site.btaDefence, Interior Ministries Cooperate to Remove Pyrotechnics from Burning Warehouse ASAP - Defence Minister

Caretaker Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov, who spoke to reporters here on Saturday, said that his Ministry is cooperating with the Interior Ministry, so that once the conditions allow it, part of the unexploded pyrotechnics get removed from the burning fireworks depot near the village of Gara Elin Pelin and transported to a safe place. Zapryanov's statement comes after the warehouse caught on fire on Thursday evening.

He stressed that removing the pyrotechnics could begin only after the final cessation of the explosions in the area.

The Minister told reporters that the decision to establish a National Civil Protection Agency under the Ministry of Defence was entirely in the hands of the National Assembly. He said that the current Civil Protection organization under the Ministry of Interior was also a good option. The question is how this structure will be equipped and staffed with capabilities, not under who it will be located, Zapryanov added.