site.btaAuthorities Say Bulgarian Border Is Under No Migrant Pressure

ESD 14:45:02 29-02-2020
LN1452ES.104
104 POLITICS - SECURITY - REFUGEES - BORDER - PM

Authorities Say Bulgarian
Border Is Under No
Migrant Pressure


Plovdiv, southern Bulgaria, February 29 (BTA) - The Bulgarian authorities said Saturday that there is no migrant pressure on the Bulgarian border. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that "migration through the Bulgarian border is zero" and a similar statement was made by the head of the Border Police.

They come amid reports of large masses of refugees fleeing hostilities in the Syrian province of Idlib and progressing westwards via northwestern Turkey. A senior Turkish official was quoted by the world news agencies as saying that this time Turkey would not stop them from reaching the EU. On Friday, Borissov said that there is a real risk for Bulgaria of a surging migrant wave and that gendarmerie had been sent to strengthen border security. The Defence Minister said that the Armed Forces were ready to sent to the border up to 1,000 service persons and defence equipment.

Also on Friday, Borissov spoke over the phone to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his press office put out a statement afterwards saying that there is no immediate threat for Bulgaria. Borissov also discussed the situation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.

In Plovdiv on Saturday, Borissov said that the main concern is the situation on the Bulgarian-Greek border. "The situatin on the border with Turkey is no different than it was two or three years ago," he said adding that this is no solution to the core problem and "no normal person would want to see force being used against women and children". There is a refugee crisis in Turkey but there is also a humanitarian crisis in Syria where close to a million people are without water and food, and forced to migrate, he said.

He also said that NATO on Friday made a decision to support Turkey and Bulgaria was one of the most passionate advocates of that decision. "There is no migrant pressure on Bulgaria but we have to help Greece in all ways possible," said the Bulgarian government leader.

He said that a major meeting in Bulgaria is being prepared to try to find a lasting solution to the problems of the migrants, the military hostilities in Syria and the humanitarian crisis.