An interview with Prof. Georgi Petkanov, Minister of Interior

At the end of last year, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a Strategy for Combating Crime for the period up to 2005. Which are the key accents of this strategy, how will the institutions pool their efforts in combating crime, and which are the legislative changes necessary for resolving the problems in this sphere – on these and many other issues we talked with the Minister of Interior Prof. Georgi Petkanov.

Mr. Petkanov, would you specify for the readership of Bulgarian Diplomatic Review, which are the key accents in the new strategy for combating crime?
The new strategy, which we devised, is an updated strategy for combating crime in the period 2004-2005. It came as a result of the decision of the Bulgarian National Assembly of November 21 for presenting an updated strategy, reflecting the current situation in Bulgaria. Like any other strategy, it views things in perspective, as a series of measures and activities which will lead to limiting crime. But in view of the current situation it accentuates on sevelar issues. First and foremost, in as far as the problems in Bulgaria today are related to the organized criminal structures – the co-called organized crime – this is one of the priorities outlined in the strategy, namely, how are we to counteract organized crime in the next two years. Secondly, many strategies have been devised, but for the first time we have a strategy that is accompanied with an annex: these are concrete measures we have pinpointed, some of which are already being implemented and others are to be implemented in the near future. None of the preceding strategies encompassed concrete measures with time-terms and responsibilities. The third key aspect of the strategy is that for the first time we have a strategy that is financially supported. Funds have been allocated for the most pressing measures, which we are undertaking at the moment, with the hope that such funds will also be allocated in 2004 and 2005, because if the strategy remains only on paper, it cannot yield results. These are the three main aspects of the strategy. On the other hand, I would add some other points, namely, that we are placing an emphasis on teamwork. Teamwork is of paramount importance in counteracting organized crime, since organized crime is based on financial and economic relations and interests. Therefore, our efforts should concentrate on this – on severing, eradicating these ties. That is why we are placing an emphasis on teamwork in our strategy, which means including in our teams representatives of the tax and customs administrations and of the Financial Intelligence Agency. Another important highlight is the establishment of a better interactivity between all law enforcement bodies and primarily between the investigation and the prosecutor’s office. No individual institution or state authority has the power to lead a single-handed fight against organized crime.

You touched upon the interactivity between the institutions, actually the weak interactivity between the institutions was pointed out as one of the reasons for the low efficiency of the work against organized crime. What is your assessment of what has been done so far, which are the key weaknesses and gaps and which will be the new focuses of your activity?
I share your assessment. Despite the efforts we have been investing in fostering a better interactivity, we must admit that it still lacks the necessary level. It was rather effected on a people-to-people basis for concrete, more complex cases, without a normative base on which to be done. In this connection, I would like to specifically say that the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office developed instructions for collaboration between the Prosecution Office, the Investigation and the Interior Ministry in combating crime. These instructions were presented to the Investigation and to us, we made our comments and recommendations, and I expect that in the near future the instructions will be signed by the Chief Prosecutor, by the Head of the Investigation and by me and will set the legal basis of a real, performance-efficient collaboration. I think this was a gap, which interfered with the establishment of efficient interaction. As for the strategy, we have placed an emphasis on various forms of such interactivity. These forms to a great extent overlap with those stipulated in the instructions, and I am convinced that these two things taken together will result in improving this collaboration.

Do you envisage structural changes in the Interior Ministry, related to the implementation of the National Strategy for Combating Crime?
Yes, and these structural changes are already under way. They are necessary in view of the current realities. The attitude of society is changing. This is an ongoing process we must follow. We have made similar changes in the Capital Investigation Service, in the National Service for Combating Organized Crime; new units have been established, for example, the Migration Directorate. On the one hand, I believe that in order to achieve better efficiency in combating crime, we should direct our efforts to the areas, where it finds its utmost expression. That is why these structural and staff changes are made with the aim that our efforts, our staff and our capacities be directed to the criminal police, to the units for combating organized crime, and to a certain extent to the security police, at the expense of other services and units. On the other hand, such changes are made in view of bringing the police closer to the people. So that the police could be in the street, in the villages, in the highways, etc, where its basic resources should be placed, at the expense of the chiefs, logistics staff and control organs, who are basically located in the National Services. In short, we need more executive staff and less people behind desks.

You mentioned the combat against organized crime as a key priority of the new strategy. Will you make changes in the specialized service for combating this type of crime – the National Service for Combating Organized Crime?
It is not accidental that the strategy focuses on combating organized crime. As far as total crime is concerned, we have marked undisputed successes, and I have said this many times. Today, the crime rate is lower than in 2002 or 2001. Today, the rate of uncovered crimes is bigger than that for the past year or for 2001 and this is our success. However, the weaknesses we have and the criticism we are currently facing are namely related with counteracting organized crime. Although few in number, these criminal structures commit the most serious, demonstrative and shocking crimes in the capital and in the bigger cities. From this point of view, I accept the criticism regarding the counteracting of organized crime and it is where we should enhance our efforts. In a different aspect, including the staff issue, I have already talked to the leadership of the National Service for Combating Organized Crime and I look forward to receiving their proposals for strengthening our staff in the capital and in the big cities, where the problems reside. As for the technical equipment, we have already undertaken measures for providing the National Service for Combating Organized Crime and its various directorates with a modern, state-of-the-art equipment, which is absolutely necessary. We should focus, in my opinion, in two lines: the trafficking and the so-called “internal terror”. Increasing the capacities in these two lines is essential. And we will do it in the first months of 2004.

Some European countries have express laws on combating organized crime. In your opinion, are such practices applicable to the Bulgarian conditions?
This is a controversial issue and there are arguments “for” and “against” as to whether such a law is necessary and whether the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure are sufficient. I have not seen this bill in writing, so I cannot give you my categorical opinion, but I think such a law is advisable. At least temporarily, at least for a certain period of time, until we get organized crime under control. The European practices indicate that such acts exist in Europe. And the latest of them is the one adopted in Serbia after the assassination of Zoran Djindjic. That is why, I am ready to support such an act.