In Tetovo crisis region, during Wednesday night occurred frequent gunfire from different kind of infantry weapons, coming from the town area and from the neighboring villages area, reports MIA's correspondent.

 

Police sources say that since Wednesday night are registered series of burst of fire and occasional shootings from downtown, from the area of the demolished petrol station of "Makpetrol" on "Ivo Lola Ribar" street and the settlements "Ciglana" and "Drenovec 2." Shootings were heard form the area of Poroj, Neprosteno, Varvara, Prsovce, Mala Recica and Rasadiste villages, near the road of Tetovo - Popova Sapka, as well as from the directions of many other areas.

 

Sporadic gunshots from various types of weaponry were registered overnight in Kumanovo-Lipkovo region, reported MIA's correspondent.

 

It was fired from the direction of the villages of Opae, Nikustak, Vaksince and Ropaljce, but the shots had no determined targets.

 

The mixed police teams continue their patrolling across the Lipkovo villages, in accordance with the Plan and with no impediments.

 

The watchtower of the Macedonian Army "Straza" was attacked by an Albanian terrorist group on two occasions from the region of Ezerska Planina this afternoon, at the junction of the Macedonian, Serbian and Kosovo borders.

 

There were no injuries among the Macedonian border guards.

 

As stated by the Army Spokesman Colonel Blagoja Markovski, the first attack was carried out at 16,55h, while the second 40 minutes later.

 

"The Macedonian border guards responded to the attack, and the shootout lasted until 18,00h, when the terrorist group was forced to withdraw. There are neither injured border guards, nor material damages on the watchtower", Colonel Markovski stated.

 

There were gunshots from infantry weapons heard in Tetovo Wednesday evening.

 

According to police sources, several gunshots from the direction of city stadiums and settlements Ciglana and Drenovec 2 were registered around 21,30h.

 

There were also gunshots from villages Neprosteno, Varvara, Prsovce, Odri and Dobroste in the course of the afternoon.

 

 

Excerpt from the report "Patterns of Global Terrorism" presented by U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powel.

 

[excerpt start]

 

The 10 Vilnius Group countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) collectively and individually joined in condemning the September 11 attacks. These countries have actively supported the international Coalition against terrorism, offering military and diplomatic assistance and, in some cases, providing logistic support. They have undertaken numerous antiterrorism measures, ranging from strengthening border security to investigating suspect financial transactions.

 

In Southeastern Europe, groups of ethnic Albanians have conducted armed attacks against government forces in southern Serbia and Macedonia since 1999. Ethnic Albanian extremists of the so-called National Liberation Army (NLA or UCK) launched an armed insurgency in Macedonia in February. The NLA, which announced its disbandment in July, received funding and weapons not only from Macedonian sources, but also from Kosovo and elsewhere. The NLA and a group that operated in southern Serbia called the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja, and Bujanovac (PMBLA or UCPMB) had strong ties with Kosovar political organizations, including the Popular Movement of Kosovo and the National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo. Both NLA and UCPMB killed civilians and government security-force members and harassed and detained civilians in areas they controlled. Other ethnic Albanian extremist groups also espouse and threaten violence against state institutions in Macedonia and the region, including the so-called Albanian National Army (ANA or AKSH) and the National Committee for the Liberation and Protection of Albanian Lands (KKCMTSH).

 

 

Albania continued to be an active partner in the fight against international terrorism in the wake of September 11, pledging "any and all assistance" to US efforts. Government and political leaders quickly condemned the attacks. The Government also pledged NATO access to air and seaports for units participating in Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as commando troops. In addition, the parliamentary Assembly called upon all banks in Albania to locate the accounts of individuals suspected of possessing terrorist ties and to prevent fund withdrawal or transfer. The Albanian courts already have frozen the assets of one suspected al-Qaida supporter. The Ministry of Finance is working to strengthen its anti-money laundering legislation.

 

Various Middle Eastern-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that have been identified as supporting terrorist activities continued to maintain a presence in Albania. Some of the NGOs continued to provide assistance to Islamic extremists throughout the region, to include procuring false documents and facilitating terrorist travel. In early October, however, the Albanian Government simultaneously raided the Tirana headquarters of four Islamic-based NGOs believed to be involved in international Islamic extremism, detained and interrogated their principal officers, then deported them, together with their families, into the custody of police authorities from their home countries. From late October through December, Albanian authorities conducted three additional raids: two on Islamic-based NGOs suspected of supporting extremist activity, and the third on the Tirana headquarters of an Albanian business owned by a suspected al-Qaida supporter watchlisted by the US Department of the Treasury. The Albanian Government detained and interrogated those organizations principal officers.

