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.