November 7 in History.
Standartnews
In 1866 the first railway line Rousse-Varna was put into operation. This day is considered to be the beginning of the railway transport in Bulgaria.
In 1885 after the battles at Tri Ushi and Gurgulyat in the Serbo-Bulgarian war, the Bulgarian troops forced the Serb army to make a retreat.
In 1912 the Bulgarian mine-layer "Drazki" torpedoed Turkish cruiser Hamidie in the Balkan Wars.
In 1946 the 6 Grand National Assembly was convened.
KOZLODUY N-PLANT - EU - SAFETY CIRETRIA.
BTA
Safety Criteria for EU Nuclear Reactors, Discussed in EC, Same as Those Used In Assessment of Kozloduy N-Plant.
Sofia, November 7 (BTA) - The common criteria for safety of nuclear reactors in EU member states submitted for discussion in the European Commission are the same as the ones used in the assessment of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, Spokesperson of EC Vice President and Energy and Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, Gilles Gantelet said, interviewed by Darik Radio.
Asked if the International Atomic Energy Agency standards underpin the new document, the EC official said the idea is not to develop new criteria but to include the existing ones in the EU common legislation, thereby making them compulsory. "The aim is not to work out new criteria for Bulgaria but to apply the same criteria as those for Bulgaria in all other countries," Gantelet said.
"Our main idea is to set requirements to the applicant states; however, it would have been absurd to set such high criteria for the EU candidates without demanding the same from the member states," Gantelet said. "We want the attitude to all countries to be fair and equal and the attitude to France and Britain to be the same as towards Bulgaria," Palacio's Spokesperson said.
"It is a matter of fairness that these rules are applied for all existing and future members, as well as the newcomers after January 1, 2004," he said. Gantelet said that the experts who will conduct the checks of the nuclear reactors will be nominated by the EU member states. If the checks establish failure to meet all safety conditions, various legal instruments, including closing of the nuclear power station, could be used to oblige a country to meet its commitments.
Asked whether the approval of the new criteria could change the timeframe for the closure of power units three and four of the Kozloduy n-plant, Gantelet answered in the negative. "This is a different matter. We are now expecting the Bulgarian authorities to name a date which will be part of a future agreement. The date that will be finally decided about power units three and four of the Kozloduy n-plant must be met strictly," Gantelet said.
HEROIN-SEIZURE.
BTA
13.5 Kg of Heroin Caught at Bulgarian-Turkish Border.
Bourgas, on the Black Sea, November 7 (BTA) - A total of 13.5 kg of heroin were found Wednesday evening in a Renault car crossing into Bulgaria from Turkey by way of the Malko Turnovo border crossing, said the Interior Ministry Thursday.
The car has Gabrovo number plates. The driver, identified as 39-year-old Nedyo P., was arrested.
The heroin was in divided into 26 packs stashed in several secret compartments in the car. The bulk was in the spare tyre. The driver was also caught with 1,500 undeclared euros and 4,400 undeclared US dollars.
The case has been forwarded to the prosecuting authorities.
The spokesperson of the Bourgas customs administration confirmed the report. She said that this has been the third heroin seizure at Malko Turnovo this year.
GERMANY-BULGARIA-PRESIDENT.
BTA
Bulgarian President Meets with Thuringia Minister President.
Erfurt, November 7 (BTA special correspondent Iva Toncheva) - President Georgi Purvanov met Thursday with the Minister President of the German State of Thuringia Dr. Bernhard Vogel. Purvanov's trip to this Eastern German state is part of his state visit to Germany.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, the Bulgarian head of state said that it was a good opportunity to benefit from the experience of one of the young German states in reforming the economy, education and health care. He also said that the visit is a chance to advertise Bulgaria and to explore specific cooperation opportunities, among which he mentioned the optical, automotive, food and processing industries.
Purvanov also sees good opportunities for cooperation in culture. He hopes that the Days of Bulgarian Culture in Erfurt will grow into a strong tradition.
The two sides also noted the food regional cooperation, examples of which are the contacts between Erfurt and Lovech and between Gera and Sliven.
The President and the delegation accompanying him were taken on a short tour of Erfurt by the Thuringian State Minister of Science, Research and Art Dagmar Schipanski and Erfurt Mayor Manfred Ruge.
GERMANY-BULGARIA-ECONOMICS.
BTA
Daimler Chrysler Shows Interest in Buying Madara Shoumen, Chavdar Bus Maker.
Erfurt, November 7 (BTA special correspondent Iva Toncheva) - Daimler Chrysler is showing interest in the privatization of the truck-maker Madara Shoumen (Northeastern Bulgaria) and Chavdar, the bus maker.
This was stated in Tuesday's conversation in Berlin between President Georgi Purvanov, who is on a state visit to Germany, and Klaus Mangold, Chairman of the Committee for Eastern Europe of the German Economy and member of the Board of Management of Daimler Chrysler AG, the President's Foreign Policy Secretary Nikola Karadimov said.
The aim is to start bus manufacture for tourist purposes in Bulgaria.
The Committee for Eastern Europe of the German Economy supports another Daimler Chrysler project, for production of a new type of car engines in Varna.
Within eight weeks, Germany will provide a number of grants for Bulgarian students and interns, who can do a placement at the largest German companies.
Daimler Chrysler is interested in participating in the rearmament of the Bulgarian army according to NATO standards.
During his German visit, Purvanov is accompanied by a nearly 40-member business delegation, which held a number of meetings with German partners.
Georgi Chernev, Vice President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), told journalists that the project for cooperation between the Association of Balkan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry would be extended by three years. This is serious institutional support for the chambers of commerce and industry in the Balkans, Chernev said. An agreement is to be signed between the vocational training centre with BCCI and its German partner.
