site.bta Political Leaders Interviewed Ahead of Consultative Council on National Security

Political Leaders Interviewed Ahead of Consultative Council on National Security

Sofia, November 10 (BTA) - Political leaders on Tuesday spoke
about their expectations of a meeting of the Consultative
Council on National Security (CCNS) which would begin later in
the day. President Rosen Plevneliev has convened the meeting in
order to discuss changes in the geostrategic security
environment and the resulting risks and threats to national
security.

Mihail Mikov (BSP-Left Bulgaria) recalled that his party has
been insisting on such a meeting for a long time. Bulgaria
needed to have a position on the refugee crisis rather than
discuss post factum what the EU had decided, Mikov said. He does
 not expect anything in particular from Tuesday's meeting, but
hopes that President Plevneliev will fulfill his obligation and
convene CCNS more often.

Krassimir Karakachanov (Patriotic Front) expects that the
meeting will look at the real problems affecting national
security, "not hybrid wars or other contrived notions."
According to Karakachanov, the biggest challenge to national
security are the waves of illegal migrants sweeping Europe.
Another issue is the recent spate of police protests, he added,
noting that these protests, staged amid increased immigration
pressure and potential terrorist treats, show a lack of
statehood.

Volen Siderov (Ataka) believes that the CCNS meeting has come
too late. He said that, as usual, he will stand in opposition to
 the incumbents, because he finds that the geostrategic policy
line followed by the Bulgarian government is wrong.

Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev was asked by a journalist
whether he feels that his position as a Reformist Bloc
representative in the government is jeopardized. Nenchev said
this is to be decided in the framework of the Reformist Bloc. He
 said that this week he is beginning talks with all
parliamentary groups to discuss the defence capabilities
development programme and legislation relevant to the Defence
Ministry.