Justice Minister: New Unit to Fight  High-level Corruption

Sofia, February 27 (BTA) - Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov told
journalists on Friday that a new unit will be created for the
criminal prosecution of high-level corruption. He explained that
 the unit will be based on the prosecuting magistracy's
experience in creating such units. This experience, in Ivanov's
words, was validated in the European Commission's last report,
albeit reservations concerning the lack of results.

The Justice Ministry will focus on the serious restructuring of
the institutional and legislative framework for the prevention
of conflict of interest via administrative means and preventing
corruption with administrative measures, Ivanov explained.
According to the Minister there are two instruments for
achieving this - preventing the conflict of interest and
carefully examining the property of persons holding high office.
 Political decisions are yet to be made about how this
infrastructure will be institutionalized, he said, adding that
the EC's recommendation is about a single body and that these
powers are currently divided between a few separate bodies.

Ivanov described as absurd the recent media reports that the
Government has set an objective to have at least 20-30
high-ranking officials sentenced. 

A title of "24 Chassa's" Friday issue reads: "Imprison 30 senior
 politicians and bureaucrats implicated in corruption: this task
 is assigned by the Government to the new special unit that will
 combat high-level corruption. The special unit will consist of
at least 200  prosecutors, investigating magistrates, operatives
 and tax inspectors."

The Justice Minister said that the part concerning the 30 people
 is absurd, adding that he has no explanation how the media got
this information, given the fact that specific numbers are not
being discussed.

Answering a question, Ivanov said that part of the Center for
Prevention and Countering Corruption and Organized Crime's
functions obviously must be used in a better way, which will
happen, while the institutional decisions are yet to be made.