Quotables

We cannot sit back and pat ourselves on the back. The work to consolidate and preserve democratic gains must continue, in Bulgaria and indeed in all democracies. Maintaining the institutions of the rule of law and justice constitutes a foundation of democracy. We have to avoid the monopolization of government by a handful of powerful elites who capture access to the political institutions and public administration. This can be achieved only by ensuring competitiveness and civic engagement.

The book presented by the Center for the Study of Democracy – with financial support of the European Union – proves just that, namely that Bulgaria has not made its homework as far as the fight against organized crime and high level corruption is concerned. This has been said by a number of official political visitors both inside the country and abroad. The question of the study is "What can be done against the increasingly brazen symbiosis of policy makers and civil servants with grey business".

The British Government has been pleased to be a partner with CSD. The project had as its objective to improve the effectiveness of criminal justice in the border regions. This project is important for the European Union as a whole. Following accession, Bulgaria now manages over 1,100 kilometers of the EU's external border, with three non-EU countries (Serbia, Macedonia and Turkey) as well as the Black Sea. And for the UK, this project is another example of the excellent bilateral co-operation we enjoy with Bulgaria, working together now as partners within the EU in tackling shared challenges.

The Center for the Study of Democracy was one of the early participants in the democratic change in Bulgaria that the US government has supported. You all are aware of the broad and diverse portfolio that the Center manages. We are proud that the US government’s most successful partnership with the Center is in fighting corruption.

Bulgaria needs badly to match public investment with private funds to improve infrastructure and public services for the citizens and businesses. A major obstacle to achieving this is the lack of effective mechanisms for involving private business in the delivery of public services in an effective and transparent manner. Developing the legal framework for public-private partnerships, which CSD and the Center for International Private Enterprise pioneer, will not only help Bulgaria resolve public service challenges but will also enhance transparency, accountability and democratic governance.

The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) has performed invaluable service in monitoring anti-corruption reforms in Bulgaria. The rollout of this CSD methodology on corruption continues that fine tradition. The methodology is a comprehensive system of indicators. I can say with pride that it is based on a system supported by the United States, and specifically by USAID, for the past eight years. As an effective tool for measuring both the degree of corruption and the average citizen’s attitude towards it, CSD’s methodology helps government, NGO’s, media and the public combat the corrosive impact of corruption on civic life and commercial enterprise. We all commend CSD for this work.

"While arms export controls are relatively strict and Bulgaria's share in illicit trade is insignificant, no mechanisms exist to oversee internal flows of arms, a report by the Bulgarian Center for the Study of Democracy and the U.K. Saferworld group said. The two NGOs are calling for tighter control of small arms and more transparency in arms trade in Bulgaria. "With the intensification of the terror threat we need to make sure that our weapons would go to our friends and that our soldiers would not get shot at with Bulgarian-made rifles," said Philip Gunev, one of the authors of the report."

"CSD is a NGO with a very high reputation in Bulgaria which is known for its dedication to the fostering of building and promoting the reform process, has a good record in policy research as well as monitoring, building partnerships and providing assistance in drafting legislation and training. Affiliating with the GDLNetwork is very timely because the objectives of GDLN to share knowledge and providing modern technologies based learning tools match very well with the objectives of CSD itself. With the potential that CSD has and the prospects of integrating with the EU we believe that CSD is well equipped to become provider of knowledge and of learning to the overall network."

"Southeast Europe is coming back into the European mainstream. The region is shedding its long-standing image as Europe's 'powder keg'. A return to the dark days of conflict is ever more implausible"..."(The) progress must continue...the countries must continue to build democracy, to root out crime and corruption, and to establish the rule of law".