VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSF #1661/01 3471113
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY TEXT ADX: 5AA93C 600)
P 131113Z DEC 06 ZEL
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2949
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0686
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 0137
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0015
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 1368
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0399
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0138
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0491
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0227
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0549
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0040
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 1920
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA 1086
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 0935

UNCLAS SOFIA 001661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C  O  R  R  E  C  T  E  D   C  O  P  Y (FIXED PARA NUMBERS) 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/PGI ALAIN NORMAN, EUR/ACE DAVID HODGKINSON, 
INL ELIZABETH CARROLL AND CHRISTINE CLINE; 
EMBASSY BUCHAREST FOR QUINN ANDRUS 
DOJ/OPDAT FOR ALEXANDRE, EHRENSTAMM, ACKER 
DOJ/ICITAP FOR TREVILIAN, THOMAS, DUCOT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KCRM EAID KJUS KCOR SNAR KPAO BU
SUBJECT: ANTI-OC TRAINING CENTER: BULGARIA READY TO HOST 
 
REF: STATE 193421 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Introduction and Summary: Mission strongly supports 
establishment of a South Eastern European Regional Organized 
Crime Training Center (SEEROCTC).  We believe a center 
located in Bulgaria will advance U.S. rule of law objectives 
here and regionally.  A center in Bulgaria would build on an 
existing USG-led program.  With initial U.S. funding and 
direction, we can shape the center in terms of Bulgarian and 
regional capacity building, programs and curricula, and 
management structure and internal controls.  With the 
participation of all Southeastern European Cooperative 
Initiative (SECI) member states, the center will use a 
standardized curriculum of the world's best practices and a 
"train-the-trainer" approach to develop a self-sustaining 
group of regional anti-OC trainers. We have requested 
considerable USG funds for other rule of law programs, and we 
recognize it is a lot to ask for additional monies for this 
center.  We are nonetheless convinced that to upgrade GOB's 
capacity ) from law enforcement through prosecutors to 
magistrates ) we need to target effectively each of the 
components. Hence this request for additional funds. 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Bulgarian government (through the Interior 
Ministry) is budgeting approximately 500,000 leva 
(approximately USD 330,000) of its own resources for the 
center; it is confident it can secure 1.5 million euros from 
the European Transition Facility Fund for the center.  We 
have spoken with several EU member state embassies here about 
supporting the center; they are positive (though cannot yet 
confirm any funding commitments) about the need and 
importance of a regional center that builds law enforcement 
capacity.  The MOI assures us that the center will operate, 
with or without U.S. financing.  But a U.S. contribution will 
set the charter, scope, direction and management for the 
center.  Post seeks two years of USG funding of $450,000/year 
to jump-start the project and provide support for two U.S. 
experts to develop the center before handing it over to the 
GOB. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Establishing the center in Bulgaria be a major step 
toward a more effective and unified approach to fighting 
organized crime in South Eastern Europe and would strengthen 
Bulgaria's own rule-of-law regime, a major goal for the 
mission.  This center would not compete with ILEA (which has 
a different mandate) nor with SECI's Bucharest center (which 
has a different focus).  Rather, the organized crime training 
center would supplement and complement those other 
institutions and build regional capacity and cooperation in 
what is a burgeoning regional problem.  End introduction and 
summary. 
 
¶4. (U) Answers are keyed to the questions in reftel. 
 
¶5. (U) Institution's current capability of offering 
standardized training on fighting organized crime through 
enhanced international cooperation. 
 
-- (SBU) SEEROCTC would expand the work currently done by the 
Regional Criminal Justice Initiative's (RCJI) Anti-Organized 
Crime Project.  RCJI's established curriculum trains 
Bulgarian investigators, prosecutors, and judges in the 
theory and practice of fighting organized crime (OC).  To 
date, 78 law enforcement personnel have completed the Anti-OC 
Project's initial course on investigation and will return in 
the first part of 2007 to attend more in-depth courses on 
surveillance, covert activities, use of technology, and the 
management of undercover operations.  RCJI "trains the 
trainer" to assure program sustainability, and many of the 
 
initial students are already teaching the basics to the 
incoming classes. SEEROCTC would build on RCJI's foundation 
to include law enforcement personnel from each SECI 
member-state.  The first group of students would learn the 
basics from experienced instructors and, as they advance to 
more specialized courses, would begin teaching the incoming 
classes.  Using this "force multiplier," SEEROCTC would 
continuously increase the regional base of qualified 
instructors, expanding its reach and securing sustainability. 
 
¶6. (U) If not fully capable, how much time, money, or other 
inputs would be required to achieve this capacity? 
 
-- (SBU) As a result of the groundwork laid by RCJI, the 
program could become international in scope in a relatively 
short period of time.  At a recent regional Ministers of 
Interior meeting, all SECI member states agreed to send their 
personnel to the future training center.  Several EU member 
states have also expressed a willingness to send instructors. 
 
