Outgoing US Ambassador Talks with Prosecutor General

Sofia, July 10 (BTA) - Outgoing US Ambassador to Bulgaria Marcie Ries met with Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov on Friday before leaving office later in the month, the Prosecution said in a press release.

Ambassador Ries thanked the Prosecutor General for the good dialogue and cooperation between them.

The two discussed the Bulgarian judicial reform. Tsatsarov expressed his firm support for the Judicial Reform Strategy adopted by the National Assembly, saying he will back any sensible idea which would promote the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. He stressed that the judicial reform should not be approached emotionally and that the judicial branch of government should not be subjugated to the other branches.

According to Tsatsarov, the amendments to the Judicial System Act and to the procedural laws are necessary to ensure law and order and the protection of citizens. He favours the division of the Supreme Judicial Council into a college of prosecutors and a college of judges, provided that the political quota in either college does not become dominant and their members are elected for their professional merits.

Ries said constructive dialogue is crucial. She remarked that the anti-corruption bill prepared by Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva provides a sound basis for fighting corruption successfully. Investors in Bulgaria need a fair judicial process, the diplomat said.

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Ambassador Marcie B. Ries announced that she will step down from her position as the US Ambassador to Bulgaria, effective on July 28, the US Embassy said in a press release. Her three-year tour in Bulgaria caps off a 37-year career with the US State Department and marks her retirement from the State Department's diplomatic corps.