Bulgarian Govt Bans Ex-Communist Agents from Becoming Ambassadors

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov during a session of Parliament. Photo by BGNES.

Bulgarians with proven links to the former State Security will be banned from becoming ambassadors, consuls general, as well as from all other public offices in the diplomatic corps, the Parliament decided Wednesday.

According to the newly approved amendments to the Diplomatic Service Act, which were proposed by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, people currently occupying such positions, who have been part of the former State Security Service, aka DS, the secret police and intelligence service of the Bulgarian communist regime, will be removed without prior notice and re-employed at other positions.

"By severing the connection between the system of the former State Security and the diplomatic corpse, Bulgaria makes a step towards building a new image before the world", Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov said after the Cabinet's session.

In end-2010, the so-called Files Commission, the special panel examining the Communist era documentation, revealed that 35 of Bulgaria's diplomats abroad had been collaborators of the former State Security Service.

At that point, the government threatened to recall the discredited officials, although their contracts could only be terminated by the President. Georgi Parvanov, however, said that he had objections to only one of all the appointments, refusing to sign the decrees for their dismissal.

In early May, 13 out of 35 Ambassadors were returned to Bulgaria for an indefinite consultation period, with the remaining ones to be recalled in June. Their positions were to be occupied by temporary replacements.

"In a parliamentary republic, the will of the National Assembly, presented in a law or a declaration, is obligatory to all", Minister Mladenov said on May 25, adding that the proposed amendments had not been drafted "to force somebody to do something".

According to the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, the new provisions will enable quicker career growth for officials with proven professional track records in the field.

"Bulgaria's diplomatic corps suffers from an inability to use the knowledge and experience of people who are outside the system. As a result, a seasoned economist with 20 years of experience in the field, who is also well acquainted with international growth, has to start from scratch", Mladenov explained.

The newly passed legal amendments also provide for appointing remote ambassadors of Bulgaria. They will be headquartered in Sofia in a bid to cut costs.

Mladenov also explained that more demanding diplomatic posts, like the one in Kabul, Afghanistan, will involve shorter terms in office.

"The idea is to introduce shorter terms in office in conflict countries, ensuring that the diplomat's next appointment will be at a better place", Mladenov commented.

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