The Secret Security Measures taken during Bill Clinton’s visit to Bulgaria in 1999

The president and his daughter travel aboard a military cargo plane through RSM and Kosovo to avoid bombed Serbia

6 people from the NSO move the cars in front of Peychinov’s establishment in order to park the US limousine next to the door

He straightens the guards as if he wants to drink untested Bulgarian beer and enters an underground bar with one entrance and no backup exit

Due to unprecedented security measures, figures disguised as Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea board the presidential Air Force One at Sofia Airport. The time is 8:20 in the morning, and the date is November 23, 1999. The American president (1993-2001), who was in our country again at the end of last week on the initiative of the head of KRIB Kiril Domuschiev, visited the Bulgarian capital for the first time 24 years ago d. at the invitation of his Bulgarian colleague Petar Stoyanov.

Simultaneously with the iconic armored plane, a US military machine takes off, where in fact the leader of the USA is. The third is carrying the journalists covering his European visit. Iliya Lazarov, then head of the head of state’s office, told this to “24 hours – 168 stories”. The cover action is possible because at the end of November the visibility in the capital is not very good, especially early in the morning. Senders can be counted on the fingers – only four. There are no members of the media who doubt that the person entering the armored plane is really Bill Clinton. There is also an audience missing.

“It wasn’t hard to secure, but it was classified information. It was just me, Philip Dimitrov as ambassador in Washington, and two people from the American embassy. Again, so that there are no doubts, we officially sent him according to the protocol rules, although another person went up the stairs to “Air Force 1”, added Lazarov.

The reason for all this secrecy lies in the complex international situation. From March 24 to June 11 of the same year, NATO bombed the former Yugoslavia. The operation codenamed “Union Force” began after the massacre in Racak, where the forces of Slobodan Milosevic killed dozens of civilians, including adults and children. For the Americans, however, the blows are under the motto “Noble Anvil”.

Due to tensions between Washington and Belgrade, Clinton’s plane cannot pass through Yugoslav airspace on its way back home. That is why it flies over North Macedonia and Kosovo.

This is just one of all the measures that have been taken for his security. In our country, the National Security Service (NSS) conducted a unique operation when he changed his mind several times whether to have dinner at Augustin Peychinov’s rotisserie on Hristo Belchev Street. The visit is scheduled, then canceled and at the last minute re-enters the program. “So that his limousine could park right in front of the entrance of the establishment on the narrow street, 6 employees of the National Security Service moved the cars that were in the place to their hands,” said the former head of the NSO, Gen. Dimitar Vladimirov. They didn’t want to risk it, since otherwise the US president would have had to walk about 150-200 meters..

At all times, the service operates in conjunction with the US Secret Service. They came for inspection in Sofia a month and a half before the arrival of the distinguished guest. They research all the places that the leader of their country will visit. At the working meeting, two representatives warned Gen. Vladimirov, that their people act quickly and that no one opposes them, because they have an advantage in decisions.

”Then I told them not to try to hold our guys down because they might end up guarding Clinton alone. In the end, there was no interference between the teams”, commented the general to “24 hours – 168 stories”.

However, there are several situations in which the behavior of the American president has the bodyguards on edge because it goes beyond the scope of the agreement. Especially with the surprise that Petar Stoyanov offers him, to have fun in the bar “Stragaloto” on “Rakovski” street (today “Bila” – b.r.). The problem is, he’s in a dungeon. There is only one entrance and no back-up exit in case of risky circumstances.

Therefore, the Secret Service is categorically against visiting the night club. The idea came out of the specified program by the Bulgarian president during the official dinner at the “Marinella” hotel, then “Kempinski-Zografski”. America’s 42nd head of state agrees.

“I will never forget the look on their security chief’s face. Both he and the other employees were very surprised and worried – Iliya Lazarov said. – They tried to dissuade him, but he was determined. The second thing with which he stood them on their toes was that he drank Bulgarian beer in the bar, which they had not checked.”

Already at the preliminary talks, the Secret Service warned the Bulgarians that it was not a matter of mistrust, but absolutely clean food and drinks must be provided, and even at the official meeting in the presidency, they offered him a glass of water. Everything is thoroughly revised at dinner as well. That is why the unidentified Bulgarian beer, which Clinton surprisingly drinks from, really shocked the Americans. Even though the NSO had closed the Shredder 24 hours earlier and had checked for explosions and chemical substances.

The owner was warned to block the entrance and wait to see if the two presidents would come to the underground bar. The singers were also on standby so that they could sing if the guest agreed to go there. The audience was made up of friends of Petar Stoyanov and went through a frame and x-ray check before entering.

“Bill Clinton really liked it there. He looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself. He is from the generation of the 50s and 60s. They are rebels. And at that moment he was already at the end of his two mandates and could afford some liberties,” Lazarov recalled. In the end, everything ends successfully, the guest even plays the saxophone in front of the excited attendees at the bar.

Even before the American leader came, Petar Stoyanov wanted to offer him something original. They chose “Storgaloto” because it is in the center of Sofia and is a popular restaurant. The Bulgarian head of state personally indicates it as an option. But they kept everything a secret until the end. Only three people have been initiated into the plan – Lazarov, the heads of the presidential protocol and NSO Yaroslav Golev and Gen. Dimitar Vladimirov.

A few security guys too – to check every nook and cranny, snacks and drinks.

“The event was on the verge, it could happen, it could not happen. My impression is that Clinton felt free. Still, let’s not forget that the American president may be the most powerful man in the world while in office, but he’s in a golden cage. His personal freedom is limited”, says Lazarov.

And indeed – only while he is in Sofia, 8 employees of the Secret Service and 6 from the NSO are close to the guest and monitor every movement around him. 1,500 policemen ensure the protection of the perimeter in which he resides. Many of them are civilians and are in the first ranks of the crowd at the rally on Alexander Nevsky Square. There, Clinton gave a speech, the event coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the first rallies in 1989. Knowing that the American Democrat likes to interact with people, they were tasked with standing in front to shake his hand. This is the second screening, after everyone present has gone through the frame and x-ray checkpoint once. Something that is now a normal practice at concerts and gatherings in the squares, but then it was specially made..

A problem arises when flowers start being presented to the American president, but they are also X-rayed.

For security reasons, the NSO has raised huge flags of Bulgaria and the USA at the rally. “The Secret Service took positive note of the fact that we used natural cover so that we could not see contact,” said Gen. Dimitar Vladimirov. According to him, the partners showed great confidence in the NSO by allowing the guards to carry their weapons while guarding the US president.

At the same time, 10 snipers from the Special Counter-Terrorism Squad are lurking from the rooftops with muzzles pointed at him. The same thing happens at every single Clinton event in Sofia – it is monitored by the so-called high posts. There is a pre-prepared script for when and where he gets off or gets into the US-brought armored limousine.

The hardest part is getting the people on the streets or living around the places of his program to keep their windows closed. It is normal in such a situation for the Bulgarians to be curious to see the guest, but according to the NSO’s calculations, this should be avoided. In the end, everything ends without unnecessary risks. St. “Rakovski” is absolutely empty at the time when the guest is expected to pass by. Eyewitnesses say today that they have identified a gene. Kiril Radev, who currently heads the National Service for Combating Organized Crime, to walk around as a civilian. He personally inspects every nook and cranny for potential terrorists.

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