 

Albania continues to cooperate closely with US counterterrorism efforts on a number of levels. Grossly insufficient border security, corruption, organized crime, and institutional weaknesses, however, combine to make Albanian territory an attractive target for exploitation by terrorist and Islamic extremist groups.

 

[excerpt end]

 

 

 

Members of the NATO Amber Fox mission in Macedonia found and destroyed anti-tank mines and inactivated explosive gadgets near the village Lavce, Tetovo region. This area was demined by ITF last year just after the war conflicts.

 

NATO forces also found minefield in the village Alashevce, Kumanovo region. The area has been marked in order to prevent civilians to approach and the demining is expected soon.

 

Standartnews
Velislava Krasteva

 

(PY)

 

 

Please,anybody who can be of help,render your understanding and heartfelt sympathy for the hapless baby Ljubomir!

 

The bank accounts you can wire money to are:
UNB,branch Vitosha
account N 9060060210 in Levs
account N 9460060215 in Euro
account Õ 9160060214 in $

 

The funds need to be raised till the end of the next week!Even a mere pittance,stretch your hands!

 

Awake your sense of duty in that moment of total despair and misery!

 

I believe in the human inside you!

 

 

European Convent Session to Mark Day of Bulgarian Culture.

 

Sofia, May 22 (BTA) - The Day of Bulgarian Culture, May 24, will be marked within the European Convent's session May 22 to 24 at the initiative of the Bulgarian representatives, the Parliament's press centre told BTA.

 

The Convent's session will discuss the implementation of competencies by the EU and the member countries.

 

On the occasion of May 24, Bulgaria's chief negotiator with the EU and deputy foreign minister Meglena Kouneva will address the Convent in Bulgarian. Each Convent member will receive a book, "The Bulgarians", presenting the Bulgarian history, government, letters and contribution to world culture. A children's choir will perform Bulgarian songs, said the Parliament's press centre.

National Assembly Chairman Ognyan Gerdjikov sent a letter to European Convent President Giscard d'Estaing thanking him for the opportunity to mark the Day of Bulgarian Culture within the Convent's session, reads the press release of the parliamentary press centre.

"The EU's cultural pluralism will deepen with the enlargement and will continue to be considered a basic EU value which does not contradict but, just the reverse, enriches the contents of the European integration process," Gerdjikov says in his letter. He sent d'Estaing a printed collection of Bulgarian icons, said the press centre.

The Bulgarian representatives to the European Convent leave for Brussels Wednesday afternoon.

 

 

Standartnews
Antoaneta Peteva

There'll be two processions on the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture, sources from the municipality said yesterday. Students and teachers from the Sofia University will take part in the first, the second one is organized by the Sofia municipality and will be lead by mayor Stephan Sofianski. At 10.30 Rector of the Sofia University Prof. Boyan Biolchev and the deans of the faculties will pass through the main entrance of the Alma Mater and will set off for the garden in front of the National Library. There Mayor Sofianski will open the official ceremony and President Georgy Parvanov will deliver a speech.

 

(PY)

 

 

 

Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria, May 22 (BTA) - Exercise Cornerstone 2002 will be conducted in the Plovdiv area between May 25 and July 31, 2002, the PR office of the Headquarters of the Multinational Peace Force Southeastern Europe (MPFSEE) said May 22.

 

The MPFSEE countries will take part in the exercise with engineering and logistics units.

 

This will be the second exercise of the engineering task forces of the Southeast European Brigade (SEEBRIG), headquartered in Plovdiv. The Brigade was established in August 1999 by seven participating countries. The first Cornerstone exercise has been conducted successfully in Albania.

 

Cornerstone 2002 will be conducted jointly with units of the US European Command.

 

Following a ten-day period of initial training, the troops will operate under three separate engineering projects.

 

The operations of the SEEBRIG units and the US European Command troops will be coordinated by Coalition Engineering Task Forces Headquarters.

 

Cornerstone 2002 will be conducted under the command and responsibility of the co-directors of the exercise from the US European Command, SEEBRIG, and the Bulgarian Defence Ministry.

 

The idea of the exercise is to raise the operational capacity of the forces for humanitarian operations.

 

According to the scenario for Cornerstone 2002, SEEBRIG will cooperate with US forces and troops of the host country during humanitarian operations.

