Georgieva: Bulgarian Ex Official's Forged Diploma No Big Deal

Bulgaria in EU | December 7, 2010, Tuesday // 18:29|  views

EU Commissioner Georgieva expects to see application of stricter personnel selection standards in Bulgarian administration. Photo by BGNES

The case of the forged university diploma of the former head of Bulgaria's State Agriculture Fund, Kalina Ilieva, is not so striking in its scope, according to Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.

Georgieva said that Ilieva's is certainly not the only case of somebody forging a document of such kind, and that she does not deem the case to be a "big story."

"Probably because my criteria for crises is very different – but, frankly, this does not seem like such a big story to me. A girl forged her diploma to get a better job. I don't think this is the only such case in the world," commented Georgieva as cited by the Bulgarian National Radio.

Georgieva, who is the EU Commissioner for international cooperation, humanitarian aid, and crisis response, did emphasize, however, that Ilieva's case is not a good sign with respect to the selection of personnel in Bulgaria.

"I am convinced that the Bulgarian government will draw the respective conclusions from this case," she stated.

The EU Commissioner made it clear she expected to see the introduction of international rules for inspection of applicants, especially with respect to bidders for state positions.

Kalina Ilieva's case caused a scandal in Bulgaria over the recent weeks after it was revealed that she had forged a master's diploma from a German university, which which she got the job as head of the State Agriculture Fund, a government body apportioning state and EU funds for rural development.

The entire story fueled suspicions of murky connections between the government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Ilieva's father, Ivan Iliev, the head of the Sofia Fire Department, with certain media and opposition politicians claiming Ilieva got appointed thanks to the friendship between Borisov and her father. Borisov and Interior Minister Tsvetanov have refuted any such allegations.

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Tags: Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner, Kalina Ilieva, State Agriculture Fund, forgery

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