BULGARIA'S INTERIOR MINISTRY TO GET ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY OF 6.5M LEVA

Bulgaria's Cabinet agreed on December 7 2011 to grant the Interior Ministry an additional subsidy of 6.5 million leva from the 2011 Budget to cover its operating costs.

The money will be spent to reduce part of the ministry's overdue payments for fuels and lubricants, for supporting the national early warning and disaster disclosure system, for paying fees for using telephone lines and purchasing employees' uniforms.

Repaying part of the ministry's outstanding arrears will prevent the accumulation of interest charges and penalties and will ensure regular supply on contracts, the Government's press office said.

This is the third additional subsidy approved so far in 2011. In mid-November, the ministry was granted six million leva for buying fuel. In October, the Interior Ministry obtained a further 9.7 million leva to implement urgent measures related to Bulgaria's accession to Schengen.

The Cabinet also agreed to grant the Defence Ministry four million leva to cover payments to local arms repair group Terem for repairs of Russian warships conducted in line with intergovernmental agreements dating back to 1992.