THE development of a Balkan law enforcement centre against specific crimes - such as cyber crime, money laundering and trafficking in people - was among the topics discussed in a meeting between Roumen Petkov, Bulgaria's Interior Minister, and John Negroponte, director of national intelligence for the United States, Bulgarian news agency BTA said on February 15.

Bulgaria will be responsible for the logistics of the future centre and will provide office premises. The two officials met on February 14 in Washington, DC, the second day of Petkov's seven-day visit to the United States.

After the meeting with Negroponte, Petkov told Bulgarian media that the US regards Bulgaria as a source of stability in South East Europe and the Western Balkans. He described bilateral relations as "fine".

Petkov was accompanied by Deputy Interior Minister Boiko Kotsev, Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Ilia Iliev, and Ivan Chobanov, director of the National Security Service.

Petkov briefed Negroponte on the new Interior Ministry Act in Bulgaria and on forthcoming changes in the ministry. Another issue discussed was the effective exchange of information between Bulgaria and the US on a real-time basis for the purpose of analysing the situation in the Balkans and averting terrorist attacks. Negroponte accepted Petkov's invitation to visit Bulgaria in coming months.

Earlier the same day, Petkov met also with US Justice Department officials and discussed issues concerning the freezing and forfeit of criminal assets and the suppression of trafficking in people. The signing of a new extradition agreement was also examined. Petkov presented Bulgaria's view on finding a solution, which would allow US armed forces to be stationed in Bulgaria.

"This will generate stability and security," Petkov commented. An agreement on the use of Bulgarian military bases by US soldiers is expected to be signed during US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's forthcoming visit to Bulgaria.

Petkov's planned session with US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was cancelled because Gonzales's presence was required at the White House in connection with a report on the response to Hurricane Katrina.

The Interior Minister's programme also consisted of a meeting with Raymond Kelly, police commissioner of New York City. The two negotiated an exchange of information about drug trafficking and illegal immigration between the New York police and Bulgaria's Interior Ministry. Bulgaria was commended for its efforts in this field by the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) with the UN Security Council, Ellen Margrethe Loj. She expressed her hope that Bulgaria will share its experience with its neighbouring Balkan countries.

"The CTC highly appreciates Bulgaria's progress and this will certainly help Bulgaria in its future EU accession," Petkov said.

After meeting Michael A. Braun, chief of operations of the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Michele Leonhart, DEA's deputy administrator, the same day, Petkov said: "It would be realistic to have a DEA representative in Sofia".

Both sides affirmed that the next step in the interaction between Bulgarian and American police would be to set up a DEA office in Sofia. Officers of the National Service for Combating Organised Crime to attend DEA's annual conference in Canada in May 2006 were also negotiated. Also in May, the DEA will send a team to train Bulgarian police officers in Sofia.