site.btaPresident, Patriotic Front Co-Chairman Discuss Security, Refugee Problems

President, Patriotic Front Co-Chairman Discuss Security, Refugee Problems

Sofia, March 7 (BTA) - Security and the refugee problems were among the topics discussed Monday between President Rosen Plevneliev and Patriotic Front (PF) Co-Chairman Krassimir Karakachanov, held as part of Plevneliev's Month of Political Consultations initiative.

The President has already met with ABV, the nationalist Ataka party, and the Bulgarian Democratic Centre to discuss the issues on the agenda of Bulgaria and the priorities of the political parties.

Karakachanov said that PF considers security in two aspects: internal and external. The internal aspect includes the problems with conventional crime and car thefts which have increased again in the past few months, and the measures the Interior Ministry needs to take in this respect. Karakachanov also reiterated his idea for a bill reinstating conscription and military training of young Bulgarians.

Karakachanov also commented the security problems related to the developments in the Middle East and the migratory wave. He also spoke about the demographic crisis in Bulgaria and the measures to address it.

Karakachanov said that he also raised the topic of the monopolies in the energy sector and the problem with the price of electricity.

The participants in the meeting also discussed foreign policy issues. Karakachanov said that the Bulgarian foreign policy should be balanced.

The PF Co-Chairman said that he also raised the topic of amendments to the Election Code concerning the introduction of compulsory voting, active voter registration and voting abroad.

Taking a reporter's question about the refugee inflow, Karakachanov said that the building of a fence along the border with Turkey and the good work of the Border Police in the registration of migrants have made Bulgaria unattractive for the big refugee flows. Illegal crossing of the Bulgarian border must not be allowed, he said.

The politician commented that the main problem is the instability in the Middle East, the role of Turkey in these processes and its attempt "to extort the EU with the huge masses of refugees on its territory". Karakachanov also said that the lack of a united European position on the matter in the past few years and the past few months when the crisis was most serious, has lead to the problem with the illegal migration. He urged for a clear and categorical position of the entire EU on non-admittance of illegal crossing of its borders.