site.btaUPDATED Government Is Ready to React Swiftly If Situation Changes, PM Says after Security Council Meeting

The government is ready to react swiftly if the situation changes, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said after a meeting of the Security Council. He was adamant that the effective measures are adequate and that new measures are not needed at the time being. He also said that there is unverified information about a Bulgarian held hostage in Gaza.

Denkov convened a regular meeting of the Government's Security Council on Tuesday against the backdrop of the Middle East crisis. The meeting focused on the challenges and threats to the security situation in the context of developments in Israel and the Gaza Strip, and heard reports by the Interior Ministry and the security services. 

"Based on that, we discussed whether the measures that are being taken now, are adequate. The answer is 'yes': all that is being done is adequate to the available information," Denkov said. he added that the measures include extra vigilance and tightened security at some facilities.

An annual report on the state of Bulgaria's national security in 2022 was also on the agenda. Denkov said that it was approved by the Security Council members and will be sent to the government for official approval before being submitted to Parliament.

Bulgarian in Gaza?

Asked by the press whether the government has any information about a Bulgarian held hostage in Gaza, as has been reported by some media outlets, Denkov said they only have unverified information. "We are trying to verify that carefully; it makes no sense discussing it before we are sure that this is indeed the case. We have discussed it with Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel," he said.

In Denkov's words, "the situation in the region at the moment is slightly calmer than it was several days ago".

"Diplomatic negotiations are underway at a very high political level. All the risks are there, but which of them will be materialize depends on the outcome of the diplomatic efforts. I personally hope that the situation will calm down, but do not underestimate the possibility of a sudden escalation. We are ready for this scenario," Nikolay Denkov added.  

Denkov confirmed that a representatives of the President's Office attended Tuesday's meeting of the Security Council. 

The Government's Security Council is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of the ministers of interior, defence, foreign affairs and finance, the Chief of Defence, the Secretary General of the Interior Ministry, the chairpersons of the State Agency for National Security and the State Intelligence Agency, the Chief of the Military Intelligence Service, the Secretary of the Security Council, as well as two representatives of the President's administration expressly appointed by the head of State. The President himself may attend if he wishes. It is within the discretion of the Prime Minister to invite the Chair of the National Assembly, the chairpersons of parliamentary committees, MPs, other cabinet members, heads of central-government departments and other organizations to a meeting of the Council.