Navigation
|
News
Official Bulgarian delegation, led by Deputy-Prime Minister and Interior Minister Tzvetan Tzvetanov, had a series of working meetings with high-ranking U.S. representatives
A readiness was declared new ways and opportunities to be sought for strengthening the cooperation, including through increase in the number of Bulgarian law enforcement officers trained under the U.S. Training Centers
Bulgarian delegation led by the Deputy-Prime Minister and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov had series of meetings in the U.S. Department of State and Administrative Office of the United State Courts during the first day of the official visit.
As very important stood out the meeting Interior Minister Tsvetanov, Minister of Justice Margarita Popova and Prosecutor General Boris Velchev had with Ms Nancy McEldowney - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs for the Department of State, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, David T. Johnson. During the talks a high opinion was expressed of the existing excellent cooperation between Bulgarian law enforcement bodies and DEA in the counteraction to international drug traffic. A readiness was declared new ways and opportunities to be sought for strengthening the cooperation, including through increase in the number of Bulgarian law enforcement officers trained under the U.S. Training Centers.
During the working visit in the United States Bulgarian delegation had also talks with Federal Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director, John P. Pistole. The hosts gave high praise to Bulgaria as a close and reliable partner. A special emphasis was put on our country’s role in SECI as well as in other regional law enforcement programs. In the course of the talks, further strengthening of the Ministry of Interior officers’ training under U.S. Law Enforcement Academies and qualification courses was agreed by also using the gained in the our Ministry experience in counteraction to cyber crimes and counterfeit currency crimes. Minister Tsvetanov extended and invitation via Mr. Pisol for Robert S. Mueller, III – FBI Director, to pay a visit to Bulgaria next year.
At the working meetings with the high-ranking representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice Minister Tzvetanov outlined the measures, undertaken by the government, for the integration of interactions between the rights preserving bodies in Bulgaria. The American side highly estimated the agreement signed on September 8th between the Ministry of Interior, the State Agency for National Security and the Prosecutor’s Office for the creation of specialized teams to combat and prevent organized crime and corruption.
The official Bulgarian delegation also had a meeting with the U.S. Deputy Attorney General, David W. Ogden, responsible for the activities of the operative agencies under the United States Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as for the U.S. Marshal Service. According to Mr. Ogden the joint Ministry of Interior, State Agency for National Security and Prosecutor’s Office specialized teams have the genuine possibility to strike a serious blow to the organized crime. He greeted the idea launched by Minister Tsvetanov a Regional conference to be held in Bulgaria in 2010 on the problems of organized crime in South-Eastern Europe.
At the United States Drug Enforcement Administration /DEA/ and Secret Service Bulgarian officials had talks with Michele Leonhart, DEA Acting Administrator, as well as with Thomas M. Harrigan - DEA Chief of Operations, and Anthony P. Placido - DEA Chief of Intelligence. Ms. Leonhart underlined that there is an excellent cooperation between DEA and Narcotics Sector of the Counteraction to Organized Crime Direction and expressed her gratitude to Mr. Stanimir Florov – Director of the Counteraction to Organized and Serious Crime Direction, for the efforts in achieving such cooperation.
Mr. Placido said that Bulgaria has never been as important for DEA as it is today. There is a trend worldwide for narcotic quantity coming from Afghanistan to increase and also changes in the cocaine-trafficking from Latin America to Eastern Europe are observed. By reason of that DEA needs strong and trustworthy partner, such as Bulgaria is, that could draw an iron curtain before drug trafficking. In this context Minister Tsvetanov launched the idea for setting up in Bulgaria a regional center for counteraction to drug trafficking. DEA representatives found the idea well worth considering.
Mark J. Sullivan, Director of the United States Secret Service, shared the opinion that due to the joint efforts of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and Secret Service there are significant results achieved in the fight against false money production. During the meeting it was agreed several training courses to be carried out in 2010, for Bulgarian police officers.
Despite the busy schedule, Bulgarian officials included on their itinerary a visit to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. To show their respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, the delegation placed a wreath at the central medallion.
Pictures
Updated on at Thursday, October 01, 2009
|