Telegram from the Romanian Embassy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

07 December 1989, 02:45 pm

[Foreign Affairs] Minster, Cde. Ioan Stoian,

The Bulgarian leadership has convoked today, aside from the one scheduled for 11 December, a special plenary session of the CC of the CPB, which will take place tomorrow, 8 December.

This has been forced [upon the leadership] by some organizational and membership problems which have developed in the past few days, during meetings with groups of workers and students. [These] problems had to be resolved immediately to prevent the organization of mass street demonstrations. We would like to inform you that the unofficial organizations have created an [umbrella] organization, "The Bulgarian Democratic Forces Association," which proposed in its [newly] adopted program to act [with the goal of] implementing a multi-party system, for the guarantee of the rights and liberties of [Bulgarian] citizens, [for the] organization of free [and fair] elections, for the truthful democratization of the entire [Bulgarian] political and socio-economic life.

Jelio Jelev, a former professor of philosophy, who is well known for his anti-Socialist attitude, was elected as head of the Association. The Association is planning [the organization of] major street demonstrations as the end of this week.

(SS)[Ambassador] Vasile Pungan