In the wake of terrorist attacks elsewhere, security has been stepped up at embassies and other potential targets in Bulgaria. How safe is it here? Are the alarmist media reports justified? And what is the impact on life and business in Sofia? ALEXANDRA ALEXANDROVA, CHRISTINA DIMITROVA, ELENA KODINOVA and VELINA NACHEVA sought answers.



THE bombings in neighbouring Turkey have sent shockwaves through Bulgaria.

The visible security outside embassies and other key points which became a familiar sight amid the Iraq crisis earlier this year again became apparent, as security officials stepped up measures at the request of the Government and embassies. At the same time, Bulgarian-language tabloid media reports, from various sources, speculated that this country could be among the next target of terrorists.

In parallel to the rising concern, Bulgaria, through its Government, offered condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims of the terrorist attacks.

"We appreciate the solidarity displayed by both the Bulgarian authorities and the people, following the terrorist bombings in Istanbul," Turkish ambassador to Sofia Haydar Berk told The Sofia Echo in a special statement.

"As of the very first day of the cruel attacks, Interior Ministry chief secretary Boiko Borissov and all Interior Ministry top officials have shown a great deal of understanding and expressed their readiness to further strengthen the security of the foreign missions including the Turkish Embassy", the statement said.

Despite recent events, Turkey does not envisage any changes to allowing Bulgarian nationals across its borders after it lifted the visa requirement for tourist purposes in 2001, the embassy said.

The ambassador also said that for the moment he has no specific recommendations for Turkish nationals residing in Bulgaria.

The Turkish embassy, together with the embassies of Israel, the US and the UK are considered most in danger after the terrorist attacks in Turkey. On November 20 and 21, about a dozen police officers were noticed around the residence of US ambassador James Pardew, which was several times more than usual. Otherwise the picture in front of the other embassies has not changed after the attacks in Istanbul. The street in front of the UK and US embassies were closed long before the bombings, because they were considered easy targets of terrorists after September 11 and especially during the war in Iraq.

There was a recent order to lift the barricades, but its execution has been postponed for now. The number of police in front of the US and UK embassies has not changed. The usual patrol of two to three people are staying there 24 hours, seven days a week. A special device for inspecting for bombs under cars - a mirror with a long handle - is put into operation every morning. Taking pictures of the buildings of embassies is not allowed, but this has been the case for a long time.

"Because of security reasons we are not allowed to disclose information concerning the way the embassy is being guarded," Raisa Yordanova, press officer of the US embassy told The Sofia Echo.

Miroslava Simeonova, press officer of the UK embassy also declined to comment whether security had been strengthened, but denied reports that the British Council might be closed to visitors.

The Israeli embassy, which is in the administrative building of the National Palace of Culture, answered with a "no comment" to all questions concerning security. All four embassies said that they would not change any routines of work and service, neither for their citizens, nor for Bulgarians.

"Terrorism can by no means be justified. It aims at civilisation and democratic values. Terrorism has no religion or race, no nation is immune from terror. That is why a united and firm stance against terror is essential," the Turkish Embassy in Sofia said in their special statement after the bombings last week in Istanbul.

There was also the question of the impact on travel and tourism, it by now being well-known that the September 11 attacks had a disastrous effect on the industry elsewhere in the world, and travellers became more cautious during the initial phase of this year's Iraq war.

Sofia travel agency Jamadvice said no flights to Turkey had been cancelled.

The rate of travel to Bulgaria's neighbour had not been affected in any way by last week's tragic events, the agency said.

But the agency Geografski Sviat (Geographical World) said that people were "massively" cancelling reservations.

"Even when they have already paid they come and ask for their money back. They have been cancelling also Christmas packages. The tendency pertains only to Turkey," the travel agency said.

By contrast, Tourchance agency said that some people were cancelling their travels, while others were waiting to see how things would develop.

The agency said that the number of people who wish to go to Turkey has been going down. The tendency does not affect the whole region, but concerns only the visits to Turkey and particularly to Istanbul. Even some New Year packages have been cancelled.

Yana Tour said that reservations were being cancelled not just for Turkey, but for the region as a whole.

"Bus and plane tickets have been cancelled. One of our clients, a foreign firm, actually forbade all its employees to travel abroad.

"So far none of our clients has cancelled reservations for our Christmas packages, but as you know Bulgarians decide at the last moment" the agency said.

It said that Bulgarians got their information as to the latest developments and the level of risk from the media.

"This is how they can decide if they would travel abroad, they don't ask us if it is safe to do that. Yet foreigners ask us this question a lot."

For an insight into Turkey, The Sofia Echo spoke to Metin Akin, a Turkish expatriate and director in Bulgaria of a Turkish news agency.

Asked why Turkey was targeted, he said there were different interpretations.

"One of the interpretations is that is an attempt to cast a blow on a country like Turkey where a big part of the population is Muslim. Another interpretation is the creation of closer co-operation between Turkey, Israel and the United States."

If this last scenario was accepted, he said, it would seem that there were other powers behind the attacks.

According to another scenario, Turkey was announced by Al-Qaeda as among its targets.

"This was with the sole purpose to demonstrate that they are present in Turkey, too. This is a very good commercial for Al-Qaeda, to demonstrate its presence in a country like Turkey."

He said Turkish society had united in protesting against terrorism.

As to the media reports in Turkey saying that Sofia could be the next target of terrorism, he said: "The reason for this is that 24 Chassa daily is not reading its own newspaper".

He said the mass-circulation daily had earlier published such a report, which was quoted by the agency Akin works for. In turn, Turkey's Sabah newspaper, a subscriber to the agency, published the report - and their report, in turn, was picked up by 24 Chassa.

Asked how safe he felt in Sofia, he said, "After September 11 there is no country in the world, where people can feel absolutely relaxed. Nobody knows what will happen."

However, he said, co-operation between Turkey and Bulgaria in the fight against terrorism was "very good".