- Title: Bulgarian ministers visit border with Turkey as numbers of migrants increase
- Date: 2nd September 2022
- Summary: ELHOVO, BULGARIA (SEPTEMBER 2, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BARBED WIRE FENCE AT BORDER BETWEEN BULGARIA AND TURKEY CAMERAS INSTALLED AT BORDER CROSSING (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIA'S MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, IVAN DEMERDZHIEV, SAYING: “A more serious intervention from the Turkish side would help (reducing the influx), but also consider the fact that Turkey is currently under unprecedented pressure." PEOPLE WALKING NEXT TO BARBED WIRE FENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIA'S MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS IVAN DEMERDZHIEV, SAYING: “The situation in Afghanistan, which you know is escalating, causes great problems for the Turkish side to guard its own borders. And I do not think that what is happening in Turkey is the result of reluctance, but it is a result of large-scale forces engaged in protecting their borders." VARIOUS OF BULGARIA'S MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS IVAN DEMERDZHIEV STANDING WITH BORDER POLICE FENCE WITH BARBED WIRE (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIA’S MINISTER OF DEFENCE, DIMITAR STOYANOV, SAYING: “We (the Bulgarian army) can carry out surveillance and security, but this must be done simultaneously with a border police patrol. We are also reinforcing military police, who have also detention authorities. So, if necessary, we will give independent patrols." BORDER POLICE CARS PARKING NEXT TO BARBED WIRE FENCE JOURNALIST WALKING WITH CAMERA PAST FENCE MEMBERS OF BORDER POLICE STANDING BORDER POLICE OFFICER STANDING SOLDIER STANDING WITH GUN (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIA'S MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, IVAN DEMERDZHIEV, SAYING: “The influx was more than 1,000 people pushed back per day, in the past 24 hours there have been just over 500." CARS PARKED NEXT TO BARBED WIRE FENCE GUARDS STANDING NEAR BARBED WIRE
- Embargoed: 16th September 2022 12:11
- Keywords: Bulgaria Bulgaria-Turkey border Turkey immigrants from Afghanistan
- Location: ELHOVO, BULGARIA
- City: ELHOVO, BULGARIA
- Country: Bulgaria
- Topics: Europe,Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001234102092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Bulgaria's internal affairs and defence ministers did a security check at the country’s border with Turkey on Friday (September 2), amid increasing numbers of migrants from Afghanistan trying to cross into the Balkan country.
Speaking to journalists after walking along a barbed wire fence, Bulgarian Internal Affairs Minister, Ivan Demerdzhiev said he expected more intervention from the Turkish side to reduce the influx of migrants.
"Turkey is currently under unprecedented pressure. The situation in Afghanistan, which you know is escalating, causes great problems for the Turkish side to guard its own borders," Demerdzhiev said, adding that increased measures on the border helped reduce the number of migrants pushed back to Turkey by half.
"The influx was more than 1,000 people pushed back per day, in the past 24 hours there have been just over 500," Demerdzhiev told reporters.
Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said border guards would be reinforced by military police officers who will be allowed to arrest illegal migrants.
Bulgarian News Agency reported more than 350 servicepersons were posted from all parts of the country to help with the protection of the Bulgarian-Turkish border.
(Production: Stoyan Nenov, Sofia Strodt) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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