American investment in Bulgaria should not change as a result of last week's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria Richard Miles said on Tuesday.

"At the moment it's hard to see a direct relationship between these things and the Bulgarian effort to attract foreign investors," he said in an interview with The Echo. "This government - even more than the previous government - has demonstrated its desire for foreign investment, and its desire to improve the conditions under which business operates." Miles said that local issues like complex laws, bureaucracy and lack of transparency prevail in affecting investment climate in the country. He added that events in Macedonia also play a large role because many investors do not distinguish between Balkan countries - if there are troubles in one part of the region, companies are less eager to expand anywhere on the peninsula.

Safety for American citizens should not be an overwhelming concern, he said. "There's no specific threat against Americans or American facilities here on the territory of Bulgaria."

Miles, however, advised American expatriates in Sofia to "take the normal precautions that one would take after a cataclysmic event such as we've seen in America." He said that there is no specific threat to U.S. citizens, but they should nonetheless operate with a "heightened sense of security consciousness."

Last Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Sofia worked its regular hours but under heightened security. Miles said it was unnecessary to close American government facilities in Bulgaria. "But it does have a symbolic meaning - that we are trying to do our business. We will not be cowed by terrorist actions."

While streets around the ambassador's residence have been closed off, he said he feels as safe now as he ever has. "No one wants a nasty incident on the territory of Bulgaria and these are precautionary measures."

The U.S. has declared war on terrorism, and diplomatic and intelligence efforts have been heightened.

The embassy has been in touch with various levels of the Bulgarian government to make sure they are informed of U.S. policy and action as it develops.

"Our relationship with the Bulgarian government and the Parliament is such that it's a rather informal, free-flowing exchange of information both ways and we had that relationship before and we've intensified it since the assault," Miles said.

On the intelligence front, he said that the government has provided full co-operation. "We have respect for the professionalism of the Bulgarian intelligence services and we are in close touch with them," he said, declining to comment on the extent of U.S. intelligence activities in Bulgaria or on recent press reports of a Bulgarian businessman who has been in contact with Osama bin Laden, the U.S. government's number one suspect in the attacks.

Miles said that he has received a tremendous outpouring of support, from Bulgarian governmental leaders, to ordinary citizens. He also noted that in cities like Plovdiv and Varna where the U.S. does not have a consulate, people have been laying flowers in front of McDonald's fast food outlets because they are an American symbol.

But with all the correspondence he has received, a pile he said is about two feet high, Miles said that no one has expressed to him any fear or undue concern.