BULGARIA - ROMANIA - FERRY
BTA
Toutrakan, on the Danube, November 7 (BTA) - The joint-stock companies Toutrakan Ferry Complex of Bulgaria and Transnav of Tulcea, Romania, signed an executive cooperation agreement on the construction of a ferry facility to connect Toutrakan in Bulgaria and Oltenica, on the Romanian bank of the Danube, Toutrakan Mayor Krassimir Petrov said.
The signing of the agreement means that now there is a guarantee for the so-called mirror construction of the necessary facilities on the two banks of the river. The mirror construction will accelerate and facilitate the investment process, Petrov said.
The Toutrakan Mayor said that if bank loans are extended by the end of the year, construction will start next year.
The idea to build a ferry link between Toutrakan and Oltenica dates back to about ten years ago. There were a number of legal obstacles to realize it but most of them have already been solved.
NATIONAL BUDGET - PARLIAMENT - COMMITTEE.
BTA
2003 Personal Income Tax Revenue Projected at 1,047 Mln Leva, Two-Thirds Will Go to Municipalities.
Sofia, November 7 (BTA) - The 2003 proceeds from personal income tax are projected at 1,047 million leva; 697.8 million leva of the total will be allocated to municipalities, and the rest will flow into the central budget.
Deputy Finance Minister Kiril Ananiev broke the news during a presentation of the 2003 National Budget Bill to the National Assembly Committee on Budget and Finance.
Most of the MPs' questions were related to municipal budgeting.
Municipal government activities will be financed from two main sources: personal income tax and central subsidies, Ananiev said.
In-kind benefits to the central and municipal government administrations will be reduced by 80 per cent. In this respect, municipalities will not be treated differently from the central administration, he said.
The 130 million leva structural deficit on municipal budgets, recognized by the Finance Ministry, will be offset after the middle of the year by "buffer allocations."
Pazardjik Mayor Ivan Kolchakov presented the position of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria. He conveyed the Association's disapproval of the projected deficit. The deficit will be due to the fact that the government will not channel the entire revenue from personal income tax to municipalities, but only two-thirds of it, Kolchakov said.
In January 2003 the municipal budget deficit will top 10 per cent, which will stall fiscal decentralization at its very beginning, Kolchakov said.
According to Ananiev, municipalities are likely to start the year with settled debts. Outstanding municipal obligations, if any, will not exceed 20 million leva, which has never happened over the last few years, he said. In December 2000 municipal debts stood at 124 million leva, and in December 2001 at 181 million leva.
Municipal revenue in 2003 is projected at 522 million leva.
Finance Minister Milen Velchev said the national budget scheme conforms with the Government's medium-term strategy and will promote the development of the private sector. The most significant increase is planned for social protection spending: up by 22 per cent from 2002, Velchev said. He repeated that the budget scheme is "socially oriented."
The debate will continue next week.
Simeon Approves 9-Day Christmas Vacation.
Standartnews
Evgeny Genov
The cabinet loosened the strings of a Christmas gift-bag. We have days-off from December 21 to 26 and January 30 to 1.
All in all the Bulgarians will vacation for 9 days on Christmas and New Year's Eve, said yesterday Dimiter Tsonev, spokesman to the government. Six days-off we'll have for Christmas - from December 21 to 26, plus 3 days for the New Year. Non-workdays will be December 30, 31 and January 1. The cabinet will take the final decision today at the proposal of Lydia Shouleva, Minister of Labor and Social Policy. We have already loosened the strings of the Christmas gift-bag, joked ministers yesterday. Last year the vacation lasted 8 days.
Families to Ride Trains at Half Price.
Standartnews
Victoria Seraphimova
BDZ is offering 5 new train passes at a discount.
The families with two or more children under the age of 18 can travel by train at half price already. From yesterday the State Railways (BDZ) is offering for sale of 5 new kinds of train passes giving the right for 50-percent discount. The family pass costs 1 lev and is valid one year. The passes for disabled people are sold at 50-percent rebate. Children aged from 7 to 10 will also travel at 50-percent discount in the second class, if they buy a pass for 1 lev.
Bulgarians to Explore Ice Continent for 11th Time.
Standartnews
The first group of 6 Pole explorers left for the Livingstone Island, Antarctica. They are a part of the 11th Bulgarian Antarctic expedition. Along with the scientific research its members will overhaul the BG polar base "St. Clement of Ohrid". Head of the expedition is Assoc. Prof. Christo Pimpirev, who joined all previous voyages to the South Pole. Dr. Jovica Ugrinovska, neurosurgeon from Scopje University, will take care of good health of the expedition members. The whole expedition comprises 18 members and their comeback to Sofia is scheduled for March 14, 2003.
Sweet Shop for Turkish Delights to Be Restored.
Standartnews
Ivan Ivanov
Restoration of Samovodski Bazaar in Veliko Tarnovo is planned.
A sweet shop for Turkish delights, armory, goldsmith's and cooper's shops and clock repairs shop will be restored and become tourist attraction in the so-called Smovodski bazaar street in Veliko Tarnovo. At the moment the street is neglected and is crammed with parked vehicles, municipal authorities admitted. At the next sitting of the town's council, though, the authorities will vote for giving the bazaar to municipal association "Tsarevgrad Tarnov" Ltd., that will be entrusted with its maintenance and utilization. The association is planning to let the cars into the street only at certain hours, during the rest of the day it will be a tourist site. Apart from functioning stores they would like to open a new sweet shop and renew the manufacture of Turkish pie made of fine pastry threads with rich syrup. The bakery, which is idle nowadays, will open doors too and treat the town's guest to warm loaves of wheat bread.
