Bulgarian President Urges Rapid EU Response to Tackle Roots of Migration Crisis

Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev on Friday called for a rapid joint European response to the roots of the continuing migration crisis to prevent “tragic incidents” like the shooting death of an illegal migrant at the country’s border with Turkey.

Plevneliev expressed “deep regret” over the incident and called on those seeking asylum in Bulgaria to “adhere to the rules which are binding for all” and respect Bulgarian and EU laws.

“Bulgaria has always treated asylum seekers in a humane and a tolerant way regardless of their country of origin but we shouldn’t ignore our responsibility to protect our national borders and sovereignty as well as the borders of united Europe,” Plevneliev said in a statement.

Bulgaria, one of the first countries in Europe to feel increased migratory pressure, has taken emergency measures for adequate protection of the European Union’s external border, Plevneliev said.

“Unfortunately, two years later Bulgaria remains one of the few EU countries which strictly adhere to European regulations, continuing to register all migrants crossing the country,” Plevneliev said.

Bulgarian border police spotted a group of 54 migrants near the town of Sredets, close to the border with Turkey, on Thursday night. Police fired warning shots into the air and an Afghan man from the group was hit by a ricochet bullet in the back of his neck.

The man later died of his wound  on the way to hospital, the Chief Secretary of Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry, Georgi Kostov, said at a news conference on Friday morning.

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