Host: On the topic which continues to be discussed from several days - Representatives of the former State Security in our diplomatic services. The exit from here on after the big scandal which erupted and in the context of the two political resignations, which were given – of Minister Bozhidar Dimitrov and the Deputy Minister of Interior Pavlin Dimitrov. What are the intentions of the ruling party GERB from here on and even more today the undeniably circulating support for the varnish in our political life, including in diplomacy, this for MRF. We are going to speak on the topic with Monika Panayotova, Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds and Member of the Foreign Policy and Defence Committee. Good morning, Miss Panayotova.
Monika Panayotova: Good morning to you and all the listeners.
Host: For you is the support surprising, even still on the level of interviews, which came from MRF for a radical solution to the problem with the former employees of State Security in power?
Monika Panayotova: I would determine it as … I would rather greet it. I would not determine whether it is surprising or not. It is important, that we are really on the stage, in which, for pity not all political powers declare their readiness, precisely for former employees of State Security to be our diplomatic representatives behind borders.
Host: For now you are tightening only to diplomatic representatives. Do you think that it is time to lead the big talk, even for the existence of State Security in the life of Bulgaria?
Monika Panayotova: Absolutely, there is political will for this to happen, but we are putting efforts to do it in stages, because this is a problem, which 20 years, unfortunately, hasn’t found its solution and there is no way how this can happen radically at once.
Host: Maybe, because it hasn’t found its solution in 20 years, now this is why bid decisions are difficult?
Monika Panayotova: Precisely, and the other thing, which is, society is ready, and I think that the fact that the majority are people which are not encumbered through the years, which, really came with the idea to change the mentality and the way of leading politics in the country, shows this strength and will for things to change. Not only declare it, but concrete steps are going to be taken. Because, it is really unacceptable that our representatives abroad, accordingly be our representatives, because the authority of the country to a great percentage rests on their work. Here we are not speaking about their personal qualities or level of professionalism. Here we are speaking about principles and a value, which they follow. Only if you allow me to say actually, both documents, which determine the status, which defines the status of the Foreign Intelligence of State Security is based on precisely on active intelligence gathering on the territory of capitalistic countries, one of the documents. The other document says, that the activity needs to be directed against the main enemy the USA and their allies, firstly Turkey and Greece.
Host: Unique archaism.
Monika Panayotova: They had followed such values, such beliefs. They have worked against those countries and suddenly to turn their vision and way of leading diplomacy 180* degrees.
Host: Well, but you are a person, who in the quality of a member of the Foreign Policy and Defence Committee had the opportunity to meet with some of our ambassadors. I think, there is a hearing with you in the committee. You personally as members of parliament do you carry any responsibility for such an employment, which has been realized in the frame of the mandate of GERB? Despite that the procedure has started before that.
Monika Panayotova: On principle, there are hearings of the diplomats, which are forthcoming. Actually, everything which we can hold is only to hear our representatives there and accordingly to declare our political support for their forthcoming mandate. The prerogatives and the actual choosing depend on the foreign minister, as well as the president. Because they are appointed with an ordinance.
Host: Have you given political support in the Committee for people, which will be recalled, do you remember?
Monika Panayotova: No. Shortly we gave political support for Mr. Marin Raikov, who is our ambassador to France and who is not in the list, of Mrs. Poptodorova, who is in the USA and also is not included. The important is what we done from here on.
Host: Yes, what do you do from here on?
Monika Panayotova: The situation at the moment is that in 13 from 27 member countries we have such representatives. In seven from the countries in the Balkans we have representatives, which are present in this list, which is unallowable. In countries in which we promote democracy, European values, a particular way of leading politics can not be done by such representatives. In this moment from here on they are discredited. Even before during the frame of the hearings of the commission we hadn’t known that they figure in those lists they are now there. So from here on from one side there is political will, there is that of the parliament and of the ruling majority and accordingly of the prime minister of the government.
Host: To do what? A declaration, resolution, some document is expected from you. Without doubts that’s what the foreign minister said that that is expected from the government. Do you think that this can happen until tomorrow or we postpone the topic for next year?
Monika Panayotova: It will be postponed for next year with the view that we want to go out with a united resolution of the parliament, which will take time for consideration between the political forces. A resolution is being prepared at the moment I personally hope that it is submitted until the end of the year, so that the real part can start from January.
Host: What does it contain?
