site.btaBulgaria, US Discuss Expanding Cooperation in Law Enforcement

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and John Gountanis, Deputy Under Secretary in the Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans at the US Department of Homeland Security, discussed opportunities to expand the highly effective cooperation between Bulgaria and the United States in the field of law enforcement, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. 

Gountanis highly praised the existing partnership, while Demerdzhiev expressed political will to broaden and further develop cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

During the talks, Demerdzhiev raised the issue of Bulgaria's accession to the US Visa Waiver Programme, highlighting the progress achieved so far in meeting the relevant criteria. Gountanis acknowledged Bulgaria's efforts and reaffirmed the importance of fulfilling all programme requirements, noting that reducing the visa refusal rate remains a key condition for inclusion.

The US side also stressed the importance of strengthening and expanding professional contacts between the law enforcement authorities of the two countries on issues of mutual interest, including combating cross-border organized crime, with a particular focus on countering drug trafficking.

As part of its programme, the US delegation will also visit the Bulgarian-Turkish border. The visit will provide an opportunity to demonstrate Bulgaria's reliable border security systems on site, the Interior Ministry said.