Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov conferred with his Turkish counterpart Ali Yerlikaya during a visit to Turkiye, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry reported on Monday.
"Our relations with Turkiye are strategic," Minister Stoyanov said during the meeting, which focused on illegal migration and the two countries' efforts in that area.
"We appreciate Turkiye's role in terms of ensuring security in the region, as well as the security of the EU as a whole. We stress this in front of all our partners. Securing our common border and fighting illegal migration are our common priorities," the Bulgarian Interior Minister underscored. Stoyanov pointed out that the Bulgarian border police have taken a series of measures to counter illegal migration, which are already yielding results. He also underlined the role of the Turkish border authorities in this respect. "We will continue to insist to our European partners that the European Union should stand in solidarity with Bulgaria and Turkiye, respectively. We will continue to insist on support both for us and for you," the Bulgarian Interior Minister said.
For his part, Ali Yerlikaya briefed the Bulgarian delegation on the measures taken by the Turkish side in recent months, both in the border area and in the interior of the country.
"We are making efforts to ensure that no one crosses the borders illegally. There will be attempts, but many migrants will refuse to cross our territory," the Turkish Interior Minister said, adding that there are currently around four million migrants on Turkish territory.
Later in the day, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov and the delegation he led met with Turkish Deputy Justice Minister Hassan Yilmaz, the Interior Ministry's press centre reported. Stoyanov raised the issue of the investigation of border policeman Petar Bachvarov’s murder, which took place last year near the village of Golyam Dervent. Yilmaz said that the first hearing on the case is scheduled for October 12 in Edirne. He assured Stoyanov that assistance would be provided to the parents of Bachvarov to attend the first court session.
Turkiye’s Deputy Justice Minister and Stoyanov also discussed the issue of countering illegal migration. They agreed that legislation in this area as well as heavier penalties are essential.
/RY/
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