FY-05 TV CO-OP PROPOSALS FROM SOFIA

UNCLAS SOFIA 000196 SIPDIS STATE FOR PA/OBS/BS - SANTULLI, EUR/PPD (LARSON) E.O. 12958: NA TAGS: KPAO OPRC OIIP BU SUBJECT: FY-05 TV CO-OP PROPOSALS FROM SOFIA REF: 04 STATE 271352 ¶1. PA Sofia proposes to participate in the PA/OBS TV-Co-op projects this year, with proposals from Bulgaria's national broadcaster Bulgarian National Television (BNT). The Director of BNT's News Division is herself a former participant in the TV Co-op program, and is well aware of the overall regulations and structure of the program. She is also very eager for a team from BNT to film in the U.S. as part of a Co-op project. ¶2. BNT news producers and journalists all submitted ideas for the TV Co-op. Following are the top four proposals as chosen by post, in priority order: -- "U.S. Perspectives in Fighting Organized Crime" - Experiences of American law enforcement in countering organized crime, including international cooperation among law enforcement agencies. To include interviews at the federal and local level, with a visit to Philadelphia and interviews with Philadelphia Inquirer investigative journalist George Anastasia, who visited Bulgaria as a US Speaker in 2004. Reporter: Ms. Nadezhda Uzunova. -- "Money-laundering and Counterfeiting" - How the US Secret Service, FBI and other law enforcement agencies track down and counter the spread of counterfeit currency. The reporter will also look into US government strategies to stop money-laundering, and track down terrorist financing. As Bulgaria is a major source for counterfeit US currency, the reporter will also want to interview officials with knowledge of US-Bulgaria cooperation in this area. Reporter: Ms. Nadezhda Uzunova. -- "Los Americanos" - A study of immigration and integration in the U.S., focusing on the experiences of the Hispanic community. The issue is especially relevant to Bulgaria given this country's ongoing process of integration and inclusion of its large Roma and Turkish minorities. The reporter will interview Hispanic community activists, political figures, businesspeople and others to show how the Hispanic minority exists and succeeds in the U.S. Reporter: Joana Levieva-Sawyer. -- "Transplantation and Organ Donors in the U.S." - Bulgaria faces a serious problem in lack of organ donors, and lack of public awareness of the importance of volunteering for organ donor programs. The reporter would seek to do a story or series of stories on how organ donation works in the U.S., how accepted the concept is, and highlighting the American traditions of voluntarism and charity. Reporter: Maria Cherneva. ¶3. Contact point for this program is IO Shelly Seaver. Phone: 359-2-937-5124. Fax: 359-2-937-5326. E-mail: seaversa@state.gov.