonian authorities in a conflict that brought this former Yugoslav republic to the brink of civil war. The conflict claimed 75 lives, injured hundreds and led to the displacement of tens of thousands.

A Western-brokered peace deal ended the conflict in August 2001 by granting greater rights to the ethnic Albanian minority, which makes up a third of the country's 2 million people.

In September, Macedonia held early parliamentary elections as part of the peace plan and a moderate, ethnic power-sharing government has since been installed.

Of the five suspected war crimes cases, four involved the killing of Macedonian troops or the abduction and torture of Macedonian civilians. The fifth case involves allegations that the Macedonian army killed 10 ethnic Albanians during a siege of an ethnic Albanian village.

Macedonian authorities initially welcomed the U.N. court taking over the cases, but have recently failed to hand the cases over to U.N. investigators.

 

 

In 1893 the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade was set up by a Prince's decree.

 

In 1944 the town of Pristina (Kosovo) was liberated by Bulgarian army in the WWII.

 

In 1962 Todor Zhivkov was elected the PM.

 

 

There are some possibilities for paying Christmas pensions. We are to know for sure in several days, Finance Minister Milen Velchev said emerging from the yesterday's sitting of the cabinet on the budget '2002. He, however, declined to elaborate on the chances to allot Christmas wages in the public sector.

 

 

Upcoming Activities in Defence Field Following Possible Invitation to Bulgaria for NATO Membership at Prague Summit.

Sofia, November 19 (BTA) - The implementation of the third stage of the reform in the Bulgarian army will begin as of January 2003. General Nikola Kolev, Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, said this taking a BTA question on what is to be done in the defence area following the possible extending of an invitation to Bulgaria to join NATO at the upcoming Summit in Prague.

Within the third stage the following year Second Army Corps will be transformed into an Operational Forces Command. First and third army corps will be restructured into east and west reserve commands, respectively. Structural changes will be carried out also in the Air Force and the Navy. These changes, envisaged in the updated reform plan, by end-2004 the peacetime army strength will reach 45,000 and the wartime strength, 100,000.

The main armament and equipment systems will be considerably curtailed. In 2004 tanks will number 560, armoured combat vehicles - 1,230, artillery pieces - 762, plains and helicopters - 172 and ships - 62. The number of units, barracks and garrisons will be reduced down to 181.

The modernization of the army will continue, General Kolev noted. The building of a Filed Communication and Information System and Operational Centre for Air Sovereignty as well as the upgrading of the MiG-209 planes and the Graf Ignatievo airport will go on.

Projects on upgrading of armament are to be realized by 2008 after which a phased rearmament in line with the new NATO requirements will be carried out by 2015.

Asked about Bulgaria's annual financial commitment stemming from NATO membership, General Kolev replied that quotas for mutual financing of NATO will be negotiated within the accession talks (in the December 2002 - March 2003 period).

The future members will participate with agreed quotas in the funding of the new NATO HQ that is to be completed by 2008-2010. The quotas are set by the NATO Civil Budget Committee depending on the potentials of each country and its gross domestic product. The three most recently admitted countries accepted the proposed quotas which made the conducting of negotiations on this issue unnecessary.

Bulgaria is likely to be among the country's with lowest contribution the NATO budget, said Kolev referring to experts. Currently, Hungary makes the lowest contribution accounting for 0.65 per cent or the equivalent of 7.43 million euro. The budget is divided into categories: civil, military and infrastructure. For example, Hungary's budget contribution is distributed as follows: 11.71 per cent of the civil budget, 43.47 for the military and 44.82 per cent for the infrastructure budget.

According to the prevailing practice, the civil budget contributions are made by the Interior Ministry and the remaining ones by the Ministry of Defence. The civil budget is handled and monitored by the Civil Budget Committee. It covers current expenses of the International Secretariat with the Chief Headquarters, the implementation of the approved non-military programmes and activities, construction, building use and maintenance, costs on administrative and technical personnel, etc. The first civil budget contributions will be made after the formal accession but not earlier than April-May 2004.

The military budget covers current and maintenance expenses as well as capital expenditures. The Military Committee, the International Military Secretariat and the related agencies, the two strategic commands and the related command, control and information systems are also financed under this budget.

The Alliance investment programme for financing the construction of buildings and facilities used for the implementation of tasks of the NATO strategic command are funded under the infrastructure budget. The investments are aimed at financing airports, ports and other facilities when it is established that they are beyond the needs of the national defence of the separate member-countries. Apart from the common financing, the separate countries should provide support for their missions (the military delegation to the HQ), the military
representations to NATO commands and officers holding international positions.

