ANTI-OC TRAINING CENTER: BULGARIA READY TO HOST

UNCLAS SOFIA 001661

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (FIXED PARA NUMBERS)

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/PGI ALAIN NORMAN, EUR/ACE DAVID HODGKINSON,
INL ELIZABETH CARROLL AND CHRISTINE CLINE;
EMBASSY BUCHAREST FOR QUINN ANDRUS
DOJ/OPDAT FOR ALEXANDRE, EHRENSTAMM, ACKER
DOJ/ICITAP FOR TREVILIAN, THOMAS, DUCOT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM EAID KJUS KCOR SNAR KPAO BU
SUBJECT: ANTI-OC TRAINING CENTER: BULGARIA READY TO HOST

REF: STATE 193421


1. (SBU) Introduction and Summary: Mission strongly supports
establishment of a South Eastern European Regional Organized
Crime Training Center (SEEROCTC). We believe a center
located in Bulgaria will advance U.S. rule of law objectives
here and regionally. A center in Bulgaria would build on an
existing USG-led program. With initial U.S. funding and
direction, we can shape the center in terms of Bulgarian and
regional capacity building, programs and curricula, and
management structure and internal controls. With the
participation of all Southeastern European Cooperative
Initiative (SECI) member states, the center will use a
standardized curriculum of the world's best practices and a
"train-the-trainer" approach to develop a self-sustaining
group of regional anti-OC trainers. We have requested
considerable USG funds for other rule of law programs, and we
recognize it is a lot to ask for additional monies for this
center. We are nonetheless convinced that to upgrade GOB's
capacity ) from law enforcement through prosecutors to
magistrates ) we need to target effectively each of the
components. Hence this request for additional funds.



2. (SBU) The Bulgarian government (through the Interior
Ministry) is budgeting approximately 500,000 leva
(approximately USD 330,000) of its own resources for the
center; it is confident it can secure 1.5 million euros from
the European Transition Facility Fund for the center. We
have spoken with several EU member state embassies here about
supporting the center; they are positive (though cannot yet
confirm any funding commitments) about the need and
importance of a regional center that builds law enforcement
capacity. The MOI assures us that the center will operate,
with or without U.S. financing. But a U.S. contribution will
set the charter, scope, direction and management for the
center. Post seeks two years of USG funding of $450,000/year
to jump-start the project and provide support for two U.S.
experts to develop the center before handing it over to the
GOB.


3. (SBU) Establishing the center in Bulgaria be a major step
toward a more effective and unified approach to fighting
organized crime in South Eastern Europe and would strengthen
Bulgaria's own rule-of-law regime, a major goal for the
mission. This center would not compete with ILEA (which has
a different mandate) nor with SECI's Bucharest center (which
has a different focus). Rather, the organized crime training
center would supplement and complement those other
institutions and build regional capacity and cooperation in
what is a burgeoning regional problem. End introduction and
summary.


4. (U) Answers are keyed to the questions in reftel.


5. (U) Institution's current capability of offering
standardized training on fighting organized crime through
enhanced international cooperation.

-- (SBU) SEEROCTC would expand the work currently done by the
Regional Criminal Justice Initiative's (RCJI) Anti-Organized
Crime Project. RCJI's established curriculum trains
Bulgarian investigators, prosecutors, and judges in the
theory and practice of fighting organized crime (OC). To
date, 78 law enforcement personnel have completed the Anti-OC
Project's initial course on investigation and will return in
the first part of 2007 to attend more in-depth courses on
surveillance, covert activities, use of technology, and the
management of undercover operations. RCJI "trains the
trainer" to assure program sustainability, and many of the

initial students are already teaching the basics to the
incoming classes. SEEROCTC would build on RCJI's foundation
to include law enforcement personnel from each SECI
member-state. The first group of students would learn the
basics from experienced instructors and, as they advance to
more specialized courses, would begin teaching the incoming
classes. Using this "force multiplier," SEEROCTC would
continuously increase the regional base of qualified
instructors, expanding its reach and securing sustainability.


6. (U) If not fully capable, how much time, money, or other
inputs would be required to achieve this capacity?

-- (SBU) As a result of the groundwork laid by RCJI, the
program could become international in scope in a relatively
short period of time. At a recent regional Ministers of
Interior meeting, all SECI member states agreed to send their
personnel to the future training center. Several EU member
states have also expressed a willingness to send instructors.


