PM Glavchev: There Is Potential Danger of Migrant Wave, Flows Currently within Normal

UPDATED PM Glavchev: There Is Potential Danger of Migrant Wave, Flows Currently within Normal

Dimitrina Solakova

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev speaking to reporters, Sofia, October 4, 2024 (BTA Photo/Blagoy Kirilov)

Sofia,

04.10.2024 13:51 | UPDATED 04.10.2024 15:01

(BTA)

Speaking to reporters after Friday's meeting of the Consultative Council on National Security, caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said that there is potential danger of a migrant wave, but currently the flows are in their normal size. The head of State convened the Council to discuss the risks for Bulgaria in the context of the conflicts in the Middle East. The meeting lasted three hours.

Glavchev pointed out that the structure of refugee flows is mostly people from Afghanistan, Syria and Morocco.

In his words, the Council meeting passed in a "spirit of consensus, which is a good sign that the institutions are working together to solve the problems of the Bulgarian citizens".

Regarding the evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from Iran, the Prime Minister said that Bulgaria is ready, but no one has yet expressed such desire. The Bulgarians in Iran are between 45 and 50 people. It is not recommended to travel to Iran or leave the country, he added.

"We are implementing the measures even before this crisis happened," Glavchev said. He said that the services provide timely information. Glavchev pointed out that situations like the Beirut evacuation occur all the time. "We expected this one and that is why we reacted so quickly," he added.

Glavchev said that 10 to 12 people will be evacuated from Lebanon later on Friday, the remaining 16 will be evacuated on Saturday on a Canadian Airlines flight to Istanbul, and from Istanbul they will travel to Bulgaria by cars from the Consulate General. According to the Prime Minister, the first stage of the evacuation of Bulgarian citizens who wished to be evacuated from Lebanon will be completed on Saturday. Glavchev urged the citizens to be calm.

The Council also discussed the allocation of 2.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for national security. "I suggested to the political parties to present the draft budget in the National Assembly or in whatever format they see fit , to see what the ideas are. The Council of Ministers has the obligation to submit only a draft," Glavchev said. In his words, this can be done in advance so as not to end up with what happens in the second reading in the plenary hall: "exotic proposals with political dividends". In his words, this will happen after the elections on October 27.

/DS/