The Bulgarian Parliament Adopted at First Reading the Amending Bill to the Diplomatic Service Act
23 June 2011 NewsNickolay Mladenov: The amendments to the Law are the best balance possible 20 years after the transition.
With 92 votes in favor, the Bulgarian Parliament adopted at first reading the Law on the Amendment and Supplement of the Diplomatic Service Act. “A new definition of the objectives and mission of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service is ascribed with the amendments to the law – to defend the national interests, the interests of the Bulgarian citizens and the economic interests of legal personae”, declared Nickolay Mladenov from the parliamentary tribune. He outlined the key changes in the amendment bill: a clear definition of the responsibilities of the permanent secretary; the creation of a new administrative structure through the formation of directorates general, aligned with the highest standards of execution; an open and transparent system for career growth; and the concluding decision regarding the problem with those high diplomatic officials connected with the structures of the Communist State Security. “The suggested texts aim to defend the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service from the inconvenience to justify itself in front of the accusations that we have sent abroad as ambassadors people who are connected with former State Security”, declared Nickolay Mladenov.
The amendments, which are offered to the Diplomatic Service Act, are the best balance, which can be found in the Bulgarian legal system 20 years after the beginning of the transition, declared foreign minister Nickolay Mladenov while discussing the amendments in the Bulgarian parliament. He indicated, that the suggested amednments do not restrict anyone’s right to work for the MFA, but create the proper conditions for the fulfillment of the will of the Bulgarian Parliament – that people, who are connected with the former State Security and the intelligence apparatus of the Bulgarian National Army, should not be allowed to represent Bulgaria to the world. Mladenov added that the changes aim to protect the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service and the Bulgarian nation from the inconvenience to explain to the rest of the world why we have sent people abroad to represent us, whose files, available on the Internet, show the years for which they have worked against the country, in which they are accredited in the moment. In the last 20 years, 40 percent of the ambassadors of Bulgaria were regular or part-time employees of the former State Security, reminded Nickolay Mladenov. We cannot be the only country in Central and Eastern Europe, which has not been able to give an answer to the question of how to stop these connections, noted he. The amendments in the law foresee that employees in the diplomatic service with established affiliation to the former State Security and the intelligence apparatus of the Bulgarian National Army, are dismissed from the respective public duty and are transferred to a different position in the diplomatic service. The minister noted that when beginning work, new employees will have to give their written assent to be checked for connections and present a document for such a check. Nickolay Mladenov indicated that the changes clearly postulate the obligations of the minister of foreign affairs and the permanent secretary as the highest diplomats in the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service.
Audiorecording of the statement by minister Nickolay Mladenov can be heard here.