site.btaUPDATED President Says Bulgaria Faces No Threats from Ongoing Conflicts

Bulgaria is one of the safest destinations in many respects, there are no threats from conflicts in either Europe or the Middle East, President Iliana Iotova told reporters at the Perperikon archaeological complex on Tuesday.

"Bulgaria has some of the most secure borders in the European Union," the head of State added.

"I continue to believe that, unlike other countries and resorts, everyone is welcome here and will find peace and comfort," the President said, noting the decreasing flow of tourists and cancelled flights due to the conflict in the Middle East. These objective circumstances affect not only tourists on the Black Sea coast and at ski resorts, but also cultural tourism, she added. "I hope this period will not continue for too long. Bulgaria still lacks tourism advertising and I do not mean meaningless videos whose artistic and creative value might be questionable. I am talking about telling the story of Bulgaria," Iotova said. The head of State urged archaeologists and scientists to share stories about sites such as Perperikon. Regarding the cancelled flights, the President said this was due to the problems with fuel prices and supply.

Regarding the migration crisis in Ceuta, Iotova said that this is not a recent issue. "Everyone views this situation as a precedent. Years ago, there were similar incidents in Spain. The government at the time began building walls for the first time. Back then, it was threatened with legal action by the EU for human rights violations. Today, everyone is asking why is the return policy not stronger, why is the wall not reliable enough. It is a policy that has done a complete 180," the President commented.

"I have always opposed the way the European migration policy was adopted. It seems paradoxical that three years ago we adopted the migration pact, and today not only is it not being implemented, but it is also being rejected by many European leaders," Iotova said. "Bulgaria, along with other countries that form the external border, can lobby for a change in this strategy," she added.

Iotova is on a visit to the complex to see the latest discoveries at the ancient rock city, where she was invited by Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, the leader of the archaeological excavations.