site.btaPM Borissov Receives Workers of Emco Ordnance Factory

Sofia, October 9 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov received Monday representatives of the protesting workers of the Emco ordnance factory at their request, the Government's Information Service said. The protestors' position was presented by the company's owner Emilian Gebrev and members of the protestors' initiative committee.

"I have always maintained that the sides should be heard and that a solution should be found through a dialogue," said Borissov. He proposed that the company's management and the Economy Ministry should launch talks already on Monday in order to resolve disputable issues around the contracts signed by Emco.

In August, the interagency council on the defence industry decided to revoke the company's trading license over keeping in its warehouses ammunition and substances which the law says should be kept separately, and violations of the fire safety standards. However, a few days ago the council reversed its decision and reinstated Emco's licence. Yet, the protestors believe that part of the company's assignments were transferred to other weapons manufacturers which they find as unacceptable.

In the meantime, as a result of the short-term withdrawal of the licence, Emco was included in the US Department of State's blacklist, which was confirmed by Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov. The Minister described this as an unpleasant fact, adding that work must be done to remove the company from the list.