Monika Panayotova: The important which we want to give as a message is that those people are really recalled and to give a chance to the younger to move up in the diplomatic career. The other thing which depends on us as members of parliament and as the government is to insert the correct amendments to the law for diplomatic duty which makes impossible the entering in the system for people with such status. As well as in the higher positions, ambassador, general council, temporarily governing, permanent representative, as this is foreseen to happen in the beginning of next year.
Host: You said that it is about connecting competence, which also regards the president. How to recall, if the president is on the position that part of those ambassadors have ascended us into the EU and NATO and that for everyone of them needs to be taken a decision, as its said dossier by dossier, if we remain at this operative language.
Monika Panayotova: I personally really hope that the president thinks over his position, the prime minister really defined the situation there, that a raven doesn’t poke out a ravens eye. But in the end from here on the image of our country depends on this. If we really have a nationally responsible behaviour which the president has always tried to declare now he needs to prove it through specific actions. There is another line in the end the diplomats have the opportunity to withdraw on their own in case that there is no necessary political will from the president to take this action. Because we really don’t speak for the specific person here we speak about the image of our country. And when the mark of our country doesn’t stand good it is difficult to realize successful policy and to have the trust of our allies.
Host: Yes, but you must have a reserve variant if the president refuses. You remember how long the debate continued regarding our ambassadors in the USA and Turkey in connection with the elections in their conducting there. Do you think you need to be prepared with a reserve way to have those people recalled here in Bulgaria and if there is such a massive recalling of people here in Bulgaria, how will this reflect on the mark Bulgaria that you speak about?
Monika Panayotova: Yes that’s true, but as the list is clear our partners are asking what we are doing from here on.
Host: Do they really ask, because we were rebuked that we ask more then them?
Monika Panayotova: In no way, of course in a delicate way the question is asked by them, because now it is looked upon with very different eyes upon those of our representatives. I really don’t want to reproach those of our representatives there some of them could really have done their job, as they should, but the fact that they have belonged to this structure, who have worshipped this philosophy and those values, now it is hard to convince a person that you work in the favor of your partnership and not in foreign interest.
Host: One specific case I want to comment with you. Our ambassador in Hungary. Hungary takes from the 1st of January the presidency of the EU at a very important for Bulgaria moment. What do we do with this person if we recall him, who represents us, if we let him stay, he is such.
Monika Panayotova: I need to tell you that here it is very delicate, because the presidency is in the frame of six months and during the frame of this presidency we await the joining of Bulgaria to the Schengen space.
Host: Precisely
Monika Panayotova: From this point of view it depends on the particular diplomat. If we really have a blocking from the side of the president and we can not overcome this barrier, here it is about the moral duty of the diplomat to make his choice, because he has declared that he is going to defend the interests of the country and his presence in that case is not a priority of the country.
Host: Yes, but you know how long the procedure for sending a new ambassador takes, because of the procedures, which need assume actions from both sides on the decision for sending an ambassador. There will be such a vacuum again.
Monika Panayotova: From our side the political will is strong and in such created fast circumstances I am sure that actions will be with greater speed. But we are really dependent in the case from the decision of the president. The other important thing is if we really come out quicker in parliament with a resolution, rather then a declaration, the resolution now has a completely different status, has the weight of decision, which has a compulsory character. But this depends on the will of the political (…)
Host: Does GERB have the capacity to fill those places. There was a comment was week, I saw it somewhere. It was titled “Paragraph 22” where it was said that maybe there will even have to be a change in the Law for diplomatic services in connection with the non ability of GERB to ensure so many leaders of missions with a rank minister-counselor or ambassador as much as are needed to be changed.
Monika Panayotova: Well I think that in the frame of the foreign ministry enough proven professionals who will be able to fulfill those functions. All in all on principle 20% of the quota is for political forces i.e. to have a ambassador appointed on a line of a political force and 80% are assumed to be professional diplomats which are career diplomats from the foreign ministry. So from this point of view I am sure that the foreign ministry has enough staff, which has been blocked up to this moment by those people. I have personally graduated foreign relations and I have had colleagues which have gone on this road in the foreign ministry. But unfortunately they quit even on their third year, because they saw that the system is very clumsy that they are blocked and they did not see a way for advancing in their career. So from here on it is very important what the amendment in the Law for the diplomatic services and what reform will be undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, because we have declared in the program of the government, that such e reform will be made.
Host: I.e. to expect until the end of the year to have the directions transparent and the details, the parameters we will see them. Thank You! Monika Panayotova, GERB.
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