Bulgarian President Will Not Summon National Security Council over Refugee Crisis

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will not summon the consultative council for national security over the refugee crisis and the problems of the country's armed forces.

This became clear in a statement to the media which was released by the presidential press office on Sunday.

The statement came in response to recent calls to the president to summon a consultative council for national security.

The statement reminded that the president had summoned the consultative council for national security over the refugee crisis on 20 November 2013.

Back then the members of the council agreed that the refugee crisis posed risks to the national security including threats from a humanitarian, health and social nature.

The council called on the government to update the plan on gaining control of the crisis situation and to periodically report on its implementation.

All parties and institutions committed to distance themselves from attempts on threatening the ethnic peace in the country, instigating xenophobia, hatred and division in society.

The participants also agreed to provide the respective legislative support and resources to the competent authorities.

The political parties decided that all institutions will actively work for reaching a united European solution for common actions against the refugee crisis.

According to the Head of State, the decisions of the council on this issue are still relevant and up-to-date.

The president calls on the parties to proceed towards the implementation of the decisions rather than politicising before the forthcoming local elections.

The Head of State reminded that a consultative council for national security over the problems and perspectives facing the Bulgarian armed forces was summoned on 27 April 2015.

The participants agreed that the government will table for discussion and adoption by parliament a programme on the development of the defence capabilities of the Bulgarian armed forces.

On the basis of this programme, the government will devise a plan on the development of the country's armed forces.

The participants also called on the executive and legislative branches to ensure that no cuts are made to the defence budget and it will be gradually increased to 2 % of GDP over the space of a decade.

The council also agreed that all future investments in the country's defence capabilities will meet the standards of NATO and will be directed towards increasing the operational compatibility with the country's allies.

The president noted that the programme on the development of the defence capabilities of the Bulgarian armed forces has been adopted by the government and it will be tabled for discussion and adoption by parliament soon.

Plevneliev called on the government and parliament in planning and adopting the 2016 budget to implement the decision that the amount allocated to military spending will constitute at least 1.33 % of GDP.

He insisted that the decisions of the council on both the refugee crisis and the problems of the armed forces should be fulfilled.

Plevneliev called on the parties to refrain from excessive politicking and allow the army to plan and increase its capabilities rather than using it for achieving political goals during the election campaign.

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