Перепутал - не Белый дом, а директор ФБР (+)
но все-таки:
SOFIA, March 20 (Reuters) - FBI chief Louis Freeh praised Bulgaria on Tuesday for asking Russia to withdraw three of its diplomats in Sofia and fighting Russian organised crime groups operating on its territory.
Freeh is the first FBI director to visit the Balkan country, which was Russia's closest ally during the Cold War.
"I applaud the Prime Minister (Ivan Kostov) for his prompt action...It is very important to identify and prevent agents of other countries from conducting intelligence operations in our democracies," Freeh told reporters after meeting Kostov.
Bulgarian authorities on Saturday asked three Russian diplomats in Sofia to go home on suspicion of links to two local defence officials arrested a week earlier for alleged spying.
Bulgaria did not declare the Russians personae non gratae, saying it would wait until Friday for them to leave.
Russia's Foreign Ministry used unusually harsh language, accusing members of the Bulgarian government of waging an "anti-Russian campaign", which was denied by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova.
On Monday, Moscow asked three Bulgarian diplomats to leave Russia.
Freeh said setting up a permanent FBI office in Sofia was one of the issues discussed with Kostov. The FBI has offices in 44 countries.
"We are eager to have permanent presence in Sofia and are waiting for Congressional approval," said Freeh.
He urged Bulgarian authorities to step up the fight against money laundering, praising them for expelling five Russian-born businessmen last year on the grounds they were threatening national security.
"You were successful in keeping five major organised crime Russian figures from entering Bulgaria," said Freeh.
((Branimir Kondov, Sofia newsroom, tel +359-2-9814145, fax +359-2-9809135, sofia.newsroom@reuters.com))
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Tuesday, 20 March 2001 15:07:07
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Всего хорошего.
