/ world today news/ The PG of GERB proposes the cancellation of the adopted Decision to adopt the procedural rules for the selection of a new composition of the Commission for the disclosure of the documents and for declaring the affiliation of Bulgarian citizens to the State Security and Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian People’s Army. This is stated in a statement of GERB distributed to the media.
GERB proposed the scandalous candidacy of MP Anton Todorov for the chairmanship of the commission, which caused great public discontent, and the opposition demanded the closure of the commission.
“GERB assesses as incomprehensible and unacceptable the position of certain parties represented in the parliament, which declare themselves in favor of closing the Commission for the disclosure of documents and for declaring the affiliation of Bulgarian citizens to the State Security and Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian People’s Army”, the declaration also states of GERD.
We publish its full text:
“The PG of GERB assesses as incomprehensible and unacceptable the position of certain parties represented in parliament, which announced to close the Commission for the disclosure of the documents and for declaring the affiliation of Bulgarian citizens to the State Security and the intelligence services of the Bulgarian People’s Army. We categorically oppose the effort to cover up the truth about the repressive actions of the secret services during the communist regime, and we continue to believe that it is the Commission’s duty to guarantee the right of Bulgarian citizens to learn the whole truth about this period.
Bulgaria is a state governed by the rule of law, a member state of the European Union and the originator of the observance of European democratic values. As part of the European People’s Party, GERB stands against the idea of closing the files, which will lead to the restriction of democracy and to the deprivation of people’s right and freedom to access information.
The philosophy that former employees of the State Security (DS) should be glorified is extremely unacceptable to us. Namely, this is what is aimed at by destroying the Commission and turning it into an Institute of National Memory – against the creation of which, by the way, the parties that now want it had serious objections years ago. What else but a short political memory do our political opponents exhibit today? We ask: why did you backtrack on your decision to set up an investigative body for the files? Bulgarian citizens remember the crimes of the communist repressive regime. But they also have the right to know who the DS agents are and what they have been doing. Therefore, we, the people’s representatives from all parties, are obliged to approach responsibly and find the most correct solution to protect the national interest.
What sign would we give to Europe and the world if Bulgaria closed the Commission? What will we explain to the heirs of the victims of the communist regime who continue to seek justice and retribution? Will we deprive future generations of the truth about this dark period of Bulgarian history? Let’s take a good example from other countries that were ruled by a totalitarian regime – each of them conducted lustration and introduced legislative measures aimed at banning former DS officials from having access to state government. In Germany, the commission investigating the dossiers has existed since 1989. There they extended its existence until 2019, and in Bulgaria we want to close it only 10 years after its creation?!
The reasons for terminating the work of the Commission for disclosure of the documents and for declaring the affiliation of Bulgarian citizens to the State Security and Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian People’s Army are unconvincing and unfounded. The commission must continue its work. GERB is against the proposal to close the Commission, because its existence and effective functioning are commitments we have made to the Bulgarian society, the Union of the Repressed, to the victims of communism and their heirs.
In support and protection of the democratic rights and freedoms of the Bulgarian citizens, the PG of GERB proposes to cancel the adopted Decision on the adoption of the procedural rules for the election of a new composition of the Commission for the disclosure of the documents and for declaring the affiliation of Bulgarian citizens to the State Security and the intelligence services of the Bulgarian People’s Army. To hold a broad public debate with the active participation of parliamentary parties, non-governmental organizations, citizens and public organizations. The subject of illuminating the whole truth about the communist regime should not be politicized and manipulated. Future legislative activity and the new composition of the Commission should be carefully considered and discussed. That is why GERB urges us to accept the conduct of this dialogue not only as a technology of replacing one composition of the Commission with another, but above all as our duty to society, to previous and future generations with the resulting responsibilities.”
“The Dossier Commission is already in my past. I’m moving on!” Anton Todorov commented on Facebook.
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