“My wish is to create a new and modern model of public behavior – a model that we have seen in the Scandinavian countries, which are in a leading position in terms of low levels of corruption“. This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Hristanov today at the MAF during a discussion on the topic: “Public debt: commitment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to fight corruption and full transparency“ . The event was held with representatives of the media, civil organizations and anti-corruption activists. The discussion was attended by Deputy Ministers Ivana Murdjeva, Nikolay Vassilev and Atanas Atanasov.
“The institution makes a commitment to society, to the media, to human rights organizations, to investigative journalists and to all activists who shed light on schemes and abuses. I hope this step will set the tone in the future“, he also said.
The Minister emphasized that the MAF is an old and worthy institution with traditions, but in recent decades it has been compromised by actions that have led to the drain of public resources. “We want to change the history of the transition and for the institution to make a clear public commitment to transparency, openness and the fight against corruption“, he also said.
The Minister of Agriculture emphasized the scale of responsibility – management of 36 million acres of forests and a system with over 8,000 employees, which in the past were used for political pressure and electoral abuse. “Our mandate is clear – transparency, care and fair elections”, stressed Hristanov. According to him, social media should be a tool for transparency. He added that in Europe and the USA they provide an additional view of the work of institutions. According to Minister Hristanov, this example should also reach Bulgaria.
Regarding the official mandate, the Minister of Agriculture was categorical: “Our mandate is without lobbying and without influence from external factors. We work entirely in the interest of society and public care. “In the part about the fight against corruption, Hristanov said: “The fight means that public resources go where they belong – in the hands of the workers, not in the hands of the thieves.“
He informed that signals have already been filed on public procurement and an assessment of the risk of corruption impacts is being carried out. Among the specific measures are: timely consideration of applications under the APIA, clarification of registers, restoration and upgrading of system logs, cross-checks of data and rotation of employees. “The anti-corruption mentality creates the environment. If we manage to build it together, it will have a deterrent role“, said the minister.
In response to journalistic questions regarding inspections in structures such as “Irrigation Systems“ and the State Fund “Agriculture“, the minister confirmed that full inspections and audits are underway. “Yes“, was his short answer to the questions about changing directors and resuming inspections for the so-called “virtual animals“.
Minister Hristanov also condemned the attempts to discredit the institution and members of its team. “These manipulations are aimed at discrediting the cabinet, the institution and the state. We will not allow national security to be compromised in the “Agriculture“ sector. We are preparing reports to the competent authorities“, he also stated.
As a symbolic gesture, the chairman of the “Civil Platform“ Association, lawyer Petar Slavov, proposed that the central entrance of the Ministry be open to citizens, where an employee could receive signals on site.
“The main reason for bringing you together is to state clearly: from today on, this institution will be subject to civilian control. The Ministry will be open to every investigative journalist and every citizen who wants to know what is happening here“, concluded Minister Ivan Hristanov.
With this meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food is initiating consistent actions to restore trust, institutional integrity and sustainable governance in the interest of Bulgarian citizens.