Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

citizen, and injured 32 Israelis. While no organization publicly claimed responsibility for the
attack, the plot bears the hallmark of Hizballah. On February 5, 2013, following a lengthy
investigation, the Bulgarian government publically implicated Hizballah in the Burgas bombing.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: A revision to Bulgaria’s penal code
(enacted in 1968) has been drafted, which includes strengthened and improved definitions for
terrorism and organized crime, but it had not been enacted by year’s end.
Countering Terrorist Finance: Bulgaria is a member of Moneyval, the Committee of Experts
on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism, a
Financial Action Task Force-style regional body. For further information on money laundering
and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report
(INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes:
http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.
Regional and International Cooperation: Bulgaria participated in several bilateral and
multilateral fora regarding security and assistance, including the Global Initiative to Combat
Nuclear Terrorism, the Proliferation Security Initiative, and the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach
Initiative.
CYPRUS
Overview: Despite limited resources, Cyprus took a clear stand against terrorism, particularly
with its arrest, investigation, and prosecution of a Lebanese Hizballah suspect. The Republic of
Cyprus government was responsive to efforts to block and freeze terrorist assets, sought to
implement Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, and made significant efforts
to conform to EU counterterrorism directives. The Government of Cyprus viewed
counterterrorism as a foreign policy priority and partnered with other governments, bilaterally
and multilaterally, to fight terrorism. Cyprus' counterterrorism partnership with the United States
included regular, routine protection for transiting U.S. military personnel, aircraft and naval
vessels throughout 2012, and participation in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance
and Regional Security Initiative programs, which strengthened the government's capacity to
counter terrorism.
Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the Republic of Cyprus-controlled area,
composed of the southern two-thirds of the island, and a northern third, administered by the
Turkish Cypriots; the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control over the area
administered by the Turkish Cypriots. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriots declared the northern part
an independent “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC). The United States does not
recognize the “TRNC,” nor does any country other than Turkey. The UN Peacekeeping Force in
Cyprus patrols the buffer zone separating the two sides, but people, narcotics, and other illicit
goods routinely cross uncontrolled.
The division of the island has obstructed counterterrorism cooperation between the two
communities' law enforcement authorities, and between Cyprus and Turkey. In the Turkish
Cypriot-administered area, issues of status and recognition inevitably restricted the ability of
authorities to cooperate on counterterrorism with international organizations and countries other
than Turkey. Turkish Cypriots cannot sign treaties, UN conventions, or other international
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