Bulgarian minister on illegal migration problem, cooperation with Athens

Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, speaking at a foreign press conference here on Monday, expressed satisfaction over what he called excellent cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria in the security sector.

“The two countries are paying special attention to the handling of immigration pressure from the east towards the European Union,” the Bulgarian minister said, pointing out that a handful of his country’s border police units are participating in the Frontex programme.

As regards Bulgaria, he cited 25-percent increase in 2010 in the number of illegal border crossings on Bulgaria’s eastern frontier, saying 1,200 illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other countries in Asia and Africa were intercepted.

Bulgarian authorities believe that the increase necessitates increased security along the borders with Turkey, with the implementation of technical criteria envisioned in the Schengen pact by the end of March 2011, as well as with additional measures.

One additional measure, according to Tsvetanov, is the installation of special scanners at the border Kapitan Andreevo border post for the detection of illegal immigrants hidden in vehicles.

According to the Bulgarian minister, Sofia has proclaimed an international tender for the acquisition of the hi-tech scanning technology, which will be installed at Bulgaria’s border crossings with non-EU members in the initial phase.

Asked to comment on a plan by the Athens government for the construction of a security fence along a 12.8-kilometre stretch of the border with the Turkey in Evros prefecture, Tsvetanov reminded that “every country has the right to decide the most suitable measures for guarding its borders.”