site.btaInterior Ministry Budget Gap May Reach BGN 210 Mln - Minister

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Interior Ministry Budget
Gap May Reach BGN 210 Mln -
Minister


Sofia, November 16 (BTA) - The gap in the Interior Ministry
budget may reach 210 million leva, Interior Minister Vesselin
Vouchkov said presenting the line-up of his Political Cabinet on
Sunday. The Minister assured, however, that there will be money
for wages.

Vouchkov recalled that 98 million leva have been transferred
from the Interior Ministry budget to the National Health
Insurance Fund. Part of the deficit, to the amount of 85 million
leva, will most probably be compensated through restructuring
within the Ministry, Vouchkov said further. He explained that
part of the expenditures have not been envisaged in this year's
budget.

The migration costs account for the biggest share, said the
Minister adding that problems in this sector should be resolved
with funds outside the Interior Ministry budget. A large part of
the equipment, transported to the border, is not needed there
any longer. The construction of the fence along the border with
Turkey continues. It is a part of the coalition agreement,
Minister Vouchkov explained.

A functional analysis of the Interior Ministry with the
involvement of international experts will begin within two
weeks. This is also a part of the agreement of the ruling
parties, said Vouchkov.

There will be no purges among the senior staff but everyone will
be assessed in accordance with the performance. The issue
whether Svetoslav Lazarov will keep the position of Interior
Ministry Chief Secretary has not been discussed yet because he
is appointed for a certain term, according to the latest
amendments to the Interior Ministry Act. The National Assembly
Home Affairs Committee will hold an extensive debate on new
changes of the law.

According to the Minister, the maintenance of the New Agency for
Technical Operations incurred double as high costs on the
state. After its separation from the Interior Ministry, part of
its functions were allegedly duplicated with the ones of the
State Agency for National Security (SANS). The SANS costs were
also reportedly high. However, any merger has not been
considered yet. Under one of the proposed changes of the legal
framework is that only institutions, which do not have relevant
equipment, should apply for the use of special surveillance
means.

Vouchkov declared that he will have three deputies: Filip Gounev
and Krassimir Tsipov, who performed the same function under the
previous government, and Tsvyatko Georgiev. Tsipov will liaise
with Parliament and will be in charge of legislative
initiatives, Gounev will be responsible for the dialogue with
non-governmental organizations and trade unions and Tsvyatko
Georgiev - for budget and public procurement. /LI/TK/