Given Hungary's experience and the likely reduction of the countries' shares following the enlargement, Bulgaria's annual contribution is expected at 5-6 million euro. However, all these parameters are still to be specified during the December 2002 - March 2003 negotiations, General Kolev stated.

 

 

Istanbul, November 19 (BTA exclusive by Nahide Deniz) - A recommendation to invite Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to NATO membership at the Prague Summit is available in a declaration adopted by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday.

With the adoption of this Declaration on NATO Transformation, the 48th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul came to a close.

Two provisions in the declaration, on NATO's transformation and the promotion of the transatlantic relationship, are related to the organization's enlargement. According to the document, NATO should be transformed in order to be able to fight successfully against current threats and challenges and to concentrate on new key opportunities which will allow it to perform its tasks better.

NATO's enlargement is central to the transformation of the Alliance; the admission of new members will strengthen NATO and will increase security, the declaration says.

"At its meeting in Sofia in May 2002, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly called for a broad and regionally balanced enlargement and recognized that Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have proved their progress towards NATO membership through successful programmes of reform at home and their contributions to NATO operations in the Balkans," the Istanbul declaration reads.

"Therefore, on the understanding that the reform processes in these countries will be vigorously pursued, the Assembly recommends that invitations be issued to these seven countries at the Prague Summit."

According to the document, NATO should continue its peacekeeping operation in Macedonia and should support Albania, Croatia and Macedonia in their drive to reach NATO standards.

NATO should now endorse defence against the threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction as a priority for the Allies, the declaration says. It notes the need to strengthen the NATO forces in Europe. If the EU wants to conduct military operations without NATO, it should make efforts to overcome current misunderstandings, the declaration says.

NATO should deepen its relationship with Russia, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will work to this end by further promoting its cooperation with the Russian Federal Assembly, the declaration says.

A special section on Iraq urges national governments and parliaments to support the UN Security Council resolution on the return of arms inspectors to Iraq and warns that the country may face serious consequences if it continues to disregard relevant resolutions.

US Congressman Doug Bereuter was elected President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He told a subsequent news conference that the provision in the declaration which refers to the invitation of new members is a recommendation.

The accession of seven countries to NATO will feature on the agenda of the Prague Summit, Bereuter said. He said that, although NATO is yet to make the final decision on its enlargement, he does not expect any changes of opinion until the Prague Summit. The process of NATO enlargement will continue, he said.

 

 

Bulgaria is part of the West and has a strong future, General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.), former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said emerging from a working breakfast with businessmen at the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. General Clark is in Bulgaria for the press-launch of the Bulgarian translation of his memoirs "Waging Modern War." The successful cabinets have shown that they can develop Bulgaria politically and economically. One way to strengthen Bulgaria is to make it part of NATO, General Clark said in response to a question about the upcoming NATO Summit in Prague. According to him, every member of the Alliance is important as in the modern world no country can defend itself on its own. General Clark said he hoped Bulgaria would not be faced with any challenges but if it is it will need strong allies. Taking a question, General Clark said that Bulgaria should continue with the reform in its armed forces and legislation and its progress to Western standards.

During the war against Milosevic we arrived in Bulgaria and said: "We need overflight right." I'll be grateful to Bulgarian people all my life for their support during the conflict. I called my friend Boyko Noev late at night and said: "Please, do not give overflight rights to Russia." Asked about Iraq, General Clark said that the choice is in the hands of Saddam Hussein. There will be no war if he implements the Resolution of the UN Security Council. Otherwise there will be a war or a possible revolution for his ousting, General Clark said. In response to a question about possible Bulgarian involvement in Iraq, General Clark said that along with many other countries Bulgaria will be given a chance to assist in the enforcement of international law. General Clark said he would encourage Bulgaria if it is given a chance to join the other countries. Asked whether there are problems like corruption to be solved in the process of ratification of Bulgaria's membership in NATO, General Clark said corruption is a problem that exists everywhere in the world and expressed his belief that Bulgaria will be able to build a judicial system guaranteeing fair business competition and attracting foreign investment.

 

 

Sofia, November 19 (BTA) - A two-day international conference on oil and gas transit and supplies opens November 26, the Bulgarian Industrial Association press centre told BTA. The forum will discuss the government policy in the development of the sector in Central and Eastern Europe and in the Balkans.

The conference will hear reports on the regional strategies for the sector's development by experts from the ministries of the economy, transport and energy of Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. The participants will discuss the trends in oil and gas supplies via strategic regions.

