site.btaVice President Popova: Bulgarian Institutions, Society Demonstrate Readiness to Address Adequately Problem of Migration Pressure

Vice President Popova: Bulgarian Institutions, Society Demonstrate Readiness to Address Adequately Problem of Migration Pressure

Sofia, April 26 (BTA) - Vice President Margarita Popova said here Tuesday that since 2013, the State through its institutions, the public and the media has been demonstrating  willingness and readiness to address adequately the problem of migration pressure. Popova was speaking at a conference on "Migration and Asylum: Prospects in a European and National Context", held under the Vice President's auspices within a joint project of the Asylum Committee with the head of State and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

"Only by taking into account our own interests and the various cultural and historical specifics of the individual regions and countries, can Bulgaria build an image on the international plain and be a reliable partner in the EU and NATO," Popova said.

In her words, Europe of today should be regarded as a political, social, cultural and spiritual phenomenon which has a common border with other cultures and cannot be limited only within the framework of the EU.

Statistics of the Border Police Chief Directorate with the Interior Ministry show that between January 1 and March 31, 2016, the authorities detained 2,982 persons attempting to cross illegally into Bulgaria.