Bulgarian press review, February 18, 2010

Press Review
Sofia, February 18 (BTA)





HOME SCENE

Interviewed by "Troud", Prosecutor General Boris Velchev says the operation codenamed Octopus will continue. He also says this case has been the most complicated so far in his term. "First, there is the scope and scale of organized criminal activity, and second, there is the question why this happened and who allowed it to happen. The first question is easier to answer because all it takes is a competent investigation. As to the second one, we are usually bogged down in explanations and everyone finds an excuse," Velchev says. He promises that the Octopus case will make amazingly fast progress. "I do not know what Alexei Petrov did for the State Agency for National Security (SANS), but SANS undoubtedly did quite a lot of things for Petrov. We will carefully look into the way classified information of the country's most secret service landed in Petrov's office."

"24 Chassa" says that a mobile phone was found in the cell of a person detained during the operation. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said the information found in the phone greatly helped investigators by throwing light on the contacts of people arrested together with former SANS advisor Alexei Petrov. Borissov declined to give any details.

"Sega" writes that 10 more witnesses have testified, substantiating charges against Petrov and six people close to him of forming an organized group for racketeering, extortion, VAT fraud, tax evasion and other crimes. Sofia City Prosecutor Nikolai Kokinov said on Wednesday that when the mastermind of a crime group is remanded in custody for an indefinite period, witnesses have more courage to testify against him.

"Sega" writes that prosecutors have called for immunity for witnesses against the Mafia. The magistrates have in mind witnesses from the lower levels of organized crime groups who help uncover serious crimes. The effective Penal Code envisages such protection only in case a crime has been prepared but not committed. The new proposal was prompted by Operation Octopus.

Quoting lawyer Rumiana Radkova, "Klassa" reports that Alexei Petrov has asked for a meeting with US Ambassador James Warlick. Petrov claims he is the victim of political repression and an unfair trial.

"Standart News" publishes the opinion of sociologist Kuncho Stoichev, who says that while corruption, drug dealing and prostitution exist everywhere, the question is if the system fosters their growth or the system is sound but these crimes reflect an inextricable part of human nature. He says that now is the time not only to cut off the octopus's tentacles, but to mend the rules and the system.

In a "24 Chassa" interview, sociologist Andrei Raichev says Alexei Petrov had dealings with three prime ministers: Ivan Kostov, Sergei Stanishev and Borissov. The public needs to know what happened during Petrov's contacts with them and what they talked about. "The political puzzle must be solved because woe is the country in which stability hinges on person - Borissov," Raichev says.

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"Troud" reports on its front page that senior customs officers will be arrested. A ring smuggling expensive clothes and perfumes was broken up at the Bourgas Customs Unit. Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that in several years a customs officer, Krassimir Gochev, handed out over 1 million dollars in "loans" and "investments". Gochev was involved in smuggling at the Lessovo checkpoint on the border with Turkey and paid people above and below him.

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"Sega" comments on a decision of the Constitutional Court invalidating the elections in 23 voting sections in Turkey. This is the first time in 20 years that the court has transferred seats in Parliament from one party to another. For the first time Bulgarian elections will be brought to the attention of the European Court of Human Rights. The moral of the story is that there is no effective mechanism to challenge election results in Bulgaria. The court ruling has also made it possible for parties to challenge election results to the bitter end.

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"Sega" reports that the Foreign Ministry is setting up an emergency centre to rescue Bulgarians abroad. Boyko Borissov's promise that the State will help every Bulgarian in trouble abroad has led to the latest change in the Ministry's structure.

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Quoting Sofia City Prosecutor Nikolai Kokinov, "Troud" says that indictments against two ministers of the previous government - Nikolai Tsonev of defence and Valeri Tsvetanov of agriculture - will be presented to the court in a matter of days. Prosecutors are also putting the finishing touches to indictments against former deputy interior minister Raif Moustafa, former National Revenue Agency director Maria Mourgina and businessman Rosen Marinov.

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"24 Chassa" reports that traffic police will start using the first batch of 1,200 disposable testers from March 1 to check drivers for drug use.

THE ECONOMY

Quoting Vassil Simov, CEO of the Bulgarian Commodity Exchange, "Klassa" writes that consumption has shrunk and there are no signs that Bulgaria is emerging from the crisis. He argues that Bulgaria is going through an economic crisis, not a financial one. The financial system is operating without a hitch, there is enough money in the market, loans are issued and banks report good liquidity. The point is that businesses are reluctant to borrow because they are afraid they cannot sell their products, Simov says.

"Troud" says that Finmetals Holding, which bought the Kremikovtzi iron and steel mill, must pay 40 million leva in damages to the State for failing to fulfil its investment programme in 2002. Roussi Statkov of the Supervisory Board of the Post-Privatization Control Agency said on Wednesday that this decision was made by the Sofia Appellate Court, which granted the full claim. Finmetals is owned by Valentin Zahariev, who bought Kremikovtzi in 1999 for one dollar. The plant was declared bankrupt in 2009.

"Troud" reports that the two most influential trade unions want an anti-crisis council to be set up with the prime minister to monitor the economic and social situation. In an anti-crisis package sent to Labour and Social Policy Minister Totyu Mladenov, the trade unions demand that EU funding be used to finance anti-crisis projects. They want the State to pay its debts to businesses and to start a public register of obligations to the Exchequer, as well as public procurement contracts to be paid within 15 days of delivery.

"24 Chassa" carries an analysis of the retirement system by experts Vladimir Karolev and Georgi Angelov. They and seven more experts set up an independent council on pension reform on Wednesday. They set two requirements for the retirement system - stability and choice. The two experts cite the pension funds of the Netherlands as an example of stability with their more than half a trillion euro. The two also argue that people should be able to choose when to retire: if they choose an earlier age, they will pay larger contributions. When there is a choice, there is no need for the State to set the retirement age, the experts say.


Links to some Bulgarian info websites in English:

· http://www.bta.bg/site/en/indexe.shtml
· http://www.novinite.com/index.php
· http://www.focus-fen.net/

Most discussed topics of the day – February 18, 2010

· Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov presented his new team to the media and outlined his priorities.

· Brussels have unblocked seven operative programs due to only one reason - political will and reliable Audit Body, which will not hide anything, Prime Minister (PM) Boyko Borisov said before the mayors at the meeting of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) in the town of Plovdiv.

· Alexey Petrov has expressed fears that evidences against him can be invented. Speaking with journalists before the hearing of the restraining order of the arrested in the Octopus operation in the Court of Appeal-Sofia he said: “Tsvetan Tsvetanov (Interior Minister) and Ivan Kostov (leader of DSB) are in a very odd situation over which they will probably invent evidences against me.”