These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on March 27 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.
Politics
- Interior Minister Roumen Petkov, under the pseudonym of “the Lighter”, was included in an investigation related to the fight against drug smuggling, Dnevnik daily said. The former head of the chief directorate for combating organised crime, Vanio Tanov, revealed the information before the parliamentary internal order committee.
- The Prosecution and State Agency for National Security will examine the validity of all special intelligence methods used over the past two years, Dnevnik said. Deputy Prosecutor-General Kamen Sitnilski has ordered the probe.
- Interior Minister Roumen Petkov met groups subject to investigations because of Bulgaria’s EU membership, according to a new letter sent by the State Agency for National Security to Parliament, Sega daily said. In December 2006, the Interior Ministry received certain information regarding the exacerbation of tensions between two criminal groups, which could affect Bulgaria’s EU accession on January 1 2007. The ministry decided that Petkov was the appropriate person to deal with the situation.
Social
- Abandoned children will be eligible for adoption six months after their desertion, according to amendments to the Family Code, Novinar daily said. The adoption will be completed without the agreement of the parents.
Economy
- Bulgaria lacks nearly 5000 IT specialists and the deficit was growing, Dnevnik said. Hence, most companies were ready to take any candidates or offer them internships.
- Bad service is deterring Scandinavian tourists from coming to Bulgaria, Dnevnik said. The big tour operators registered an unexpected 50 per cent drop in summer bookings.
