site.btaBulgaria Stops 200-300 Migrants Daily and Turns them Back to Turkey

Bulgaria Stops 200-300 Migrants Daily and Turns them Back to Turkey

Varna, on the Black Sea, September 3 (BTA) - Every day, between 200 and 300 migrants are stopped at the Bulgarian border and are turned back to Turkey, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said here on Saturday. In his words, the Afghans are the worst problem for this country. "These are only young men aged between 16 and 28, uneducated, unused to work, and very aggressive," Borissov explained, specifying that precisely the migrants from that country are the worst troublemakers at the refugee centres in Bulgaria.

"The talks on the EU-Turkey agreement must by all means continue," the PM said. In his opinion, the agreement fully benefits our country and defends our national interest. "Diplomacy requires that both parties to an agreement should be pleased, which is why understanding has to be reached, a way out of the crisis has to be found, the principal objective being to keep the migrants far from our borders," Borissov pointed out. He added that a common European solution must be found, and Bulgaria should not let being turned into a point of departure for those people's relocation.

Regarding the attempted coup in Turkey, Borissov said that a careful look should be taken at the views of Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the US. The Prime Minister recalled that, according to Gulen, the time of the Ottoman Empire was the most peaceful period in Balkan history. "And yet, we want to be part of the EU and our views diverge widely," the PM argued. He went on to say that after the attempted coup a lot of Turkish companies want to invest in Bulgaria but, in the long term, this, too, is risky. In his words, the risk applies to the areas with ethnically mixed population "because whoever pays the wage may formulate the policy."

As to the problems surrounding the Belene N-plant project, Borissov noted that the most important question is when Bulgaria will pay Russia 557 million euro for the two reactors. According to him, this must be done immediately because our country is deadlocked in the present situation. "Refusing to pay this money is not an option," the head of government said, recalling that 167,000 euro in interest accrue on this amount daily.

The PM expects the representative of the European Commission to say clearly whether the Balkan Gas Hub will be able to receive Russian gas as well on Monday, when an investor roundtable on the gas hub will open near Varna. According to Borissov, this will show Russia that Bulgaria has taken the right road, that the EC has made a decision and negotiations can be held officially.

Presidential Elections

Borissov reiterated that if GERB loses the forthcoming presidential elections, early parliamentary elections will follow. In his words, this must not happen next spring but immediately, without delay, "because this is the right and moral thing to do".

"Consider how badly off a party is once it is looking for a presidential candidate outside of its ranks. Having not a single person to put forward but hiding behind nomination committees," Borissov said, apparently referring to the Bulgarian Socialist Party and its candidate for president, Maj. Gen. Rumen Radev (Ret.) The PM asked rhetorically who backs that candidate and who takes the political responsibility.

Borissov noted that these nomination committees are convenient as they enable the party to deny having lost the elections. "Elections are a race of political parties, that's why they get subsidies and [premises for] headquarters from the State," he recalled. He pointed out that GERB's presidential candidate and his or her running mate will be persons who have started, developed and succeeded in a career within that political party. "We are ready with the campaign committees and the campaign, and we will name our candidates on October 2," Borissov said. In his words, what really matters is to have a tolerant campaign, with everyone setting forth their policies, without personal invectives.

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By 08:19 on 27.01.2025 Today`s news

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