Outgoing Foreign Minister Solomon Passi told a special news conference yesterday that he rejected allegations of having committed espionage on behalf of Israel. On Tuesday, the prosecution office announced that it was to question Passi and Finance Minister Milen Velchev about satellite connections established between the Foreign Ministry and Bulgarian embassies abroad. Bulgarian security services had given the Foreign Ministry permission for the creation of a satellite communication network, Passi said.
The system enables rapid communication with Bulgarian representatives abroad. It is used mainly for research in connection with visa and passport applications and in critical situations, when other communication means are not suitable or available. Documents showing the legality of the connection were presented to the prosecution office yesterday. Passi said that all the equipment was located in Sofia and not in Israel. The network was used only for the transmission of public information that could not threaten national security, Passi said. Communication specialists said the system was highly reliable and used only for the transmission of public information. (24 Chassa)