site.bta Migration Pressure on Bulgaria Increases in 2015 - Foreign Minister

Migration Pressure on Bulgaria Increases in 2015 - Foreign Minister

Sofia, February 13 (BTA) - There has been an increase of the
migration pressure on Bulgaria since the start of 2015 compared
with this time last year, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said in
Parliament here Friday. He cited statistics showing that the
number of illegal alients who have been caught sneaking into
Bulgaria through the green border with Turkey was 317 against
106 in January 2014.

"The number of illegal aliens trying to cross the Bulgarian
border can be expected to continue rising in March," said Mitov.
 
A newly built border fence has diverted the migration flow and
more illegal entry attempts are being registered through the
checkpoints on the Bulgarian-Turkish border.

The Minister commented that the pressure on this part of
Bulgaria's border is incomparably stronger than at the border
with Macedonia, Serbia, Romania or Greece.

Most immigrants to Bulgaria come from the conflict zones in
Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The grave situation, especially in Syria and Iraq, combined
with the activity of the Islamic State, give a serious cause of
fears for continued destabilization of the region and persistent
 migration pressure on the EU," said the top Bulgarian diplomat.