site.btaVice President Popova Meets with UNHCR Regional Representative for Central Europe

Vice President Popova
Meets with UNHCR Regional Representative
for Central Europe


Sofia, October 23 (BTA) - Meeting with the UNHCR Regional
Representative for Central Europe, Montserrat Feixas Vihe, Vice
President Margarita Popova said that the issues relating to
refugees should be raised openly and clearly because this is a
prerequisite for good interaction between the institutions, the
President's Press Secretariat said.

Feixas Vihe is on a working meeting to Bulgaria.

Popova emphasized the good cooperation between the Bulgarian
institutions and the UNHCR Regional Representation for Central
Europe. The Vice President said society should be better
informed about the refugees' problems to minimize cases of
confrontation and conflict between Bulgarians and foreigners.

Popova and Feixas Vihe concurred that work for the refugees'
integration once they are accommodated in the specialized
centres is one of the top priorities. Incorporating those people
as an effective part of Bulgarian society is of prime
importance, Popova said.

Feixas Vihe stressed that the Bulgarian government and
institutions had shown a will and had been working towards
solving the specific problems which face refugees in this
country.

Being an external EU border, Bulgaria is one of the countries
with which the UNHCR wants most to develop cooperation, said
Feixas Vihe.

She expressed satisfaction with the improved living conditions
at the Harmanli and Pustrogor centres, adding that she was
impressed with the way Bulgaria had coped during this period.

The UNHCR Regional Representative for Central Europe said she
hoped the Bulgarian institutions would come up with a working
integration programme for refugees. Popova noted that special
attention should be given to the refugees' children and their
education.

UNHCR Resident Representative in Bulgaria Roland-Francois Weil
outlined the highlights of a roundtable on people without
citizenship, which will be held in Bulgaria in December. Popova
accepted an invitation that the forum be held under her
auspices. PK/DD