GERB to recall all ambassadors, agents of the former Communist National Security Service

Ana Mihova

All ambassadors, who were associated with the Communist National Security Service would be recalled as soon as GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) wins the presidential elections, became clear yesterday from the statement of the Minister of Interior, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, after a round table discussion on "Democracy needs the truth", dealing with the topic of the dossiers of the NSS. The event, initiated by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, was organised on the occasion of the final transfer of the archives of the former National Security Service to the Secret Files Commission.

"I hope that whoever is elected President would actually have the political will to close this page of history and not allow people, who had been involved with the NSS to represent our country at similar high profile posts,” said Tsvetanov. He added that it was normal that 45% and more of the ambassadors currently representing our country were NSS-related. In his words, over a period of 21 years, no administrative capacity of ambassadors of a new generation had been developed, there were no trained people that would have no relation to the former NSS. "Most likely the appeal and the report sent to the President would not be addressed, because if so the President himself would be affected," indicated Tsvetanov. He also stressed that currently there were no representatives of political offices being former agents of the Communist-era NSS.

The Interior Minister described the resignation of the former Deputy Minister of Interior, Pavlin Dimitrov as "a very manly deed", after his NSS involvement was disclosed.

"It is of particular importance that today we can gain information about each one of us whether anyone was involved with NSS. We are also obliged not only to the most injured and repressed people, but also to the young people who should know that this page of our history is already closed. Before closing this topic, however, we must learn the entire truth," reckoned Tsvetanov, wondering if the conclusion of this difficult stage was not already too late.