"A paradoxical situation exists in Bulgaria: as soon as the system begins to function and then
something goes wrong - this is immediately seen as a scandal instead of as a lesson from which we can learn," Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told reporters in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria) on Monday.

The PM said that many examples of such scandals could be found in recent months, such as the scandal around the Kujovic case, BTA is reporting. He stressed that serious court proceedings are instituted whenever such cases occur.

"It is natural for such cases to occur, considering that the country is only just recovering from fifteen years of being weakened - this is normal, it 'heals' all sectors that it affects, and we must look upon it calmly," the PM said.

"All those former generals who are trying to reap dividends, in their old-fashioned ways, from these cases should sit quietly in their corner, for they themselves have many questions they need to explain from the time when they were in the Interior Ministry," Stanishev commented.

Even the recent suspension of EU funds has a positive aspect because it makes it possible to improve the functioning of the systems in those units that will be managing the funds right now, before Structural Fund procedures have started, the PM argued. Stanishev said that a whole package of measures has been adopted, covering the writing and evaluation of projects, control over project implementation, external audit, beneficiary publicity and all the rest which, in his opinion, will have a healing effect.

"I shall decide personally on any concrete cases [for dismissals], once I receive reports on them," Stanishev said, reporting to a question.