site.bta Interior Ministers of Bulgaria, Slovakia Visit Bulgarian-Turkish Border

Interior Ministers of Bulgaria, Slovakia Visit Bulgarian-Turkish Border

Kapitan Andreevo, Bulgarian-Turkish border, November 10 (BTA) - "There is a lasting trend of declining migratory pressure," Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova said at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint on Thursday. Buchvarova and her Slovak counterpart Robert Kalinak were at the Bulgarian-Turkish border for the official departure of a rotating Slovak 25-member team within the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The host updated the visiting minister on the protection of the frontier, the working conditions and the available equipment.

Buchvarova said her government's efforts are now focused on stopping the movement of illegal migrants from Bulgaria into Serbia. "It is a lie that they are now heading towards this or that [Bulgarian] town," she noted, adding that, if necessary, those of them who are seeking asylum will be accommodated in temporary camps.

The authorities are devising procedures for the absorption of EU money for the protection of Bulgaria's borders, she said. A special unit in the Interior Ministry will handle the public procurement procedures for the allocation of that funding.

Kalinak said that "not only the EU borders, but those of the Schengen Area too, should start from here".

Kalinak said that Greece, together with Romania and Bulgaria, must be "one compact whole". He said that not only he, but various European commissions and institutions as well, have reached a conclusion that Bulgaria is ready to join the Schengen Area. Kalinak said that to him it was inexplicable how the topic of the Schengen Area, which is entirely technical, could be politicized by some Western countries.

Responding to Kalinak's words later, Buchvarova said that the membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Area is a long process, which has come to include political arguments as well. She said that the talks on the issue have never ended. The Interior Minister voiced a hope that given the ever broader support Bulgaria receives in the matter, there will be results soon.