Bulgaria's former intelligence chief Brigo Asparuhov, who will run for Sofia mayor on the ticket of the Socialist party, vowed to turn the city into a truly European capital.

Asparuhov spoke before a crowd of thousands, who gathered at the country's historical Mount Buzludzha to hear the nominations of their party for the upcoming local elections in October and its determination to come out as winner.

"I want Sofia to become a truly European capital during my term, where security, order and comfort reigns," Asparuhov told the cheering supporters.

"The biggest mistake one can make is not to discriminate between building a party and being a mayor," he added, apparently referring to the popular local incumbent mayor and leader of right-wing GERB party Boyko Borisov.

"I don't want to be a mayor and feel like a former official of the Interior Ministry. My strength is my clear vision about Sofia future," he pointed out.

Prime Minister and leader of the party Sergey Stanishev vehenmelty defended the controversial nomination of Asparuhov, saying he stands every chance to win the vote.

Stanishev stressed that neither Asparuhov nor the party have any reason to feel ashamed of his professional or political biography.

Gen. Brigo Asparuhov sparked a controversy ahead of Bulgaria's 2004 NATO accession after former king and prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg said he would appoint him security advisor to the government.

The nomination of Asparuhov, who used to work for Bulgaria's communist state security service before heading the National Intelligence Service, earned Sofia harsh criticism from the West. The then US Ambassador James Pardew warned that Asparuhov's appointment could potentially hurt Bulgaria's prestige and was later joined by the envoys of UK, Italy and the Netherlands who also expressed serious concerns.

A NATO spokesman even argued that the issue does not affect the interest of a single country but of the alliance as a whole. Bruce Jackson, President of the US Committee on NATO Enlargement, said that Washington officials were "stunned and worried" by the news.

Under the international pressure Asparuhov relinquished the appointment in October 2003.

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