site.btaEx-defence Minister Naydenov: Defence Ministry Turned into Feudal Estate by Agrarians, Reformist Bloc

110 POLITICS - DEFENCE - EX-MINISTER - CRITICISM

Ex-defence Minister Naydenov: Defence Ministry
Turned into Feudal Estate by Agrarians, Reformist
Bloc


Sofia, March 13 (BTA) - Socialist MP and former defence minister
Angel Naydenov told journalists in Parliament that there was a
strong negative tendency at the Defence Ministry to dismiss
experts and make political appointments. He noted specifically
changes in the management of two fully state-owned companies:
TEREM, which specializes in the repair and upgrade of the armed
forces' equipment, and Supply and Trading.

Naydenov said the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (BANU),
whose leader Nikolay Nenchev is the Defence Minister, tends to
dominate the Ministry. "It seems that BANU has been awarded a
concession for the Defence Ministry, which is turning into a
feudal estate of the Agrarians and their partners within the
Reformist Bloc coalition," he said.

Allegedly, 15 people have been dismissed from TEREM, including
the internal auditor, lawyers and experts. A new Board of
Directors was appointed, headed by Stoil Yakov, leader of the
Democrats for Strong Bulgaria in Petrich (Southwestern Bulgaria)
and owner of a hothouse business, said Naydenov.

The Socialist MP added that there was absolutely no vision for
the holding company's development and its economic performance
was poor.

As to the Supply and Trading company, 20 people have been
dismissed, including the manager, his deputies, the lawyers and
heads of departments, said Naydenov. He said the persons
responsible for inventory management were dismissed without any
stock-taking at the warehouses.

Naydenov said: "The Prime Minister should try to curb the
appetite of GERB's partners about defence and the armed forces."


Reacting to Naydenov's criticisms about appointments of people
close to the Defence Minister at the Defence Ministry's
companies, Reformist Bloc Co-floor Leader Radan Kanev told
journalists they had been provoked by audits there.

Kanev said that TEREM was under suspicion for deals at
unrealistic prices, under-the-counter payments and leases of
warehouses at very low prices. He said: "TEREM is one of several
major state-owned companies in Bulgaria, and it has been
subject to theft, abuse and deflection of funds to party
coffers." LI/DD