President Radev: Evacuating Bulgarians from Israel remains a priority task

“I congratulate the Bulgarian Government for its swift actions in evacuating Bulgarians from Israel. Completing this operation remains a priority. Currently, there is no direct threat to the country's national security," President Rumen Radev said after the consultative meeting on October 11, which discussed the risks and threats to national security as a result of the ongoing conflicts and measures to minimize them.

He said that the risk prevention measures taken by the government remain in force.

"There is a trend of deterioration of the security environment as a result of the armed fighting in Israel, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the crises in Syria and the South Caucasus, and the growing tensions in the Western Balkans, which present new challenges to Bulgaia. The escalation of the armed clash between Hezbollah (Hamas, ed.n.) and Israel and the involvement of new participants increases the risk of more intense migration flows to our country with the potential infiltration of members of terrorist organizations," the Head of State added.

He clarified that there is an increasing application of technologies and solutions of products with military and civilian use, enabling new means of warfare.

"Reliable protection of the Bulgarian border is required. This requires both the repair and maintenance of the barrier and existing systems and the urgent acquisition of new technical systems to monitor, track and record attempts to illegally cross the border. It requires increased mobility and effective access control systems at border crossings," Radev further said.

According to him, the technological upgrade of the Border Police will help Bulgaria's Schengen membership.

"We have reached a full consensus that these efforts should be continued," Rumen Radev further said.

The reason for this meeting was common understanding that the institutions must work together, Prime Minister Denkov said.

"Bulgaria has important issues to solve and the three institutions - the cabinet, the National Assembly and the President have to be together in formulating the solutions. The government has completed a lot of the pressing tasks related to the migrant crisis and the repatriation of Bulgarians from Israel."

The crises did not start in Israel, Denkov said, we have had them for more than a year and a half, they are related to the war in Ukraine. The gas shutdown without warning and other threats to national security have required joint action by the institutions, he added.

"It was important for us to involve the party leaders from the National Assembly, who are ready for such a dialogue, because many of the decisions depend on what happens in Parliament. I will do my best to continue this conversation that started today and extend it with the partners who support the government."

The ministers have agreed with the President and his team that in future they will work together to find solutions to pressing problems.

"Whatever is done the main onus will lie on the government. We will need support from the National Assembly and we will make maximum use of the expertise that the Presidency has, especially in the defence sector."