 

 

Standartnews
Lyusi Parvanova

This year, like in all recent years, together with the graduation balls the spring rains started. This didn't spoil at all the joy of the 210 girls and boys from the First English Language School. Following an old tradition a parade of limos blocked the Sofia streets and in the yard of the old school there was hardly a place for all friends and relatives of the graduates. Our girl (or boy) is the best looking! These were the most often heard words. Fans from the lower grades who climbed the fence applauded and shouted the names of their favourite graduates. A blond girl in blue was applauded most loudly. The young ladies and gentlemen, clad in boutique suits, made a tour during which, as it has always been, greeted relatives and parents. Some of the boys carried their favourite teachers on their shoulders. 'Madam, madam!', a strong boy hugged a lady overwhelmed by tender emotions. 'This is his first teacher, who taught him in the primary school', people around them commented. At that time the decorated with colour balloons retro cars from the beginning of the past century, jeeps and cabrios circled around and their passengers got in. To the accompaniment of horns the column started for the Sofia downtown. The Sofia residents waved from their balconies. Not paying attention to the rain crowds of people gathered in front of the National Palace of Culture to have a look at the defiling graduates.

 

(PY)

 

 

Standartnews
Pavlina Zhivkova

20,000 phantom students have been 'educated' in 908 phantom classes in our schools, Minister of Education Vladimir Atanassov said before the parliamentary group of the NMS. The MPs summoned him to give explainations about the forthcoming dismissals of teachers. Till June 30 7,426 teachers will receive their dismissal notifications, Atanassov said after the meeting.

 

(PY)

 

 

 

Parliament Ratifies on First Reading Bulgarian-US Memorandum of Understanding Ahead of Corner Stone 2002 Exercise.

 

Sofia, May 22 (BTA) - Parliament ratified Wednesday on first reading a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Bulgaria and the US in connection with the conduct of an engineering exercise codenamed Corner Stone 2002 on Bulgarian territory. The document was signed April 3, 2002.

 

The second-reading debates were postponed for Thursday on the proposal of the chairman of the foreign policy, defence and security committee, Stanimir Ilchev, following a question by socialist MP Ljuben Kornezov on the financial aspects of the document.

 

Ilchev said that "tomorrow the MPs will be better acquainted with the financial side of the memorandum".

 

The document regulates in detail the status of foreign troops for the duration of their stay in Bulgaria, as well as the rights and obligations of the host country and the country sending the troops, read the government rationale for the memorandum. It says that all VAT payments that the host country has collected will be refunded to the sending country in compliance with the legislation of the host country.

 

 

 

United States Praises Bulgarias Participation in Fight against Drugs Trafficking.

 

Sofia, May 22 (BTA) - "We assess highly Bulgarias activities in the fight to crack down on drugs trafficking and are ready to work with you," US Assistant Secretary of State in charge of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Rand R. Beers is quoted as saying during a meeting in Washington D.C. with Bulgarian Justice Minister Anton Stankov, reads a press release of the Bulgarian Justice Ministry.

 

Beers and Stankov shared the view that the success of the fight against crime depends on the concerted efforts of all countries.

 

During his meetings on the State Department Stankov discussed the issue of corruption of civil servants and ways to abolish it.

 

On Wednesday Stankov met with officials of the Department of Justice's Office for Professional Responsibility which investigates allegations of misconduct by law enforcement personnel.

 

At the end of his working visit Stankov met with representatives of the American Bar Association.

 

 

 

PM Suggests that Chief Negotiator with EU Should Become Minister for European Affairs.

 

Sofia, May 22 (BTA) - Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha suggests that Deputy Foreign Minister and chief negotiator with the EU Meglena Kouneva should become Minister for European Affairs. A formal motion to that effect was filed with Parliament by the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

 

The Prime Minister says in the proposal that the functions of the Minister for European Affairs will be formulated by the Government within a month of the adoption of a parliamentary resolution. The new minister will work with support from the Foreign Ministry.

 

"With the appointment of a minister for European affairs Bulgaria will show even more clearly to its European partners its commitment to carry through the reforms that are instrumental for the successful completion of EU membership talks," says the rationale to the motion. The minister for European affairs will be a member of the Council of Ministers and will be directly involved in the government and the implementation of the government policy. This position will improve coordination and will facilitate the process of taking decisions connected with the future Bulgarian membership of the EU."

 

"Bulgaria has entered the second, decisive, phase of the negotiations with the EU because of which it must show an even stronger political will for EU accession. This is why a minister for European affairs should be appointed to take charge of the overall coordination of the negotiating process. Optimizing the mechanisms for coordination is a matter of topmost importance for the implementation of the government programme for European integration," the rationale says further.

 

 

 

NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Adopt Declaration on Alliance's Enlargement.

 

Sofia, May 22 - NATO's enlargement, the fight against terrorism and the relations between the Alliance and Russia will top the agenda of the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly May 24 to 28 in Sofia.

