The United States has signed an agreement with Bulgaria about combating drug trafficking and organised crime.

The agreement was signed on February 17 during a seven-day visit to the US by Interior Minister Roumen Petkov. Petkov’s delegation included Interior Ministry chief secretary General Ilia Iliev and General Ivan Chobanov, director of the National Security Service. The agreement envisages $4 million in US assistance to strengthen Bulgaria’s criminal justice system, help fight cyber crime and improve technical training and equipment in the forensic sector. Before signing the agreement, Petkov delivered a speech at the US Centre for International and Strategic Studies in Washington. He said that Bulgaria had made great efforts in the past few years to combat organised crime, including drug and human trafficking, and was also trying to identify bad elements within the administration and Parliament.

“Bulgaria’s membership of NATO and its bid to join the EU are part of the country’s goal to become a serious player on the international scene.”

A treaty between Bulgaria and US on joint military bases in Bulgaria could be signed in April, Petkov said. The bases could be used by NATO troops as well. The bases are part of Washington’s larger strategy to shift troops from locations in central Europe further east in order to keep a closer eye on current hot spots in the Middle East.The US signed a similar treaty with Bulgaria’s northern neighbour Romania in December 2005.

Earlier the same day, Petkov met FBI director Robert Mueller III, who demanded more effective measures against corruption in Bulgaria. Mueller expressed satisfaction with joint operations, welcomed the changes to the structures of Bulgarian Border Police and Customs, but said that these were seen as just the beginning of a process.The FBI had hopes in the Prosecutor’s Office’s functioning after the appointment of the new Prosecutor-General, Boris Velchev. According to Petkov, the FBI was ready to consider an enlargement of its Sofia office. The two officials discussed effective exchange of information on a full-range and real-time basis, an update of a 1924 agreement on extradition, and exchange of classified and personal information.

The same day Petkov also held talks with Michael Jackson, first deputy secretary of homeland security of the US. Jackson confirmed the opinion that US Secret Services’ presence in Bulgaria should be enhanced, and that more Bulgarian police should be trained in the US.

Petkov received US support in regard to the trial of five Bulgarian nurses held in Libya. The nurses are accused of deliberately infecting more than 400 Libyan children with HIV. US assistant secretary of state Daniel Fried met Petkov and said that US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice wanted to see the nurses released and on their way home.

“We hope that the tragic and unjust situation with the Bulgarian nurses will be solved and we will be satisfied only when the medics are back in Bulgaria,” Fried said.

After meeting Fried, Petkov told Bulgarian media that his visit to US was more than successful and it had exceeded his expectations.

“Our US colleagues regard Bulgaria as a necessary strategic partner,” Petkov said.