Ex-Bulgarian Interior Minister Attends Obama Prayer Breakfast

Diplomacy | February 3, 2014, Monday // 10:47|  views

Former Bulgarian Interior Minister in the GERB cabinet, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, photo BGNES

Former Bulgarian Interior Minister and Member of the Parliament from the opposition GERB party, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is in the US for the Prayer Breakfast of President, Barack Obama.

The news was reported by the Bulgarian Pressa (Press) and Sega (now) dailies.

The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year.

Tsvetanov, Deputy Leader of the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, will be a guest of Barack Obama on the invitation of Dr. Maria Kanazireva, a Bulgarian who immigrated to the US in the 80s of last century.

In addition to Tsvetanov, this year the breakfast will be attended by GERB MP, Plamen Nunev, the Chairman of the Association of Victims of Car Accidents, Vladimir Todorov, and the owner of several private hospitals Dr. Mihail Tikov.

At the end of January, the former Interior Minister will go to trial as he was charged in November with large-scale embezzlement, as well as failing to issue necessary authorization for the use of special surveillance devices.

Tsvetanov gave up his MP immunity in order to be prosecuted in the two cases.

Just one day ago, the Sofia City Court decided to lift the restriction for traveling abroad on Tsvetanov on grounds there was no risk he would attempt to evade justice.

The founder of the Prayer Breakfast event was Frank Carlson, a former US Representative, Governor, and Senator. The event, which takes place since 1935, actually includes meetings, luncheons, and dinners. The breakfast is attended by some 3 500+ guests, including international invitees from over 100 countries.

The National Prayer Breakfast is designed to be a forum for political, social and business leaders of the world to assemble together and build relationships. The event has been, however, often criticized by organizations such as American Atheists and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who claim that it violates separation of Church and State.

Each year several guest speakers visit the various events connected with the National Prayer Breakfast. However, the main event, the Thursday morning breakfast, typically has two special guest speakers: the President of the United States and a guest whose identity is kept confidential until that morning.

While Members of the US Congress, of the US Cabinet, and of the diplomatic corps in Washington are typically invited to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast, the other more than 3 500 guests come from a variety of walks of life - Heads of State, Members of the European Parliament, United Nations diplomats, European, Asian, African and Latin American politicians, missionaries working in various countries, US and foreign business leaders, and students.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: Prayer Breakfast, US President, Barack Obama, Washington DC, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Tsvetanov, GERB, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, GERB, embezzlement, special surveillance devices, Sofia City Court, Vladimir Todorov, Mihail Tikov, Frank Carlson

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search