A REPORT in a Bulgarian-language weekly newspaper that Minister of Transport and Communications Nikolai Vassilev and Minister of Regional Development and Public Work Valentin Tserovski went to Greece on a trip paid for by Greece's Eurobank and OTE respectively caused serious controversy.
The newspaper alleged that Tserovski went to Athens at the invitation of the Greek telecommunications company OTE, which is one of the official sponsors of the Olympic Games and owner of the Bulgarian GSM operator Globul.
At the same time Vassilev was in the Greek capital at the invitation and the expense of Eurobank.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, said that Vassilev paid his own way during what was a private visit to Greece.
According to the ministry, Vassilev accepted the invitation of the bank to meet with a part of its management without making any financial commitments.
While in Athens, Vassilev was to meet with his Greek counterpart Mihailis Liapis, and meet potential Greek investors.
The Regional Ministry did not deny that Tserovski was in Athens at the expense of OTE but said that he was one of 40 state officials from across the world who were invited to attend the Olympic Games by the Greek company.
Government spokesman Dimitar Tsonev said that he could not comment on the personal choices of Vassilev and Tserovski because they were on their annual paid leave.
According to Tsonev, there was a code of ethics for public office bearers, which defined when, whether and how to accept such invitations.
Tsonev said that there was no evidence to suggest corruption.
Tsonev speculated that when they return, Vassilev and Tserovski would give an explanation to Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg because their trips to Athens were mostly business.
On returning from Athens earlier this week, Vassilev sent an SMS to most of the Bulgarian-language media saying that he would present to Saxe-Coburg invoices and proof that he paid for all expenses out of his own pocket.
"I hope that with this the discussion will be over," Vassilev wrote.
In an interview with Radio New Europe, Minister of Public Administration Dimitar Kalchev said that he would discuss with his colleagues in the Government that there be more detailed regulations about what gifts could be accepted by ministers and public servants.
Kalchev refused to comment on Vassilev's and Tserovski's visits to Athens but said he would not have accepted such invitations.
"One is better off to stay aside from such things because they might cause speculation," Kalchev said.
The newspaper alleged that Tserovski went to Athens at the invitation of the Greek telecommunications company OTE, which is one of the official sponsors of the Olympic Games and owner of the Bulgarian GSM operator Globul.
At the same time Vassilev was in the Greek capital at the invitation and the expense of Eurobank.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, said that Vassilev paid his own way during what was a private visit to Greece.
According to the ministry, Vassilev accepted the invitation of the bank to meet with a part of its management without making any financial commitments.
While in Athens, Vassilev was to meet with his Greek counterpart Mihailis Liapis, and meet potential Greek investors.
The Regional Ministry did not deny that Tserovski was in Athens at the expense of OTE but said that he was one of 40 state officials from across the world who were invited to attend the Olympic Games by the Greek company.
Government spokesman Dimitar Tsonev said that he could not comment on the personal choices of Vassilev and Tserovski because they were on their annual paid leave.
According to Tsonev, there was a code of ethics for public office bearers, which defined when, whether and how to accept such invitations.
Tsonev said that there was no evidence to suggest corruption.
Tsonev speculated that when they return, Vassilev and Tserovski would give an explanation to Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg because their trips to Athens were mostly business.
On returning from Athens earlier this week, Vassilev sent an SMS to most of the Bulgarian-language media saying that he would present to Saxe-Coburg invoices and proof that he paid for all expenses out of his own pocket.
"I hope that with this the discussion will be over," Vassilev wrote.
In an interview with Radio New Europe, Minister of Public Administration Dimitar Kalchev said that he would discuss with his colleagues in the Government that there be more detailed regulations about what gifts could be accepted by ministers and public servants.
Kalchev refused to comment on Vassilev's and Tserovski's visits to Athens but said he would not have accepted such invitations.
"One is better off to stay aside from such things because they might cause speculation," Kalchev said.
