site.btaDeputy PM Karakachanov Pleased with Seamless Coordination between Interior, Defence Ministries in Border Protection

September 17 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and
Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov joined members of the
media and local government officials to watch a Special Forces
demonstration of deterring an influx of illegal immigrants into
Bulgarian territory, Karakachanov's Ministry said in a press
release.

"Both the Border Police and the Bulgarian Armed Forces are
protecting the border on a 24/7 basis. We take this mission
extremely seriously," Karakachanov said in Malko Turnovo
(Southeastern Bulgaria, near the border with Turkey).

In his words, the army will remain at the border as long as the
Border Police will need assistance and as long as Bulgarian
society will need protection. Plans have been drawn up and, if
necessary and in case of a large migrant influx, the Border
Police can be reinforced by up to 2,700 personnel and nearly 500
 units of equipment, the Defence Ministry said.

Karakachanov said that the numerical strength of the Special
Forces will be increased shortly and a Special Operations Forces
 Command will be established, plus a new special operations
group under that Command, to be stationed in the area of Sofia.

The Special Forces Commander, Brigadier General Yavor Mateev,
pointed out that his unit has been drawing keen interest for
some time now. "Over the last two years we have signed up a
significant number of servicemen," he added. RQ/LG