Headlines (September 24 2002):
PREMIER BINDS BULGARTABAC DEAL WITH NATO
The Bulgartabac sell-off is regarded as a benchmark in gauging Bulgaria's fitness for the NATO, foreign minister Passy says. Prime Minister Saxe Coburg-Gotha joined the chorus, saying that the delay of this important privatization deal might hamper the country's NATO candidacy. In a nation-wide address on the occasion of Bulgaria's Independence Day the PM underlined that it was imperative to convince the international business that Bulgaria abided by its laws and conducted deals with transparency. All this would be taken into consideration and help the normal course of the procedure.
President Parvanov also made it clear that certain domestic political troubles might prove an obstacle to Bulgaria's accession to the NATO.
Regarding the US position on the Bulgartabac sell-off, it is important that no criminal elements and companies, or anyone linked with the international criminal groups, should take access to the company. This is the opinion of the US Ambassador Mr. Pardue.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN BULGARIA DROPPING OFF
Foreign investments on a global scale indicate an abrupt slump for the first time in 10 years and the greatest for the last 30 years. This is the inference if the World Investment Report of the UN Organisation for Trade and Development /UNCTAD/. The volume of investments has slumped by 55% from 2000 to reach $735 billion. Out of this total $503 billion were allocated to the economically advanced states, $205 billion to the developing economies and only $27 billion were allotted to the countries in transition from Central and East Europe.
Bulgaria is among the countries, which have marked a sizeable shrinkage of investments - from $1,002 million in 2000 to 4689 million in 2001. Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have drawn ? of all investments in the region.
RUSSIA INTERESTED IN PRIVATISATION OF BULGARIAN ENERGY SECTOR
Russian business is keen to vie for the privatization of the energy-distributing utilities and the thermal power plants in Varna, Rousse and Bobov Dol. The position has been confirmed by President Putin during Bulgarian President's visit to Moscow.
Russia has pledged to pay off part of its government debt to Bulgaria through fresh nuclear fuel supplies on the order of $35 million.
The Bulgarian delegation and the Gasprom leadership have agreed to a fourfold boost of Russian gas deliveries via Bulgaria to Greece. A contract for transiting gas to Yugoslavia and eventual transfer to Italy is about to be considered.
Gasprom has assigned the Bulgarian construction company Glavbolgarstroy to realize construction projects worth of $51 million.
CABINET CONSIDERS GOODS FOR GAS SWAP WITH UKRAINE
The cabinet is willing to negotiate a payment scheme with Ukraine similar to the one valid with Moscow - the Ukrainian gas deliveries to be paid with goods and services. A delegation in due for Kiev for the regular meeting of the intergovernmental committee. Bullet points on the agenda will be the Yabmourg gas agreement, under which Ukraine owes to Bulgaria 198 cu.m natural gas for completed but unpaid construction work. Attempt will be made for settling Ukrainian obligations to Bulgarian aviation and railroad transport companies. The debt to the state railroad company alone amounts to $1,155 million.
BRITISH-FRENCH CONSORTIUM LIKELY TO SHUT DOWN UNITS 1 AND 2 OF THE KOZLODUY N-PLANT
A consortium between the British BNFL and the French Electricite de France is likely to be ultimately approved for decommissioning units 1 and 2 of the Kozloduy N plant. The consortium ranked first in the international tender for the decommissioning project management.
The final endorsement is expected from the EBRD - London. The bank is managing the special international fund Kozloduy, which holds the EUR 100 million of recompense, donated from the European Commission.
Second and third were respectively the Belgian Belgaton and the Spanish Iberdrola Ingeneria e Consultoria.
As the financial proposals have not been opened yet, reshuffles in the ranking is not to be ruled out. The tender winner is supposed to manage the reimbursement of EUR 40 million, plus 7 million for consultancy and admi9nistrative expenses. The entire process of decommissioning of the reactors will take about 40 years, according to the Energy Minister Kovachev.