site.bta Bulgarian Interior Minister Says Turkey 'Refrains' from Implementing Migrant Readmission Protocol

Bulgarian Interior Minister Says Turkey 'Refrains' from Implementing Migrant Readmission Protocol

Bourgas, on the Black Sea, June 17 (BTA) - Bulgarian Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova said here on Friday that Turkey "is refraining" from implementing a protocol with Bulgaria on readmission of migrants. According to the Minister, Turkey's arguments have to do with ongoing talks with the EU on migrant readmission and visa regulations.

Buchvarova's comments came a day after Bulgarian Prime Minsiter Boyko Borissov confirmed that Turkey had not responded to Bulgaria's request to take back 200 migrants as provided for by the readmission protocol, signed on May 5, 2016 by the two countries' Interior Ministers.

There has been no formal notice by Turkey of denouncing the readmission protocol, and the authorities in Sofia are reluctant to comment before the situation is clarified.
 
"The protocol [between Bulgaria and Turkey] was due to take effect from June 1. The situation is that we have prepared the papers for 200 migrants who will have to be sent back to Turkey under his protocol. The Turkish side, however, has not responded within the timeframe provided for in the protocol," said Buchvarova.

She added that Bulgaria has planned measures in the event the situation on the border changes. "We are taking both operational and diplomatic measures in anticipation of various scenarios. Even if the Turkish side defaults on its obligations under the readmission protocol, we will keep up the good relations at operational level and the situation will not change dramatically," the Bulgarian Interior Minister said.