Sun, Nov 22 2009
Interior Minister Roumen Petkov presented to Cabinet members the report on meeting EU requirements in the sphere of justice and home affairs.
The Interior and Justice ministries worked on the report to be submitted to the European Commission. It addresses issues listed as problematic in the final EC monitoring report before Bulgaria's EU accession.
Petkov said that he hoped the EC will give adequate evaluation of the progress made.
Over the past six months, prosecution launched investigation on 599 corruption cases. Nearly 300 people have been sentenced on charges of corruption.
Interior Ministry carried out 988 corruption inspections. Among the institutions inspected are five ministries, 47 administrations and 93 municipal offices.
Bulgaria's plan for combating organised crime was being carried out successfully, Petkov said. The number of crimes steadily decreased. In 2004, 223 public murders were committed and their number went down to 172 in 2006.
Customs officers seized more than 2400 kg of narcotic substances and 565 people were sentenced on charges of trafficking, Petkov said.
The European Commission is taking Bulgaria to court for delays in providing Sofia with adequate waste disposal facilities.
James Warlick is the spouse of Mary Warlick, director of the office of Russian affairs at the US state department, who has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Serbia
Bulgaria’s Health Ministry announced on November 20 2009 that the flu epidemic declared two weeks earlier is at an end as rates of infection decline. The announcement coincides with reports of two deaths from A (H1N1) flu in Bulgaria.
Acting on allegations by Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria leader Ivan Kostov, prosecutors and Government officials are to probe deals by which Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Ahmed Dogan acquired various properties.
Prosecutors allege that a deal agreed by the former defence minister caused losses of 12.9 million leva.