The conference will be opened by Economy Minister Nikolai Vassilev. Invitations for participation have been extended to Deputy Finance Minister and Bulgargaz Board of Directors Chairman Gati-al Djebouri and Deputy Economy Minister Nikola Yankov.

Also participating in the forum will be the heads oil and gas companies Gasprom, Transneft, TNK, Ukos, Bulgargaz, AMBO, Transgaz, JANAF, BOTAS, BOTAS, PLINARCO, Harrison Solicitors, Platts Energy Grup, MOL, SPP, Nafta Polska, DONG, UKRTRANSNAFTA, UKRTRANSGAZ, the Oil and Gas Company for the Balkans and the Black Sea.

 

 

 

Foreign Minister Passy, EU Commissioner Patten Discuss Situation in SE Europe.

Brussels, November 19 (BTA) - Meeting in Brussels, Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and EU Commissioner on External Relations Christopher Patten discussed current international problems, focusing on the situation in Southeastern Europe, said the Foreign Ministry's Information and PR Directorate.

The two noted the considerable progress that has been made in the stabilization of the Balkans and significance of the clear prospects for EU enlargement in this respect.

Passy and Patten agreed that attention should remain focused on this part of the continent as the absence of open conflicts does not mean a lasting solution to the problems has been found, reads the Foreign Ministry press release.

The EU must, and plans to, remain actively present and committed to these countries, and the stabilization and association process plays a central role in this effort, the Foreign Ministry quotes Patten as saying.

The EU Commissioner assessed highly Bulgaria's regional policy, adding that its cooperation with Romania, Greece and Turkey should serve as a stability actor and as an example to the other Southeast European countries and a stability factor.

Patten stressed the importance of building an adequate infrastructure, in the border regions in particular, linking the countries with one another and the region with the rest of Europe.

Passy and Patten hailed the UN Security Council's Resolution 1441 on Iraq, which gives grounds for a peaceful solution to the problem.

The two voiced hope that Iraq will hear the calls of the international community and will fulfil its obligations in compliance with the Resolution.

 

 

 

President Purvanov: "Energy Chapter Accord Practically Seals Fate of Kozloduy Units 3, 4."

Sofia, November 19 (BTA) - According to President Georgi Purvanov, the agreement reached on the Energy chapter is practically sealing the fate of Units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. "Under this agreement, Bulgaria will have to close the two reactors in 2006, i.e. before EU membership and with unclear compensations," says a press release circulated by the President's Press Secretariat Tuesday evening.

At a meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels on Monday, Bulgaria and the EU Member States provisionally closed the Energy chapter, with The Fifteen agreeing to send a peer review to analyze the level of safety of the N-Plant's Units 3 and 4.

"The peer review is not envisaged to revise Bulgaria's commitment to the closure of Units 3 and 4 but to verify compliance with this commitment," according to the presidential Press Secretariat's press release. "Such peer reviews are also provided for Lithuania and Slovakia for the same purpose: to check whether these countries honour the commitments they have assumed to decommission their own nuclear reactors.

According to President Purvanov, people should clearly be told that that the assumption of a possible reopening of the chapter or scrapping the agreements when the National Assembly ratifies all chapters is "unworkable." "Then the dilemma will be 'either Units 3 and 4 or EU entry,' and a refusal by Parliament to ratify the Treaty of Accession will then be tantamount to blocking Bulgaria's EU membership," the head of state argues.

"The President expects the National Assembly to pronounce on the conformity between its October 2, 2002 resolution and the agreed position," the press release says.

"The ramifications of the commitments assumed have yet to be evaluated, but even now it could be said that the premature closure of Kozloduy Units 3 and 4 in 2006 will lead to direct economic losses from ungenerated electricity, indirect losses from the inevitable increase of electricity prices, shortage of sufficient funds raised for decommissioning of these units, and redundancy in the medium term of a large number of first-class nuclear specialists," the press release says.

In connection with the revived political and public debate, the President emphasizes that "the problems arising from the commitment assumed in the Energy chapter must by no means call into question Bulgaria's categorical European orientation, as well as the this country's targeting full EU membership not later than the beginning of 2007," the press release says.

 

 

Standartnews
Nevena Mircheva

The head of Bulgartabac replaced in 10 minutes. The tobacco holding reports profits for the 9-month period of 2002.

