[08SOFIA620] BULGARIAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR DETERMINED TO SHOW SHORT-TERM RESULTS

Published by Wikileaks & Bivol.bg

 id: 170413 date: 9/18/2008 13:17 refid: 08SOFIA620 origin: Embassy Sofia classification: CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN destination:  header: VZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB  DE RUEHSF #0620 2621317 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 181317Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5400 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0735 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0525 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC 0237   ----------------- header ends ----------------  C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000620    SENSITIVE  SIPDIS    EUR/CE FOR TOM YEAGER  INL FOR ELIZABETH CARROLL  DEA FOR ROBERT CASSITTAS    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2028  TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KCOR, KCRM  SUBJECT: BULGARIAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR DETERMINED TO SHOW  SHORT-TERM RESULTS    Classified By: Political Counselor James Bigus for reasons  1.5 (b) and (d).    1. (C) Chief Prosecutor Boris Velchev told the Ambassador on  September 12 that the EU report's criticism of Bulgaria's  rule of law efforts was helpful and that the Prime Minister  was determined to show progress in fighting organized crime  and corruption before the next EU report is released in  February.  Noting difficulties in convincing witnesses to  testify, Velchev said he hoped to arrest key high-profile  organized crime figures within a few days.    2.  (C)  Though Velchev trusts and respects the new Interior  Minister, he is convinced that the Interior Ministry (MOI) is  "broken, corrupted and incapable of progress."  Velchev was  bitterly disappointed to learn that the MOI has no evidence  to show criminal activity by Bulgaria's 14 most notorious  criminals.  Believing he has no other alternative, he relies  on the new security agency, DANS, even though it lacks  investigative capacity and must draw resources from its  primary mission of counter intelligence and  counter-terrorism.  As a long shot, Velchev has turned to the  U.S. (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and Bulgaria's  European partners for any information that may lead to  prosecution against these known criminals.    3.  (C) Comment. Velchev's comments indicate that other GOB  officials on their own are coming to the same damning  conclusions about the state of the MOI.  (DOJ has completed a  report that we will present to the Interior Minister next  week.)  Velchev acknowledges the situation in the MOI is  worse than he imagined and he sometimes seems overwhelmed by  how deep the rot goes.  Many European embassies have given up  on Velchev, complaining that he says the right things, but is  incapable of following through.  He appears to be an honest  man struggling under very difficult circumstances. End  comment.  McEldowney 

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