A key sector of the state administration, on which depends the country’s economy, exudes a strong smell of rotten, but the people responsible for it, are pretending to be noticing nothing. It comes to the trade and economic services called upon to facilitate the work of Bulgarian business abroad and do everything possible to attract foreign investors to invest in the country. In fact, most of the commercial attaches perfectly fit into the onces described in the film Mission London – well-paid trips abroad, almost no work and sweet opportunity to do some shopping or conclude a personal deal.
As we can guess, the holders of these positions are not chosen randomly. Usually these are our people appointed by a buddy who after the expiry of their mandate are not eager to return to Bulgaria of salaries of 800-900 levs. Just because of the comaraderie, no minister of economy has ventured so far to shake a bit this deep diplomatic quagmire
Not surprisingly, after the publication of the BANKER (from 9 March) those in power did not even say a word about the nepotist appointments. But there is definitely a problem and what proves it are the dozens of letters on the subject, which continue to arrive to the editorial mail.
The text has awakened the interest of many people and the issues they raise, deserve consideration. Apparently this is not the view of caretaker Minister of Economy and Energy Assen Vassilev. Over a month ago we sent a formal letter to put forth some of the problems and asked about his opinion on their solution. Among the inquiries was the one as to when there will be a report of how many Bulgarian companies seeking assistance have been helped by commercial attach?s; what initiatives have been promoted, how they intend to work in favor of small and medium enterprises, whether the Minister is aware of the adopted Protocol ’87’82 50.35 of the Council of Ministers of 23 December 2008 on the the export policy of Bulgaria – Vision 2013 and the extent to which it has been observed? But so far, Mr. Vassilev has not found time to answer. The press service explained that his position was delayed because of greater engagement with the situation in the energy sector. But with dozens of junior, senior and many other experts of various caliber in the office who actually prepare the answers to such inquiries we think that the reason is quite different – the minister simply lacks the courage to delve into this quagmire in which each position represents interests a lobby.
For the trade and economic issues is responsible Deputy Minister Ivo Marinov. The same whom Assen Vassilev initially intended to release, but after pressure from the tourism industry still left him on his post. Indeed, today’s economic policy at least on paper are in the area of caretaker Deputy Minister Violeta Lorer, but in the corridors of the ministry people say that decisions continue to be taken by somebody else.
As BANKER wrote, influence on who are to become commercial attach?s is exerted by the Director of Foreign Policy withing the ministry, Diana Naidenova, who survived under nine consecutive economic ministers. What is worse is that the official government continues with the old practice of recruitment.
In the second half of 2011 came into force the amendments to the Diplomatic Service Act, according to which the mandate of the trade and economic issues advisors became four years with the option to get extended for one more. For all appointed before before, the old rule applied for the term of three years with a possible extension for another 12 months. Leadership of the Ministry of Economy, however, apparently has no intention to comply and in violation of the law and its regulations still keeps the mandate of almost all commercial attaches above the limit. In the last days of the GERB government it managed to extend the term of Bronislaw Denev for five years, who was appointed without a contest to Bucharest in July 2009. According to insiders, Petar Georgiev in Munich also will have an extended stay, and he is there since 2008, i.e. for five years. Also since 2008, until the present moment Vasil Georgiev has been working in Belgrade. His mandate expires in January 2013, but even a competition procedure for his place in the Serbian capital has not yet been announced. The situation is similar for Daniel Dobrev, sent in 2008 without competition to Podgorica and accredited later for Albania.
Contrary to the legal provisions for a fifth year Bozidar Patinov has been working in Ljubljana and was appointed to the position without competition at the end of the tripartite coalition.
What comes out is that either Mr. Assen Vassilev is not at all up to date with the rules or he does not know what he reads, or deliberately turns a blind eye to the idea that he would soon have to release the ministerial position.
Interesting things are happening in the Office of Trade and Economic Affairs in Moscow. After Ilian Tsonev was appointed head of the Centre of Bulgarian Industry in the Russian capital, somewhat quietly, without being clear on what criteria to the position was appointed Katia Zhekova.
Otherwise, for the support of all these people a lot of money is spent. According to published recently in the media the annual maintenance of the said Katya Zhekova’s position in Moscow was worth in 2012 to the Treasury a total of 32,336 euros. Amounts included the cost of maintaining equipment and personal offices, rentals, postal and telecommunication services, utility bills, insurance, outside services, trips and other non-salary expenditures, which Zhekova incurred.
Other fresh rumour from Russia is that for Secretary at the Centre of Bulgarian industry will be appointed Vessela Borislavova, who is currently chief specialist there. Moreover, again without a competition for the job – probably due to lack of suitable candidates. Prior to turning to commercial diplomacy Borislavova was in the leadership of one of the largest companies for windows – Rollplast Group.
THE BANKER
