site.btaUPDATED Consultative Council on National Security Discusses Risks for Bulgaria Regarding Middle East Conflicts
The Consultative Council on National Security under the President is discussing the risks for Bulgaria in the context of the conflicts in the Middle East on Friday morning. President Rumen Radev convened the Council on Tuesday.
The Consultative Council is an advisory body on national security matters and is chaired by the President. It includes the National Assembly Chair; the Prime Minister; the Minister of Defence; the Minister of the Interior; the Minister for Foreign Affairs; the Minister for Finance; the Chairman of the State Agency for National Security; the Chief of Defence; the Chairman of the Intelligence Agency; the Secretary of the Security Council; one representative from each parliamentary group. Depending on the issues discussed, other office-holders may be invited to participate.
On Wednesday, caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev also convened the Security Council to the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister said that a task force will be established to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East. Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Shekerletova will head the task force which will include representatives of all relevant ministries and services.
On Tuesday, 80 Bulgarians returned home on a flight from Lebanon, the day before that 89 Bulgarian citizens were evacuated.
Caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov said that Bulgarian services and foreign partners indicate no evidence about any threat to Bulgaria. Additional security measures have been taken in relation to the diplomatic representation of the State of Israel and other sites related to the diplomatic mission, so as to guarantee the security of the employees and the areas in which they are located, the Interior Minister said.
After the two evacuation flights, which were carried out within less than 48 hours, in Beirut and in Lebanon, about more 25 Bulgarian citizens and members of their families have stated their readiness to evacuate, said Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Shekerletova. Various options are being considered for their evacuation, including with partner countries and allies, Shekerletova explained.
On Tuesday, the 15-member UN Security Council met after Israel killed the leader of Hezbollah and launched a ground operation against the Lebanese movement and Iran attacked Israel, raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
/DT/
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