NARCOTICS REPORT GRABS BULGARIA'S ATTENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 000303 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE, INL, PA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2017 TAGS: SNAR OPRC PGOV PREL BU SUBJECT: NARCOTICS REPORT GRABS BULGARIA'S ATTENTION Classified By: Amb. John Beyrle, for reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) received unprecedented media coverage in Bulgaria. Overall coverage was factual and positive, concentrating on links between the OC-controlled drug trade and government corruption, and quoting Ambassador Beyrle extensively on the need to fight corruption and money-laundering. Ordinary Bulgarians reacted along predictable lines in online fora; some questioned the right of the U.S. to critique Bulgaria while others called for greater action from the GOB. The report became the main topic for a previously-scheduled interagency meeting between Minister of Interior Rumen Petkov, General Prosecutor Boris Velchev, and Director of the Financial Intelligence Agency Vassil Kirov. According to Kirov (please protect),the participants pledged to set clear priorities, increase cooperation, and better manage the flow of information between agencies. The report's unprecedented media coverage, and the subsequent high-level attention, attest to the government's sensitivity in the wake of our efforts to increase public and private pressure on it to take real action against corruption . END SUMMARY MEDIA CONCENTRATES ON NARCOTICS AND ORGANIZED CRIME -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) The 2007 Narcotics Report received an unprecedented amount of press attention, with all the major media outlets covering the story. The report's release coincided with the Ambassador's trip to Southeastern Bulgaria, where the press seized on his direct quotes on Bulgaria's need to do more to fight money-laundering and corruption. ¶3. (U) Bulgaria's largest circulation daily newspaper "Trud" reported extensively on the INCSR on Saturday, March 3, highlighting Bulgaria's position as a growing producer of synthetic drugs and noting that there were no convictions of persons involved in major drug trafficking in 2006. Ambassador Beyrle is quoted calling for zero tolerance towards organized crime, including money launderers and drug traffickers. Editorials were generally positive. One urged Bulgarians not to be angry with the U.S. for its policy of fighting organized crime, while another, titled "After Grandpa Ivan (Russia),Let's Listen to Uncle John (Beyrle)," noted that the Bulgarian political elite doesn't seem to be hearing the clear message to do a better job for its citizens. ¶4. (U) Bulgaria's second largest circulation daily "24 Hours" led its March 3 international news with the headlines, "US: Drugs are made and exported from Bulgaria" and " Beyrle: We are Helping you to Stop the Drug Traffickers." The newspaper underscored the report's comments on the role of organized crime in Bulgaria's drug trade and emphasized the positive cooperation between Bulgarian and American law enforcement agencies, while noting that there is still much work to be done. ¶5. (U) The report also received significant television coverage. On March 2, two of the three top national broadcast stations devoted prime-time segments to the story, leading the second half of their newscasts with in-depth coverage on the INCSR. Bulgarian National Television focused on the improvements to Bulgaria's legal framework and the positive cooperation between U.S. and Bulgarian law enforcement. NOVA TV ran clips of Bulgarian Ministry of Interior drug busts and focused on the fact that Bulgaria remains a transit country while production of synthetic drugs has risen. BULGARIANS OFFER A VARIETY OF OPINIONS -------------- ¶6. (U) The country's online forums teemed with mixed commentary on the report. Some writers expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of corruption in the government, saying that "the mafia controls this state" and asking how "we shall fight crime if the whole apparatus is part of it." Others bristled at U.S. criticism, pointing out that the U.S. has failed to solve its own drug problem and wondering what gave the U.S. the right to judge right from wrong. And a significant number expressed hope that the report will move the government into action: "It's good to have reports like this to make the government do something. It will disturb their leisurely existence, but let's hope it will bring some results." THE GOB TAKES NOTE -------------- ¶7. (C) The government reacted quickly -- and deftly -- to the report, publicly characterizing an already-scheduled SOFIA 00000303 002 OF 002 March 5 meeting on money laundering as a response to the INCSR. The meeting brought together the Minister of Interior (MOI) Rumen Petkov, Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski, Prosecutor General (PG) Boris Velchev, and Director of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) Vassil Kirov. Subsequently, Dr. Kirov shared his impressions with us that, in contrast with the past, the meeting was very cooperative and achieved some solid results. The participants clearly defined and delineated each agency's responsibility in money laundering cases, tackling a prevailing problem in Bulgaria's bureaucracy as it struggles to update itself. They agreed to set clear priorities and use their finite resources to target the "big fish" in organized crime rather than the small players. The FIA, the agency responsible for flagging suspicious cases and collecting financial data, agreed to be the "filter at the front door" for prioritizing and assessing information and making sure high-profile cases get the lion's share of resources. PG Velchev proposed that the investigation of money-laundering cases be taken from the police and returned to the National Investigative Service (NIS),which has greater experience with complex investigations. (Kirov admitted that this is a double-edged sword -- while the NIS does have the legal background police investigators often lack, it is tainted with accusations of corruption and mishandling of cases.) ¶8. (C) The participants also decided to create an interagency money-laundering "contact group," which will consist of senior officials from the FIA, MOI General Directorate for Fighting Organized Crime (GDBOP),and the Prosecutor's Office. The contact group's main mission will be to address common problems of money laundering investigations at a strategic level and develop best practices and standards to make the overall identification, investigation, and prosecution process more effective and efficient. Comment: -------------- ¶8. (C) Media reporting on the INCSR was factual and mostly positive. A clear subtext was the media's use of contrast between objective, balanced U.S. assessments and lack of public confidence in the government's performance. Though organized crime and corruption have been on the political front burner, most Bulgarians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about the effort. In addition to the Ambassador's February 15 speech and the INCS Report, the media also picked up the anti-corruption points in our Human Rights Report. With all eyes now on the March 31 EU progress report, the issue of corruption is poised to move front and center as a political topic. BEYRLE