REACTION TO TRIAL ON PAPAL ATTACK

Created: 10/27/1984

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

IPPIOVflfOil0

IRA

APIA

Trial or.

wiM Miianitfy rte meOn and dipWmataaai of tho Bulgarian official* who were indicted yesterday for complicity In ihe attack on the Pope. The Bulgarian wire service yesterday denounced the trial as partonspiracy against Bulgaria "and soclartsm byhe US ond NATO Went on worsening East-West relations.aid that now Bulgaria whl work to prove Its citizens- Innocence endose the organizers of the antl-Butganan

Comment: Bulgaria will try lo undermine Ihe credibility ot Mehmet Ail Agca- lite main witnesa against IhehigtUighling the contradictions in hn testimony and charging thai Itaban officialsnformason sbout the Butgeoan defendants Now that Hi efforts to stop the trial have fased. Sofia is Ifcely to hold qusst-rudioai proceedings toase for Its innocence. It may seek Soviet support In citing ths nogsllve effecls ol the trial on Easl-Wsat relations. Privately, me Bulgarians may tr-sslon retaliation against Italian diplomats in Softs