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Croatian Police Consultants Laud Security Plan and Organization
• 5,700 Police to Provide Security
• Over 20,000 to Attend Solemn Mass Held by Pope John Paul II in Plovdiv
No Tip-offs on Public Order Breaches during
Pope's Visit
Sofia, May 20 (BTA)
"Neither the special services
nor the police forces of the countries with which we maintain contacts
have informed us of any preparations for disruption of public order
by groups or individuals during Pope John Paul II's Bulgarian visit,"
the Interior Ministry Chief Secretary, Major General Boiko Borissov,
told journalists May 20. Earlier that day, the Sofia Directorate
and the Regional Directorates of the Interior in Plovdiv and Kyustendil
finally coordinated their actions.
The first groups of some 40,000 pilgrims from different countries
have already arrived, Borissov said. Also, the first of some 600
participants in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting have arrived
in Sofia. A huge amount of work has been done to guarantee security
during the two major events, according to Borissov.
Two Croatian security officers arrived here on Monday. They directed
security precautions during the Pope's visit to their country. The
Interior Ministry has already been briefed on the US and the Romanian
experience of papal visits, Major General Borissov said.
Borissov and Major General Dimiter Vladimirov, Chief of the National
Bodyguard Service, have signed joint action plans for the duration
of the visits.
Borissov attended a demonstration of actions against anti-globalist
protests taken by the National Gendarmerie Service. They involved
police and firemen, who used tear gas and water cannon to disperse
demonstrators disrupting public order.
Sofia, May 21 (BTA)
"Our first impression is that
the planning and organization of security during the visit of Pope
John Paul II are quite professional," said Vladimir Faber, Chief of
the Operations Department, and Zlatko Djukic, Chief of the Security
Police Department of the Croatian Police.
The two senior Croatian police officers have been invited as security consultants for the papal visit, said General Vassil Vassilev, Director of the Police National Service. Their visit is within the framework of a broader coordination effort involving police services and structures of other countries to guarantee the Pope's security.
During Pope John Paul II's visit to Croatia the police found an explosive device and grenades in bushes near a checkpoint. They were thrown there because of the strict control at the checkpoints, the Croatian policemen said.
So far the Head of the Roman Catholic Church has visited Croatia twice - in 1994 and 1998, and is due to visit it again in November 2002, Faber said. He was guarded by 5,000 policemen in Zagreb and 3,000 in Split.
Speaking about the problems they had during the visits, the Croatian
policemen mentioned the numerous anonymous threats, traffic control,
security and the arrangement of the 500,000 believers and worshippers.
Everyone entering the area of the visit was checked for arms, explosives
and technical devices. The Croatian police also had difficulties in
securing the 20-km route of the Popemobile, Faber said. It is still
unclear whether the fact that the Croatian police did not register
a single offence in the two days of the Pope's visit was due to the
strict measures it had taken or to the strong religious feelings of
the Croats.
* * *
The first visit by the Head of the Roman Catholic Church to Eastern
Europe was to Romania in May 1999. In Bucharest, he was guarded by
700 policemen while 7,000 gendarmes were in charge of public order.
In May 2001 Pope John Paul II visited Greece as a pilgrim, following
in St Paul's footsteps. In Athens he was guarded by more than 5,000
policemen.
In June the Pope visited Ukraine. His open-air Masses in Kiev and
Lvov were attended by more than a million people. An anonymous phone
call warning of an explosive planted in one of the shops along the
Pope's route nearly ruined the programme of the visit. Bomb disposal
experts and police teams evacuated the seven-story building but no
explosive was found.
5,700 Police to Provide Security
Sofia, May 17 (BTA)
A total of 5,728 police officers
will be in charge of security during Pope John Paul II's upcoming
visit to Bulgaria, National Police Service Director Vassil Vassilev
said on the National Television Panorama weekly political news and
views talk show May 17.
An operational control centre has been set up with the Interior Ministry,
and operational plans have been drawn up for the Pope's protection
at the central and regional levels, Major General Vassilev said. "I
am certain that the police officers will cope with their task," he
said.
All European police services have been asked about the number of persons
expected to come for the papal Mass, and about possible tip-offs on
preparations for terrorist actions. No such tip-offs have been reported,
the police chief said. He estimates the number of foreign visitors
at 35,000.
The General has familiarized himself with the operational plans for
the Pope's protection during his two visits to Croatia.
Detailed information has been provided to the media concerning the
road traffic restrictions during the visit, Vassilev said.
Over 20,000 to Attend Solemn Mass Held by Pope John Paul II in Plovdiv
Plovdiv (Southern Bulgaria), May 9 (BTA)
Over 20,000 people will be able
to attend the solemn mass which Pope John Paul II will hold May 26
in Plovdiv's Central Square.
Meeting on May 9, the regional authorities discussed the security arrangements for the Pope's visit to Plovdiv. The meeting was attended by Plovdiv Regional Governor Gyoka Hadjipetrov, National Police Service Director Vassil Vassilev, Plovdiv Mayor Ivan Chomakov, the Director of the Plovdiv Regional Directorate of the Interior, and the Catholic Bishop, Monsignor Georgi Yovchev.
Access to the square will be restricted at least a day before the Papal visit, and the sale of liquor in downtown Plovdiv will be prohibited. Those who wish to attend the Mass will be allowed in the Square after 6 a.m. on May 26 through 15 expressly organized checkpoints. VIP guests and journalists will enter the Square through special checkpoints. Buffer zones around the Square will regulate pedestrian traffic. People carrying arms and alcohol users will not be admitted. Those who do not make it to the Square will be able to watch the Mass on two big video screens that will be put up.
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