The general meeting of Bulgartabac lasted for less than 10 minutes yesterday. The shareholders voted unanimously Georgi Popov to be released as a member of the Board of Directors and Nikolay Mirchev to be appointed in his stead. Nikolay Mirchev has no experience whatsoever in the tobacco sector but he is skillful in financial strategies, it transpired from his autobiography. Bulgartabac reported profits for the 9-month period of 2002.

 

 

Deutsche Bank intends to extend the validity of its offer to buy Bulgartabac and keep the parameters unchanged, according to the Economy Ministry. This emerged at a working breakfast Monday between Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Nikolai Vassilev and Tessen von Heydebreck of the Deutsche Bank Management Board. Vassilev is on an official visit to Germany until November 21. Von Heydebreck reportedly said that he is optimistic about the outcome of the Bulgartabac procedure because the privatization process has been transparent and fair. He believes that business in the whole of Western Europe is following closely what happens with the Bulgarian tobacco holding. If the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) makes a negative decision on the deal, the whole privatization process in Bulgaria will be affected, according to him.

In late October, a three-member panel of SAC cancelled the Privatization Agency's choice of a buyer of Bulgartabac, a Deutsche Bank-supported consortium between the Sofia-based Tobacco Capital Partners and Clar Innis of the Netherlands. The Court said in its motives that favourable changes in the tobacco holding's financial indicators called for a better offer and the Privatization Agency had violated the Ordinance on Competitions by failing to demand a higher price. In response, the Privatization Agency petitioned a five-member SAC panel against the a decision of the three-member panel of the same court. Late on Sunday evening Nikolai Vassilev met with Bulgarian students in the Bulgarian commercial representation in Frankfurt. Asked by a student about Bulgartabac, Vassilev said that the possible failure of the deal will have catastrophic consequences for the country.

 

 

Terem Plant in Veliko Turnovo Fulfils Tasks for Missile Destruction.

Veliko Turnovo, North Central Bulgaria, November 19 (BTA) - The fuel of the last engine of Bulgaria's FROG rocket system was incinerated at the Veliko Turnovo branch of the Terem company at 10.15am local time November 19. The tasks envisaged in the contract with US-based Controlled Demolition Inc. on demilitarization and elimination of charge-free components of Bulgaria's SS-23 and Scud missiles and FROG rockets were thus fulfilled, BTA learned from the management of the Ivailo military repair plant.

The first line of army vehicles carrying charge-free missile components arrived in Veliko Turnovo on August 9. A total of 1,500 missile components were subsequently destroyed in a non-stop process which lasted about 90 days. The components were destroyed by mechanical and thermal methods at eleven sites in the plant. The process was documented by monitoring staff from the US company.

Four workers were injured in an incident during the dismantling of a Scud engine October 16, but their lives were out of danger. An inquiry commission was put together by order of the Defence Minister. It did not identify any breach of work discipline, but it recommended enhanced measures of safety.

Protesting residents of Belyakovets blocked the road to the military practice range near their village, following media reports about planned trial incineration of FROG engine fuel. By order of the CEO of Terem-Veliko Turnovo, over 600 kg of FROG engine gunpowder was incinerated on the plant's grounds. A mobile laboratory of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters found that all environmental parameters were within the safe levels.

The protests led to the convention of an extraordinary Municipal Council meeting. The Council declared that it opposes the incineration of missile fuel on the municipality's territory. A blockade followed on an international road section between Rousse and Stara Zagora, near Veliko Turnovo.

The protests came to an end after the Presidential Administration and the Defence Ministry said that missile fuel will not be destroyed at the military practice range near Belyakovets.

 

 

Bulgarian Parliament Speaker: Bulgaria Is Happy to Be Considered by EU Institutions Inseparable Part of Enlargement.

Strasbourg, November 19 (BTA) - National Assembly Chairman Ognyan Gerdjikov said Bulgaria is happy to be considered, along with Romania, as an inseparable part of the irreversible process of EU enlargement by the EU institutions.

Gerdjikov was speaking to the European Parliament here Tuesday in his capacity as leader of a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation participating in the debate on EU enlargement in the European Parliament, said the press office of the Bulgarian Parliament.

Bulgaria hopes to get at the Copenhagen European Council an updated roadmap setting 2003 as the target date for closing the negotiations and 2007 for accession, and committing enhanced financial assistance, said Gerdjikov.

According to him, Bulgaria relies on the support of the European Parliament for a fast and fair decision about the future of the Bulgarian nuclear energy sector through a peer review under a mandate of the Council of the European Union.

In a bilateral meeting with Gerdjikov, European Parliament President Pat Cox said that there can't be new conditions for Bulgaria's admission to the EU. The most important thing for the country is consistency in the positions and actions, he said adding that his November 11-12 visit to Bulgaria left him with a perfect impression.

