site.bta Deputy PM Kuneva to Submit Plan on Border Guarding

Deputy PM Kuneva to Submit Plan on Border Guarding


Sofia, January 12 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva
told journalists that she will submit a coordination plan of
several institutions on border guarding to the Council of
Ministers on Tuesday. Efforts will be made, along with Minister
of Labour and Social Policy Ivailo Kalfin, for the development
of the programme on the integration of refugees.

Kuneva voiced hope that the country's efforts to guard the
border will be pointed out in the anticipated European
Commission report. "Bulgaria cannot be left out of the Schengen
Area, when the question is about security," she commented. She
insisted for a consecutive time to differentiate between the
procedure of accession to the Schengen Area and the mechanism of
cooperation of the European Commission.

So far, 61 per cent of the capacity of the refugees homes has
been filled with slightly less than 7,000 people being
accommodated in these facilities.

If asylum-seekers want to avail themselves of all rights,
provided by the Bulgarian legislation, they should fulfill all
requirements: attend school, accept job offers, etc, Kuneva said
further. She declared herself in favour of sanctions provided
that these conditions are not fulfilled.

"The possibility for the army to provide assistance and
logistics for the Interior Ministry should not be feared," Vice
President Margarita Popova said adding that efforts should be
pooled together so as to prevent illegal migrants' flows. Popova
made this statement answering a journalist question on whether
the army should help the Interior Ministry in guarding the
Bulgarian-Turkish border. She added that this would be to the
benefit of Turkey and the other neighbouring countries. In her
opinion, it would be good, if the two countries discuss this
issue.

Popova also said Deputy Prime Minister Ivailo Kalfin was right,
when he said that there might be a big refugee wave in the
spring. The issue of how many refugees could be accepted on
Bulgarian territory should be given a serious thought, she
believes. "We have learnt how to grant a refugee status and
handle documents. We still have some non-filled capacity but the
big problem, which is applicable to the rest of Europe as well,
is related to the underestimation of the efforts to integrate
the refugees," said Popova.

In the meantime, Brigade General Mihail Popov, Commander of
Special Forces 68th Brigade, commented for BTA that the
formation can cope very well with the border guarding but has no
right to do this under the law.