site.btaGERB Rejects Socialists' Criticism against Cabinet's Security Policy

Sofia, June 24 (BTA) - Interior Minister Valentin Radev and Chair of the Parliamentary
Legal Affairs Committee Danail Kirilov (GERB) gave a news conference here on Sunday to comment the motion of no confidence in Boyko Borissov's government, filed by the Socialists over the incumbents' security policy, which will be debated and put to the vote this week in Parliament.

Radev rejected the Socialists' criticisms that the incumbents have abdicated from the security sector. Radev did not deny that there are weaknesses in the Interior Ministry's system, but promised that the truth about what has been done will be spoken during the no confidence motion's debate on Tuesday. The two also recalled that, since coming to power, GERB have amended four pieces of legislation pertaining to security, including the Interior Ministry Act and the Armed Forces Act.

Minister Radev rejected the Bulgarian Socialist Party's claims that the incumbents have failed to implement the governance programme for countering petty crime. The programme does not say that 6,000 new police officers will be appointed, as Socialist leader Kornelia Ninova claims, Radev said, adding that so far 1,700 police officers have been appointed across the country, of whom 600 have left already. A total of 630 mobile groups are working at local level, which means that the system functions, the Minister went on to say.

Danail Kirilov said he is perplexed by the criticism against GERB concerning the topic of migrants. According to him, it is thanks to GERB's policies that the refugee accommodation facilities in Bulgaria are empty. The two reiterated Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's position, who demanded that the EU external borders be closed for illegal migrants. Kirilov and Radev were adamant that Borissov is not involved in secret negotiations about migrants in Brussels, explaining that Sunday's mini EU summit is an informal meeting, during which no documents will be signed.