 

Some 300 politicians from North America and East and West Europe will participate in the four-day Assembly session which is being held in Bulgaria - an aspirant for NATO membership - for the first time, the press service of NATO's headquarters in Brussels reports. Last year's spring session took place in Vilnius..

 

A key event at the session will be a plenary debate on a draft declaration supporting NATO Enlargement which "calls upon Alliance Heads of State and Government to invite to commence accession talks those aspirant countries assessed to be ready for Alliance membership and whose accession is judged to strengthen security and stability in the North Atlantic area". The Parliamentary Assembly stresses before the applicants the "importance of maintaining their current efforts aimed at meeting the criteria for membership outlined in NATO's 1995 study on enlargement."

 

The declaration will be communicated to the Heads of State of NATO member countries who will meet in Prague in November to decide which countries will be invited to join NATO.

 

The war against terrorism will be addressed on the basis of reports and guest speakers in the Assembly's five committees: Political, Defence and Security, Economics and Security, Science and Technology, Civil Dimension of Security on May 25 and 26.

 

The Plenary Session on May 28 will feature keynote addresses by Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, President Georgi Purvanov, National Assembly Chairman Ognyan Gerdjikov and President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Rafael Estrella. Owing to his NATO-Russia Summit commitments the Secretary General of NATO, Lord George Robertson will not be present but a message from him to the delegates will be relayed by video.

 

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is the inter-parliamentary organization of legislators from the member countries of the NATO Alliance as well as 17 Associate members. The Assembly provides a critical forum for international parliamentary dialogue on an array of security, political and economic matters.

 

Its principal objective is to foster mutual understanding among alliance parliamentarians who represent a broad spectrum of political parties. The Assembly meets twice a year: at four-day spring sessions and five-day autumn plenary sessions. During the sessions each of the committees has separate meetings, at which it discusses reports and resolutions and meets with government leaders and political experts. The reports are adopted by the committees at the autumn sessions and are voted by the entire Assembly, while the resolutions are voted by the governments of the 19 member states.

 

Since the end of the Cold War, the Parliamentary Assembly has adapted its traditional mission and structure to accord better with the new realities of Europe's fundamentally altered security and political landscape. The Assembly has worked to assist transition democracies by including their parliamentarians directly in its debates. The Assembly broadened its mandate in 1990 when it first began to admit Eastern and Central European countries as Associate members. Bulgaria's first participation in the work of the Assembly dates back to 1990 when a delegation of the Grand National Assembly, led by its Chairman Nikolai Todorov, took part in the 36th plenary session of the North Atlantic Assembly (as the Assembly was called till 1998), in London. At this session a common political declaration was adopted which proposes to Bulgaria's parliament to be given the status of an "associated delegation" with the Assembly.

 

The Brussels-based Secretariat has overall responsibility for co-ordinating these meetings. The Assembly is financed largely by contributions from member parliaments or governments.

 

 

 

Solomon Passy: Pope John Paul II's Visit in 2002 Sends Blessing to Bulgarian Foreign Policy.

 

Sofia, May 22 (BTA) - Pope John Paul II's choice to visit Bulgaria in 2002 sends a blessing to its foreign policy, Foreign Minister Solomon Passy said on Wednesday at the opening of the international press centre covering the papal visit to Sofia.

 

Passy expressed satisfaction that the visit was taking place in the year when Bulgaria accelerated its accession negotiations with the EU, was awaiting an invitation to join NATO, and had taken its responsible seat on the UN Security Council. Passy called the coincidence of the papal visit and NATO's Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Sofia on May 24-28 "symbolic".

 

"Probably Bulgaria's greatest contribution to mankind in the spiritual realm is the invention of the Slav alphabet by Cyril and Methodius; in the rational realm it is the invention of the computer by John Atanasoff; and in the ethical realm it is the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II. The fact that the Pope will be here for May 24, the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slav Letters, should remind the world that Bulgaria had been slightly forgotten in the last few decades," Passy said.

 

The foreign minister called Pope John Paul II the politician with the greatest personal contribution to world development in the 20th and the 21st century, and singled out as direct consequences of his work the fall of the communist regimes in Europe, particularly the fall of the Berlin Wall. With his work, the Pope has speeded up the most positive tendencies of globalism because there is hardly a more human dimension of globalization than the forging of closer ties between religions, Passy said.

 

Passy expressed hope that the papal visit would finally clear Bulgaria image of the undeserved blemish of its alleged involvement in the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.

