diplomatic efforts fail to solve the conflict. The statement said
the government will seek the approval of the parliament if such
participation becomes necessary. In other news, Foreign Minister Andrei
Plesu on 13 February ended a two-day visit to Germany, where he met with
Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. Kinkel promised continued support for
Romania's integration into Euro-Atlantic structure and for German
investments, but said there is "some worry" about political stability in
Romania. MS
ROMANIA'S DEMOCRATS SET UP 'SHADOW CABINET.' The Democratic Party has set
up a 17-member team to "monitor" the performance of Victor Ciorbea's
cabinet, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported on 13 February. Party deputy
chairman Traian Basescu will coordinate the group, which, he said, should
"not yet" be viewed as a "shadow cabinet" because "we are still a member of
the ruling coalition." However, the group intends to work"RFE/RL Newsline," 13 February 1998).
Smirnov and Gutu agreed that President Petru Lucinschi and Smirnov will
discuss the issue at their meeting re-scheduled for 17 February. MS
IMF, EBRD PRAISE BULGARIAN ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE. Ann McGuirk, the IMF's
chief representative in Bulgaria, has said Bulgaria's economic performance
is "very positive" and "better than expected" after the introduction of
stabilization measures in 1997, AFP reported on 13 February. Olivier
Descamps, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development regional
director, said the same day in Sofia that Bulgaria's credibility with
foreign investors and bankers is now "the best it has been in the last
five years." He added that legislation on foreign investment and
privatization must still be passed by the parliament and the privatization
of the banking sector accelerated. In other news, Finance Minister Muravei
Radev on 15 February sought to persuade some 400