Bulgarian Interior Minister Slams Attacks Against US Ambassador

Politics » DOMESTIC | May 17, 2011, Tuesday // 12:43
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Interior Minister Slams Attacks Against US Ambassador Interior Minister Tsvetanov has condemned the spate of attacks against US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick . Photo by BGNES.

Commenting on the attacks against US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said some Bulgarian politicians were behaving unacceptably.

In an interview for BNT, Tsvetanov commented on the recent conduct of Volen Siderov, leader of the nationalist party "Ataka", and Bulgarian Socialist Party MP and former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov.

In a Sofia restaurant last week, Siderov approached the US diplomat with a request that the US pay USD 2 B for the joint military bases stationed in Bulgaria. According to Siderov's account of the matter, Warlick threatened to "destroy him" in response.

On the day after the conflict, the leader of the far-right Ataka party sent a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanding the recall of the US Ambassador to Bulgaria. Addressing the Parliament, Siderov also asked for security guards, citing the threat allegedly issued by the US top diplomat.

In a May 16 interview for private TV channel bTV, former Bulgarian Interior Minister, Rumen Petkov said that Ambassador Warlick would be recalled from Bulgaria in a few days time, calling the diplomat "trash, liar, and drug addict". According to Petkov, the Ambassador would be recalled on the grounds of seeking American investors in Bulgaria.

"I believe that one of the two previously mentioned persons should pass a Drager test before making a public appearance, so that we can make sure of his emotional condition and prevent overexcitement on certain programs", Tsvetanov stated, emphasizing the absolute inadmissibility of such an occurrence in a state that "respects the diplomatic representations of other countries on its territory".

The Bulgarian Interior Minister also drew attention to the negative impact of these events on Bulgaria's image abroad.

Tsvetanov recommended that politicians should try solving problems on a domestic scale, without crossing the boundaries of diplomacy and strategic partnership. As strategic partners for Bulgaria he listed America, EU, EC and NATO.

Regarding Petkov's attacks against Warlick, Tsvetanov said that the BSP leader or the President were to be brought to responsibility, as Rumen Petkov is part of their political formation.

Tsvetanov defined Siderov's statements as pre-election moves, aimed at drumming up the support of "people who could vouch for such acts".

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Tags: US Ambassador, James Warlick, Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Rumen Petkov, BSP, Socialist Party, Volen Siderov, Ataka

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