site.btaPrime Minister Borissov Observes Joint Training between Interior, Defence Ministry Forces Near Border with Greece

Prime Minister Borissov Observes Joint Training between Interior, Defence Ministry Forces Near Border with Greece

Kulata Border Checkpoint, Southwest Bulgaria, March 5 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov described the coupling between the Interior Ministry and the Armed Forces, as well the Border Police, the Gendarmerie, the Air Force and the brigades, who took part in Saturday's joint training "Border -2016", as very good. He observed the training, which was conducted on Saturday near the Kulata-Promachonas checkpoint on the border with Greece. The training aims to coordinate the joint actions between the Interior Ministry, Defence Ministry and the Bulgarian Red Cross, as well as to maintain readiness for reacting to an increased migration pressure, according the latest amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces Act, which allow servicemen to participate in border protection.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov assigned during Cabinet's meeting on Wednesday to the ministers of defence and interior to conduct a joint training in border regions subject to the strongest migration pressure, so that they can coordinate their actions to counter it.

A few hundred people have been deployed so far, Borissov said, explaining that over 400 are servicemen and police officers. They will stay here permanently, he said, adding that the training has simulated all possible scenarios of migrants circumnavigating geographical locations in order to enter Bulgaria illegally.

Commenting the upcoming EU Council on Monday, Borissov said that he will once again defend his position, which he had been upholding for many months. "By the way, I am already optimistic because Tusk too has sent me a letter, which makes me optimistic, while yesterday's (Friday) statements by the French President and the German Chancellor show that this Council must make the decision, which I have been proposing many times. And that is to restore Schengen and to keep the term "illegal migrants" as it is by law," he said.

Migrants should only be allowed to enter through the official border checkpoints, the Prime Minister said. According to him, they should be allowed to cross only after they have been fingerprinted, undergone medical exams, and there is a confirmed destination where they would be desired.

Borissov said that at least half of the personnel and equipment that were part of the Saturday training will remain near the border.

"From here on now, we must develop skills, so that we can act in a synchronized fashion as needed," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Roumyana Buchvarova.

Chief of Defence Lt. Gen. Konstantin Popov noted the excellent interaction between the servicemen and their colleagues from the Interior Ministry.

Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev thanked all servicemen for showing professionalism during the joint training, Nenchev's Ministry quoted him in a press release.

The Kulata-Promachonas border checkpoint was closed for traffic for around an hour due to the training, the Interior Ministry reported.