During a 15 January session of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, Defense, and Security to assess the 27 December suicide attacks on the Bulgarian military base in Karbala, Iraq, Chief of General Staff General Nikola Kolev demanded that the military-intelligence service be placed back under the authority of the General Staff, vsekiden.com reported.

According to Kolev, this would improve the army's intelligence-gathering abilities. Kolev said the army currently cannot make full use of the intelligence provided by this service as it is subject to the Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Nikolay Svinarov said it is necessary for the service to remain subject of his ministry, as this will ensure civilian control.

(RFE/RL 16.i.04)