site.bta National Security Council with PM Meets over Macedonia, Ready with Plan to Cover All Potential Risks

National Security Council with PM Meets over Macedonia, Ready with Plan to Cover All
Potential Risks

Sofia, May 12 (BTA) - Emerging from a meeting of the Council on
National Security under Prime Minister Boyko Borissov Tuesday
over the situation in Macedonia, Deputy Prime Minister and
Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova said that they have a plan
 to deal with all possible risks. "Based with the information we
 have, we discussed all possible operational political risks and
 possible scenarios for evolvement of the crisis [in Macedonia]
and we want to assure the Bulgarian people that we have a plan
that covers all possible risks the way we see them at the
moment," said the Interior Minister.

She expressed concern over the events in Macedonia, condolences
for the loss of lives and concern for Bulgarians in Macedonia.

Buchvarova said that Bulgaria is ready to take measures to curb
a possible migration wave through the border but none exists at
this moment.

She said that the National Security Council discussed the
operational options for guaranteeing national security and the
security of Bulgarian citizens.

The meeting paid special attention to the risk of penetration of
 terrorist groups or elements on Bulgarian territory.

Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said that the crisis in Macedonia
is a cause of concern. "It is important for Bulgaria that the
territorial integrity and stability of Macedonia be protected.
The political crisis and the crisis of confidence in our
neighbour, which have been observable in the recent months, are
causing a political vacuum which leaves room for all kinds of
extremist and irredentist movements that can destabilize the
situation," the top  Bulgarian diplomat said.

He urged the power-holders and the opposition in Bulgaria to
restore dialogue the soonest possible and find a way out of the
political crisis. He added that this "goes through the
government taking political responsibility".

The Foreign Minister was adamant that Bulgaria is ready to help
its neighbour carry through reforms to restore the confidence of
 Macedonian people in their government. "We don't want to see
Macedonia the way it was before the Ohrid Agreement."

"The problem must be solved by the force of reforms which we
have been waiting to see for quite a long time," he said adding
that without these reforms the European future of Macedonia does
 not look close.

Mitov called for responsible political actions, clarifying the
circumstances related to the death of police officers and the
situation over the leak of wiretapped telephone conversations of
 politicians.