 
-- (SBU) Initial funding for the program would ideally come 
from the GOB, the USG, SECI member participants, and the EU. 
The U.S. would provide 450,000/year for two years for two 
U.S. experts who would oversee the start-up of the training 
center.  Member-states would contribute in-kind. The GOB is 
ready to provide 500,000 leva (appr. 330,000 USD) and is 
working to secure 1.5 million euros (1.9 million USD) from EU 
funds for SEEROCTC's start-up, to host the center at MOI's 
National Academy (a fully equipped training facility in 
Sofia), and to house and train SECI students and instructors 
at no cost.  The completion of a multi-national SEEROC 
Operating Agreement would require time, but the training 
center itself can become functional prior to the finalization 
of the agreement.  In fact, getting the center started would 
go a long way in speeding up the slow pace of international 
agreements. 
 
¶7. (U) What is the level of political will/commitment by host 
government? 
 
-- (SBU) The GOB is fully behind the SEEROCTC concept and 
recognizes transnational cooperation as an effective tool 
against transnational organized crime.  Minister of Interior 
Rumen Petkov and Prosecutor General Boris Velchev have signed 
a joint statement of support for the center, recognizing that 
from its inception it will begin a transition to full 
Bulgarian ownership and support. GOB's resolve is backed by 
its considerable financial pledge, and the MOI is working on 
securing the 1.5 million euros from the European Transition 
Facility Fund. 
 
-- (SBU) The government is ready to host the center at the 
National Academy in Sofia, a facility that has newly 
refurbished dormitories, a cafeteria, a library, capacity for 
multiple language translation, and practical training areas. 
The GOB has also committed to house and train the students 
and instructors at no cost; partner nations would only be 
required to pay for transportation and meals and incidentals. 
 
¶8. (U) How sustainable, in the long term and without USG 
funding, would SEEROC be? 
 
-- (SBU) Initial USG involvement would establish the 
foundation of the center's sustainability. The two years of 
funding would provide for the posting two U.S. experts, TDY 
experts, and limited equipment donations. During this time, 
the two experts will assist in establishing a SEEROCTC 
Advisory Board, developing the center's policies and 
procedures, broadening the curriculum, and training the next 
SEEROCTC director.  By the end of the two years, the center 
will establish a core group of SECI member instructors who 
will continue training future students and increasing the 
pool of potential instructors.  At the same time, the U.S. 
experts will build up the capacity of the management staff to 
assure the center's smooth and effective operation once the 
GOB takes over ownership. Bulgaria also plans to seek 
additional support from participating members and EU 
project-driven funding.  As the center produces results -- an 
exponentially increasing number of police, prosecutors, and 
judges specialized in fighting organized crime -- the GOB bid 
for EU funds should become stronger. 
 
¶9. (U) How engaged is Embassy Sofia with SEEROCTC? 
 
-- (SBU) The concept of a regional Organized Crime training 
center is a joint effort between the mission and the GOB. 
Promoting rule of law is one of the mission's top priorities, 
and helping Bulgaria battle organized crime is an essential 
component of that goal.  SEEROCTC's concept is the result of 
close coordination between RCJI, OPDAT, and post in defining 
the idea, drafting the initial proposal to INL, and molding 
it into the proposal under consideration. Post recognizes 
that organized crime is a transnational phenomenon that must 
be dealt with through a transnational approach.  As such, 
post is committed to supporting the project to establish the 
center. 
 
¶10. (U) What non-USG entities provide support to the 
institution? 
 
-- (SBU) The GOB's commitment of 500,000 Euros is the only 
solid funding for the center. Both post and the GOB are 
actively engaged with EU counterparts to drum up support. 
According to the MOI, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and 
Spain have already committed to sending their experts to the 
center. 
 
¶11. (U) What are the political/diplomatic advantages in 
utilizing the institution in Bulgaria? 
 
-- (SBU) Establishing a regional training center in Bulgaria 
would go along way in strengthening regional cooperation in 
fighting organized crime and furthering post's priorities. 
Bulgaria's leadership recognizes the benefit of modern 
strategic and operational training in dismantling OC 
networks.  Developing a corps of law enforcement teams 
specialized in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting 
organized crime would bring some needed successes. A common 
history and culture contribute to the good relations Bulgaria 
has with its South Eastern European neighbors, a plus for leading 
a regional Balkan approach to a common problem.  Training the 
participants to a common standard would facilitate greater 
cooperation and effectiveness, making member-nations better 
partners against organized criminals.  The center would 
coordinate with and complement existing regional entities, 
like SECI, ILEA, and TADOC.  TADOC could prove a useful 
partner -- its focus on combating drug trafficking and 
extensive work with Middle Eastern countries could complement 
SEEROCTC's Balkan focus.  The center would continue the work 
of many USG initiatives to support and strengthen GOB's 
efforts against organized crime and promote the rule of law 
in Bulgaria. 
BEYRLE