Gerdjikov praised highly Cox's idea to invite members from the national Parliaments of the accession states to take part in the general debate on enlargement.

Meeting with Hans-Gert Poettering, the chairman of the faction of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, Gerdjikov said that the Simeon II National Movement (SNM) is guided by the values of the democratic parties in the European Parliament, that it belongs in the EPP ranks and hopes to become a member very soon. Poettering's reply was that time works in favour of the admission of SNM as a EPP member.

 

 

You should not ascribe the achievements of hundreds of IM colleagues to me, IM Chief Secretary Gen. Borissov insisted.

Polling agencies should write me off their credit rating studies, IM Chief Secretary Gen. Borissov insisted at a meeting with employees of the NPOC, MBMD, Alpha Research and Gallup polling agencies. Crime combat is a collective work and I'm only in command of the hundreds IM employees, the General said further.

 

Internet Store Sells Over $100,000 Worth of Bulgarian Wine.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2002--Vance Petrunoff is living a dream. It just took six years for his dream to become reality. This year, his Bulgarian Master Vintners Internet store, WineImport.com, has sold over $100,000 dollars of VINI wine, making VINI the best selling Internet wine brand. Sales are up 107% over last year, and with the holiday season still to come; the sky is the limit.

Six years ago, Vance Petrunoff established Bulgarian Master Vintners, a California wine import company working with selected wineries in his Southern Bulgaria homeland. The region is renowned for its fertile soils, Mediterranean climate, and long history of premium grape growing. Petrunoff was able to establish trust with a few leading Bulgarian wineries including VINI. "It was like having Robert Mondavi let you pick through his best barrels to make blends," said Petrunoff. "We were able to import some of the finest Bulgarian wines ever made."

But no one cared. Petrunoff's wonderful Bulgarian wines could not get distribution, and they couldn't get reviews from the wine press. Consumers who were focused on acquiring highly publicized, rare, expensive wines had no interest in delicious wines from an Eastern European country selling for under $8.00.

By February of 2001, Petrunoff was ready to throw in the towel. Then he tasted the 2000 vintage. "It was the greatest vintage of the past decade, and the wines were the best I had ever tasted from Bulgaria," said Petrunoff. "I bought the wines on the spot, returned home to California, and opened my Internet store, because I had no other way to sell the wines."

This year customers are looking for value, and Petrunoff's VINI wines provide great value. He has a Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon from the great 2000 vintage. Customers have to buy by the case, but they can mix and match the two varietals. The price is $84.00 PER CASE! and that includes tax and delivery anywhere in California. Petrunoff's customers recognize a good deal. More than 20% are repeat buyers.

Vance Petrunoff and his Bulgarian Master Vintners are on a roll. He is finally being compensated for his patience and persistence. Building on the success of his Internet store, Petrunoff has begun distributing his wines throughout the Bay area. VINI wines are available in more than 70 Bay Area stores from Sacramento to Monterey. You can find them at Pacifica Farmers Market in Pacifica, Giovanni's Produce Grocery in El Cerrito, Eight-Twenty-Eight Irving Market in San Francisco, and Bruno's Grocery Co. in San Rafael. Says Bruno Morra, owner of Bruno's Grocery, "Very fast moving for a new brand. The wine's great. The price is right. The customers know what they're doing."

Petrunoff is looking to add several new brands from the great 2000 vintage in the coming months. But for now, customers may order the VINI at his web site WineImport.com. Distributors are beginning to take notice. Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee are already selling VINI wines. Several other states are ready to do so.

Not content to simply sell wine, Vance also publishes Vintners.com, one of the top 3 wine business web sites on the Internet, and he is working to extend his sales with prospective partnerships with larger Internet sites.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact:
     Bulgarian Master Vintners, LLC
     Vance Petrunoff, 707/938-9029
     bmv@WineImport.com
     http://www.WineImport.com
     http://www.Vintners.com

 

 

Standartnews
Galina Stephanova

The school in the rebellious village of Egrek to open doors.

A jewel firm promised to entirely foot the bill of the school in the rebellious village of Egrek, the mayor Boyan Boyadziev said yesterday. Last week local people attacked the borderline with tractors and pitched a tent camp some 200 meters from the border with Greece, protesting against the closure of the village school. The director of "Velmer" company Maria Ivanova committed herself to ensure the financial aid. The peasants, in their turn, promised to supply firewood for the pupils and to voluntarily repair the school building next spring.