site.btaSofia Expresses Shock and Compassion after Paris Attacks

Sofia Expresses Shock and Compassion after Paris Attacks

Sofia, November 14 (BTA) - Sofia expressed shock and solidarity
with the French people after the multiple attacks in Paris
Friday night which took more than a hundred lives. Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov called the attacks "a new September 11
for Europe". He was speaking to the press after an emergency
meeting of the Interior Ministry security and migration
headquarter he called Saturday noon.

There is no indication of an immediate terror threat for
Bulgaria, Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova said after the
meeting in her Ministry. Also participating were Foreign
Minister Daniel Mitov, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev, Health
Minister Peter Moskov, Transport, IT and Communications Minister
 Ivaylo Moskovski, the heads of the National Intelligence
Service and the State Agency for National Security.

In Buchvarova's words, despite what has been established about
Bulgaria, the common analysis of the situation and the global
processes in Europe show that the main risks of terrorism
remain. She added that in this relation to be increased are: 
the level of security measures at all important strategic sites;
 the level of border control at the EU's external borders; the
police presence on the country's entire territory; and the
control of the transit traffic of vehicles and persons crossing
Bulgaria's territory. Special attention is paid to the security
at mass events, strategic sites and sites where a large number
of people gather.

"We ask everyone who is planning to go to France to reconsider
the need of this trip and decide whether it is necessary, given
the latest events and the measures undertaken by France,"
Buchvarova said.

Asked if the Bulgarian borders will be closed, the Interior
Minister gave a negative answer and added that those entering
the country will be subjected to full control along the external
 border. She also said that the Interior Ministry knows how many
 Bulgarians are in Paris and that there is no information of
them being in danger.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov commented that after this hit at
Europe's heart, in Paris, there isn't a single person who is not
 concerned or a prime minister who can come out and tell his
people that there is nothing to fear and everything is all
right. He also said that these terrorist acts were slightly
different than others, referring to the simultaneous attacks at
various sites. "Given the tens of thousands of people who cross
our borders, get stopped or returned, there surely are people
who are aggrieved and angry, and this is a potential risk,"
Borissov added.

The Foreign Ministry said that no Bulgarian citizens have been
hurt in the attacks.

Parliament leader Tsetska Tsacheva, Prime Minister Borissov,
Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, and President Rosen Plevneliev
have sent messages to their counterparts to convey their
compassion and offer solidarity.

National Assembly Chair Tsacheva wrote to the leaders of the two
 chambers of the French Parliament. "I am sure that this brutal
criminal act will double the energy of the institutions, the
civil society and the global democratic community for an
unrelenting struggle with terrorism," she says.

Prime Minister Borissov expressed the anger and indignation of
the Bulgarian people over the attacks, and the compassion for
the lost lives in messages to President Hollande and Prime
Minister Manuel Valls. "I confirm our readiness to provide
assistance at this difficult moment. Terrorism will be defeated.
 This attack against France and the values that the French
people stand for, will consolidate our will for a victory in the
 struggle with terrorism," Borissov wrote.

Foreign Minister Mitov said in a statement: "We offer our
heart-felt condolences for the families and friends of the
victims, and condemn all form of terrorism. We offer our
solidarity with the French people in this difficult moment."

Writing to his French counterpart, President Plevneliev says
that he was "shocked and horrified" to hear of the attacks which
 took the lives of innocent people in the very heart of Paris.
He calls the attacks barbaric and inhuman, aimed against the
principles and foundation of democratic societies. "I believe
that democracy and the values we believe in, are stronger than
terrorism and cannot be defeated," he wrote.

Plevneliev's press secretariat said that the head of State
cancels his visit to Paris planned for November 16 in relation
to the solemn marking of UNESCO's 70th anniversary. 

Emerging from a visit to the French Embassy in Sofia later on
Saturday, Plevneliev told journalists that at present there is
no need to convene the Consultative Council on National
Security. He described as correct and timely the Government's
decision to hold an emergency meeting of the Interior Ministry
security and migration headquarter.

French Ambassador Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes says in a statement,
 published on the embassy's website, that the world is in shock
after the series of attacks which plunged Paris into mourning.
"In these difficult hours, the multitude of evidence of
solidarity from our Bulgarian friends give us strength," he
says. The French Ambassador also says that on Saturday morning
he talked with Interior Minister Buchvarova. "All the necessary
measures have been taken to ensure our safety," he adds.

Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Mihail Mikov wrote on Facebook
that Friday events in the French capital are yet another tragedy
 that cannot be rationally explained and raises many questions,
and the civilized world has to urgently look for the answers to
them.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Lyutvi Mestan said that
his party strongly condemns the terror in Paris of November 13.

The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization said that the
 terrorist acts in Paris can be described as a large-scale, well
 organized attack. This is a war already exported to the centre
of Europe, the party's position reads.

The Bulgarian Democratic Centre  said in a declaration that the
series of terrorist attacks in Europe's heart - the French
capital - shook the minds and souls of everyone, and that
civilization is facing a challenge.

Later on Saturday, "Standard" reported that a Bulgarian
national, Sebastian Proisi  [name could be misspelled], was
killed in the terrorist attack at a cafe in Paris. His family
told the daily that the 37-year-old man has French and Bulgarian
 citizenship. Two years ago he was working at the European
Commission.

On Saturday afternoon, the Border Police said, quoted by the
Interior Ministry's press centre, that heavy passenger traffic
is expected due to the introduction of temporary 100 per cent
control of EU's external borders in Bulgaria.