site.btaRepresentatives of Political Formations Comment National Security, Border Control

Representatives of Political Formations Comment National Security, Border Control

Sofia, March 26 (BTA) - Chairman of the parliamentary Internal Security and Public Order Committee Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who is also GERB Deputy Chairman, said in Stara Zagora, Southern Bulgaria, on Saturday, that by opting for the construction of a fence along the Bulgarian-Turkish border, this country has effected a preventive act showing that its territory is hard to pass. The fence will limit the flow of refugees to Bulgaria and Europe, Tsvetanov said.

Tsvetanov spoke of a possible need to erect deterring facilities along the Bulgarian-Greek border as well. He noted that this will cost a lot of resources and stressed that Bulgaria should do its best to claim compensations from the EU.

Tsvetanov said that political stability is the most important thing in ensuring the national security.

He said that in the coming days the cabinet will table an anti-terrorism bill to Parliament.

Meanwhile in the northeastern city of Rousse, ABV deputy leader and former interior minister Roumen Petkov dwelled on the security measures which Bulgaria and Europe should take. Petkov spoke about a "categorical control of the [EU] external border". The second-best measure would be "total screening" of the refugees on the territory of the EU, Petkov said. In his words, "immediate extradition" should be carried out in the event of detection of the least suspicion, including in respect of people who are second and third generation people living in Europe, about connections and dependences with the Islamic State or other terrorist organizations. Petkov argued that Europe's big problem is that it does not analyse the inception of the process.

In another development in Blagoevgrad, Southwestern Bulgaria, on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement Meglena Kuneva said, speaking at a news conference, that if necessary, the security and checks via the Bulgarian-Macedonian border will be beefed up. Kuneva said she does not think that a need will arise for new refugee facilities in Bulgaria, given that the capacity of the available ones has not been used up.

Kuneva noted the importance of the ability to share intelligence information in Europe.