site.btaConsultative Council on National Security Discusses Risks and Threats from Crisis in Middle East

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Consultative Council on National Security
Discusses Risks and Threats from
Crisis in Middle East


Sofia, January 9 (BTA) - The Consultative Council on National Security (CCNS) with President Rumen Radev convened on Thursday to look into potential national security risks and threats in the context of the complicated security environment in the Middle East.

Participating were Parliament leader Tsveta Karayancheva, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the Deputy Prime Ministers Ekaterina Zaharieva (Foreign Affairs) and Krassimir Karakachanov (Defence), Interior Minister Mladen Marinov, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov, Chief of Defence Gen. Andrey Botsev, the heads of special services and representatives of the parliamentary parties.

Participants rallied around the idea that an escalation of the crisis poses a threat to peace both in the region and globally, said President Radev in a statement after the meeting.

The Council noted that in the modern globalized and interconnected world each act of violence and aggression has the potential to trigger consequences of unpredictable nature and scale. Participants voiced concern over developments in Iraq, taking into consideration the need for urgent de-escalation of tensions and restraint in the use of weapons.

The Council believes that the sides should avoid actions which escalate the conflict, make extra efforts towards effective dialogue and finding a peaceful solution through diplomatic means as well as stick to commitments made under the nuclear deal with Iran

The President presented the recommendations of the Council in connection with the situation in the Middle East.

The Council recommends that within the context of a complicated security situation in the Middle East, Bulgaria should maintain a national position, which highlights the need for de-escalation of tensions and resolving the crisis through diplomatic means. The security services should monitor the situation constantly and analyze all processes which could potentially generate risks and threats to Bulgaria's national security. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry should maintain capacity for constant contact with Bulgarian nationals in hotspot areas and the Defence Ministry should take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Bulgarian servicemen participating in overseas operations.

If the situation changes, additional measures should be taken to protect the population and the critical infrastructure facilities in the country, said Radev.

Following is a takeaway from the participants' remarks after the CCNS meeting:

PM Borissov: We call for peace and diplomacy.

It would be irresponsible to say there is no threat for Bulgaria. A threat exists for all countries in the world when there is a conflict like the one in the Middle East.

Maximum vigilance and attention [are needed]. DIplomacy should have the upper hand and lasting peace should be sought in this region.

It was an easy CCNC meeting and the participants agreed on a joint statement.

Interior Minister Mladen Marinov: The Interior Ministry took measures that were adequate [to the situation in the Middle East].

Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Mustafa Karadayi: It was a constructuve CCNC meetig.

Socialist party leader Kornelia Ninova: The conclusion from the information that was heard, that is the most important to me, is that the conflict in the Middle East poses no direct threat for Bulgaria and Bulgarian people right now.

The conflict needs to be resolved by diplomatic efforts and deescalation.

Plamen Hristov, Volya party: I am heappy the participants in the CCNC agreed on the statement that in the conditions of globalization and an interconnected world, any act of violence and aggression has a potential to cause consequences of unpredictable nature and scale.

Even yesterday, Volya leader Vesselin Mareshki said that the reckless actions of US President Trump constitute an act of terrorism and called for the Bulgarian politicians to adopt a joint declaration. We have just done that during the CCNC meeting.

I believe that the problems between two states should be resolved peacefully. MORE///



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