-- (SBU) Initial funding for the program would ideally come
from the GOB, the USG, SECI member participants, and the EU.
The U.S. would provide 450,000/year for two years for two
U.S. experts who would oversee the start-up of the training
center. Member-states would contribute in-kind. The GOB is
ready to provide 500,000 leva (appr. 330,000 USD) and is
working to secure 1.5 million euros (1.9 million USD) from EU
funds for SEEROCTC's start-up, to host the center at MOI's
National Academy (a fully equipped training facility in
Sofia),and to house and train SECI students and instructors
at no cost. The completion of a multi-national SEEROC
Operating Agreement would require time, but the training
center itself can become functional prior to the finalization
of the agreement. In fact, getting the center started would
go a long way in speeding up the slow pace of international
agreements.


7. (U) What is the level of political will/commitment by host
government?

-- (SBU) The GOB is fully behind the SEEROCTC concept and
recognizes transnational cooperation as an effective tool
against transnational organized crime. Minister of Interior
Rumen Petkov and Prosecutor General Boris Velchev have signed
a joint statement of support for the center, recognizing that
from its inception it will begin a transition to full
Bulgarian ownership and support. GOB's resolve is backed by
its considerable financial pledge, and the MOI is working on
securing the 1.5 million euros from the European Transition
Facility Fund.

-- (SBU) The government is ready to host the center at the
National Academy in Sofia, a facility that has newly
refurbished dormitories, a cafeteria, a library, capacity for
multiple language translation, and practical training areas.
The GOB has also committed to house and train the students
and instructors at no cost; partner nations would only be
required to pay for transportation and meals and incidentals.


8. (U) How sustainable, in the long term and without USG
funding, would SEEROC be?

-- (SBU) Initial USG involvement would establish the
foundation of the center's sustainability. The two years of
funding would provide for the posting two U.S. experts, TDY
experts, and limited equipment donations. During this time,
the two experts will assist in establishing a SEEROCTC
Advisory Board, developing the center's policies and
procedures, broadening the curriculum, and training the next
SEEROCTC director. By the end of the two years, the center
will establish a core group of SECI member instructors who
will continue training future students and increasing the
pool of potential instructors. At the same time, the U.S.
experts will build up the capacity of the management staff to
assure the center's smooth and effective operation once the
GOB takes over ownership. Bulgaria also plans to seek
additional support from participating members and EU
project-driven funding. As the center produces results -- an
exponentially increasing number of police, prosecutors, and
judges specialized in fighting organized crime -- the GOB bid
for EU funds should become stronger.


9. (U) How engaged is Embassy Sofia with SEEROCTC?

-- (SBU) The concept of a regional Organized Crime training
center is a joint effort between the mission and the GOB.
Promoting rule of law is one of the mission's top priorities,
and helping Bulgaria battle organized crime is an essential
component of that goal. SEEROCTC's concept is the result of
close coordination between RCJI, OPDAT, and post in defining
the idea, drafting the initial proposal to INL, and molding
it into the proposal under consideration. Post recognizes
that organized crime is a transnational phenomenon that must
be dealt with through a transnational approach. As such,
post is committed to supporting the project to establish the
center.


10. (U) What non-USG entities provide support to the
institution?

-- (SBU) The GOB's commitment of 500,000 Euros is the only
solid funding for the center. Both post and the GOB are
actively engaged with EU counterparts to drum up support.
According to the MOI, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and
Spain have already committed to sending their experts to the
center.


11. (U) What are the political/diplomatic advantages in
utilizing the institution in Bulgaria?

-- (SBU) Establishing a regional training center in Bulgaria
would go along way in strengthening regional cooperation in
fighting organized crime and furthering post's priorities.
Bulgaria's leadership recognizes the benefit of modern
strategic and operational training in dismantling OC
networks. Developing a corps of law enforcement teams
specialized in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting
organized crime would bring some needed successes. A common
history and culture contribute to the good relations Bulgaria
has with its South Eastern European neighbors, a plus for leading
a regional Balkan approach to a common problem. Training the
participants to a common standard would facilitate greater
cooperation and effectiveness, making member-nations better
partners against organized criminals. The center would
coordinate with and complement existing regional entities,
like SECI, ILEA, and TADOC. TADOC could prove a useful
partner -- its focus on combating drug trafficking and
extensive work with Middle Eastern countries could complement
SEEROCTC's Balkan focus. The center would continue the work
of many USG initiatives to support and strengthen GOB's
efforts against organized crime and promote the rule of law
in Bulgaria.
BEYRLE