Homeland Security

US to build Balkan anti-terrorism center in Bulgaria

PLA Daily 2004-01-07

SOFIA, Jan. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States will build a "Balkan anti-terrorism center" in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, the Bulgarian newspaper "24 hours" reported on Monday.

The center, planned by US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), isscheduled to be completed and operational in the summer of 2004. It will focus on monitoring and detecting terrorist activities andprovide information on terrorist threats to the United States and Balkan countries, the report said.

The center will be equipped with "the most advanced monitoring equipment" and will be run by "the most experienced intelligence agent".

Bulgarian media reported that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also plans to set up an office in Bulgaria working with the center.

US intelligence experts believe Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network has a training base in the Balkans.