Foreign journalists accredited to cover the papal visit asked about the source of the quotation "There is no peace without justice, and no justice without forgiveness" on the posters put up in Sofia. Since the time of Pope Paul VI, January 1 has been celebrated as the World Day of Peace, on which the Pope sends a message. The quotation comes from his message of January 1, 2002, said Bishop Hristo Proikov, Chairman of the Episcopal Conference.

By Wednesday afternoon, 980 people had been accredited to the international press centre, of whom 645 work for foreign media and 340 work for Bulgarian media. Fifty-five television companies from more than 25 countries will cover the visit from Bulgaria.

 

 

Elena Yaneva
Ralitsa Krasteva

 

Guards from National Security Service will spill out water during the 3-hour mass.

 

The temperature in Plovdiv will rise up to 32 degrees during the 3-hour Pope's mass on Sunday. Already in the early morning it is going to be stuffy in the city. Only after lunch rain showers are expected, said yesterday meteorologist Peter Yankov. John Paul II will recite the mass exactly when it's the hottest - from 10.15 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. Heat may be dangerous for people with high blood pressure and cardiac problems. For this reason it is advisable that they stay away from the mass, recommend specialists from the emergency clinic. Twelve water cisterns will be available at all entrances to the square. They will be the only source of water for the thirsty. Even plastic bottles will be forbidden because they too can be used for hitting, police explained. Police officers will fill glasses for worshipers. All shops and restaurants outside the cordoned area will be closed till the Pope's departure from Plovdiv.

 

 

This is the sole distributor of Bulgarian cigarettes brands on the Russian market, reads a special fax sent to 'Standart' daily by Mr Shelekhov - president of the 'Cigarettes Distributors Association' in Russia. "Soyuzkontrakt Tabak' sells Bulgarian brands of cigarettes, produced in the town of Podolsk, Moscow district, as well as 'Bulgartabak-Sochi'. The irresponsible policy pursued by 'Bulgartabak Holding' management may lead to closure of the Russian market for Bulgarian brands cigarettes. This may have negative effect on 'Bulgartabak's privatization, maintain sources from the Association.

 

 

Standartnews
Stefan Kioutchukov

Finance minister Milen Veltchev has already chosen the chief of the Customs Agency. Today the nominee will have to be approved by Premier Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, said Veltchev in Rousse yesterday. He met customs officers of the Danubian city accompanied by the acting chief of the customs, Assen Assenov. Veltchev refused to give out the name of the candidate for the post. The appointee was chosen after a contest in which four candidates took part - Ljudmil Atastasov, Chavdar Kanev, Assen Assenov and Christo Koulishev. From January to April the revenues to budget from customs houses amount to 831,79 million levs. Money comes mainly from customs duties, VAT payments, excises and fines. This is by 48,67 million more than it was in the same period last year.

 

 

Standartnews
Victoria Seraphimova

Sofia residential areas will remain without hot water supply for a long period each summer in the next three years. The regime is due to the replacement of 60-km old heating pipe-lines, located in different regions of the capital city. The repairs will begin as early as this summer, if the government guarantees the loan, which the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) allotted to 'Toploficatsia'- Sofia (Central Heating Company). The credit is worth 30 million euros, while the bank is to grant 30 million euros in addition. The reconstruction of the heat pipe-lines and building of 6,000 new thermal stations till 2006 will cost 120 million euros.

 

 

Standartnews
Nevena Mircheva

The foreign investors are not interested in this country. At the end of the previous year Vice-Premier Nikolay Vassilev pledged enthusiastically a record sum of $1 - $2 million in 2002. Yet, a large-scale privatization deal, financed from abroad hasn't happened since the start of the 'New Age' government. Gerald Schiff, head of the IMF mission in Bulgaria, was the first to alarm that this country lacks foreign invetsments. On his arrival last week, he criticised the cabinet that the investments' rate is disappointing. Finance Minister Milen Velchev also admitted that foreign companies didn't show interest in Bulgaria during the annual meeting in Bucharest of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). There aren't enthusiasts interested in this country under the current conditions. Moreover, the rulers consider them potential criminals. One comes to buy a company and they tell you that the special services will check you out. You want to work hard, but each and every day you're facing red-tape and corruption. And if after all a shadow of sagacity is left in our statesmen, they won't expose to risk one of the crucial deals for this country - the one for 'Bulgartabak'. Not only the budget will further depend on it, but also the future of thousands of tobacco producers.

 

 

Standartnews
Albena Atanassova

'The King Deer' was awarded three of the prizes at the third international theatre festival 'Raduga' in St. Petersburg - Grand Prix for best foreign performance, the special prize of the guild in St. Petersburg for best performance and director's work and the special prize for the extraordinary good presentation of Marius Kurkinski.

(PY)