site.btaSituation on Borders with Greece, Turkey Calm, Tightly Controlled by Defence, Interior Ministries

April 8 (BTA) - The situation on Bulgaria's border with
Greece and Turkey is calm and under tight control by the
Ministries of Defence and Interior, Deputy Prime Minister
Krassimir Karakachanov told journalists here at the Council of
Ministers on Monday.

In the morning, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov conferred with
Karakachanov, the Chief of Defence, General Andrey Botsev,
Interior Minister Mladen Marinov and the Interior Ministry's
Chief Secretary Ivaylo Ivanov, who briefed Borissov on the
situation at the border in the context of growing concerns over
an increased migrant pressure towards Bulgaria. "The border with
 Turkey is well protected, the agreements are working, but the
border with Greece is problematic," the Prime Minister said,
quoted by the Government Information Service.
 
At the end of last week, prompted by misinformation on social
media, migrants from across Greece converged on a refugee camp
near the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki believing that they
 would be allowed to cross into North Macedonia and reach
Western Europe. On Sunday, the Greek authorities transported the
 migrants to other centres across Greece.
 
Marinov explained that the situation along the border is
monitored with thermal imaging cameras and night vision devices.
 Contacts are established and maintained with the partner
special services in the neighbouring countries. Border Police
patrols have been beefed up, while gendarmerie units are on
standby near the border, the Interior Minister said.
Karakachanov added that the Armed Forces could deploy 1,200 to
3,000 servicepersons and transport equipment to Bulgaria's
southern border within 24 hours to help the police units there.
 
The Defence Minister assumes that the situation on the border
could deteriorate due to the upcoming European Parliament
elections in May. "There are parties, not necessarily European
ones, that want to destabilize Europe with migrant pressure,"
Karakachanov said, replying to a journalist's question. Marinov
said that the border regions will be thoroughly reconnoitered on
 Tuesday. RY/MY