site.btaPM Borissov: Relations with Turkey Are Vitally Important

PM Borissov: Relations with Turkey Are Vitally Important

Sofia, August 12 (BTA) - The good relations with Turkey's Prime Minister and President are of vital importance for Bulgaria. Otherwise, the refugee wave could inundate this country, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told Nova TV's morning show on Friday.

"I am extremely worried about what might await Bulgaria. We must try to build the best possible relations with Turkey, even if at the cost of all our heads. We must not let the migrant wave come to Bulgaria," Borissov said.

The Prime Minister said he is mainly concerned about where the migrants will stay in the end. "They will be returned to the place where they have crossed, which is not Austria and Germany, or Serbia, but our country," he said.

The main objective must be to have Turkey treat Bulgaria differently. "If Turkey is declared an unsafe country, that would mean that Bulgaria will be declared safe, and because of that all the migrants that have crossed through our territory will be returned back to us," Borissov said answering a question.
 
Commenting the recent extradition of Turkish national Abdullah Buyuk, suspected by Turkey of ties with what Turkey calls 'the Fethullah Gulen Terror Organization', Borissov said that the focus is on just one out of 25,000 cases, adding that he has already ordered Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova to conduct a check into the matter. The Turkish businessman, who was handed to Turkey a couple of days ago, had expired papers and his extradition was legal, Borissov went on to say. Bulgaria has been alerted by Turkey about many other citizens. The law must be observed, he added.

Borissov recalled that over 25,000 people have been returned from the Turkish border since the start of this year. "We stop them and return them to Turkey. The Bulgarian border police and army, who are there 24-7, are faced with this problem. They detain 100 to 300 people daily," he said.

Answering a question, Borissov said he is not ready to think that he may run for president.

If the presidential elections were today, there would be three big questions, because the most power lies within the Cabinet. The question is who will be Prime Minister, who will hold together the coalition, given the fragile majority in Parliament, while GERB is strong and will survive, Borissov said.

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By 07:40 on 16.01.2025 Today`s news

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