site.btaForeign Minister Mitov: "Human Trafficking Is Horrifying Phenomenon that We Must Combat as Hard as Possible"

Foreign Minister Mitov: "Human Trafficking Is Horrifying Phenomenon that We Must Combat as Hard as Possible"

Sofia, September 14 (BTA) - "Human trafficking is a horrifying phenomenon that we must combat as hard as possible," Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov commented here on Monday, asked about the migrant crisis. He recalled his position that all EU Member States should pay serious attention to this problem and set up systems increasing the criminal responsibility of human traffickers.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that the refugee crisis is very serious and Member States are trying to find a way to control their borders and the migration pressure, adding that "Bulgaria has long done this." "We not only control our borders but also have a well-functioning registration and coordination system with all other Member States about people moving within the EU," Bulgaria's chief diplomat pointed out.

At a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry within the framework of the Bulgarian Chairmainship-on-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (July 1, 2015 - June 1, 2016), Mitov signed the Agreement on re-election of Goran Svilanovic as Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

Svilanovic described the refugee situation as a "critical crisis" that cannot be compared to anything that has been seen in the last decade in this part of the word. "Migration is a way of survival of the human species. Reasons are different: it could be climate change, water, the economy, poverty, wars. Whatever is the reason, once they have moved it is very difficult. So the efforts of the international community and the EU should be put in stopping the war and providing an opportunity for those who are still close to their homes to go back. Those who have already passed thousands of kilometres - to be very frank, I am not sure they will go back, " the RCC Secretary General said.

In his words, the crisis is critical "because there are certain values within the EU and they are embedded in the European Convention on Human Rights and they are also embedded in the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, but if we discuss this very openly, I can't say all these people fit the definition of refugees." "These are people who need to be supported, who need to be helped, but I don't think that fences will help. I am aware of the fact that the regulations in which we believe, like Dublin, Schengen and the UN and EU convention, are at stake at this point," Svilanovic said. He noted that the RCC is "very much hopeful that there will be an understanding among the [interior] ministers of the EU" but respects the fact that this is a critical crisis and countries react differently. Svilanovic also said that the Western Balkans need more support from the EU to deal with people who are already on their territory and the more who will come and stay.