site.btaDefence Information Service Director Tenders Resignation, But Matter is Put on Hold

Defence Information Service Director Tenders Resignation, But Matter is Put on Hold

Sofia, October 5 (BTA) - Defence Information Service (DIS)
Director Yordan Bakalov tendered his resignation to Defence
Minister Nikolay Nenchev on Monday, but the Minister put the
matter on hold until new legislation making Bakalov unqualified
for his job is either vetoed by President Rosen Plevneliev or
promulgated in the "State Gazette," the Defence Ministry
reported in a press release.

The Military Intelligence Act was amended on October 1 to
require the holder of the office of DIS Director to be a
high-ranking military officer on active duty. Bakalov does not
meet this new requirement.

Submitting his resignation to Nenchev, Bakalov pointed out that
the amendments make him unfit to serve as DIS chief. Nenchev
told Bakalov he will postpone his decision. He assured Bakalov
that he highly values his qualities and remains confident that
he is capable of reforming the DIS and maintaining good contacts
 with partner services in other countries.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said he stands behind Bakalov.
Borissov said he has heard about Bakalov's resignation, but will
 not comment until after he is familiarized with the matter. The
 Prime Minister said he likes Bakalov a lot. "He is not someone
taken off the street," he said. Even though he is not in the
Armed Forces, "he is good enough for us to make use of his
qualities," Borissov said.

The Prime Minister supported the Reformist Bloc's call for
President Rosen Plevneliev to veto the Military Intelligence Act
 amendments which have rendered Bakalov unqualified for the
post. Borissov said he will meet with the parliamentary group of
 his GERB party to ask why some of its members supported the
amendments. He said their support for the changes came as a
surprise to him.