site.bta President Plevneliev Vetoes Amendments to Military Intelligence Act

President Plevneliev Vetoes Amendments to Military Intelligence Act

Sofia, October 15 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev returns to
the National Assembly for new debating provisions of the
Military Intelligence Act, which were adopted conclusively on
October 1, the head of State's press secretariat said Thursday.

The amendments in question require the holder of the office of
Defence Information Service (DIS) Director to be a high-ranking
military officer on active duty. The current DIS director,
Yordan Bakalov, does not meet this requirement.

According to the President, there are no convincing arguments
for the introduction of this requirement. The position of DIS
Director can be occupied by a civilian who has professional
experience in the field of national security or the armed
forces, reads the head of State's reasoning for the veto.

The Defence Information Service carries out tasks related not
only to the country's defence but also to national security. The
 tasks which have a strictly military character and require a
specific military expert opinion, are only one part of all the
tasks that DIS is entrusted with, the President notes.
 
Plevneliev also says that the range of activities carried out by
 DIS, as well as the DIS Director's powers as determined by the
law, do in no way require that the director be a high-ranking
service member on active duty. The head of State disagrees with
the position that every single military officer, because of his
high rank and regardless of the type of armed forces where he
has gained experience, possesses the necessary knowledge that
would give him an advantage when managing DIS.

Plevneliev calls on the MPs to hold a new debate on the
requirement that the DIS Director and the Deputy DIS Director
have gained their professional experience only in the armed
forces or in the state bodies and structures which carry out
diplomatic, defence, intelligence, counter-intelligence,
protective, and operational and seach activities, and which are
represented in the Security Council with the Cabinet.
  
The President also calls on Parliament to reconsider the rule on
 which experience will be recognized as professional in the
sphere of national security for the civilians in the armed
forces, with consideration for the functions of the Defence
Information Service.