March 28, 2006

By the end of the week the Foreign Ministry would likely cancel the EU consultation agreement with Israeli lobbyist Shimon Sheves, mediapool.bg reported.

On Monday President Georgi Purvanov requested investigation of the deal and its eventual annulment. Earlier the Foreign Minister selected Sheves' company I.J. International Inc as Bulgaria's official EU lobbyist.

Media reports revealed the company already received at least $170 000 for agreements signed with former finance minister Milen Velchev. Authorities refused giving exact information on the figures.

The parameters of the agreement are also kept secret and will be announced only after the annulment of the contract with Sheves, mediapool.bg reported.

Velchev said he has not carried out talks with any company related to Sheves. The Finance Ministry denied the signing of contracts two years ago. Information about the deals, however, can be found on the website of the US justice ministry.

Purvanov learned about the EU lobbying agreement from media, mediapool.bg reported. As a result the President requested public information on the agreement and all payments that have been made already.

The president believes Bulgaria has enough potential to guard its own interest and does not need to hire consulting companies, the official statement from the presidency reads.