site.btaUPDATED President to Decide in Coming Days on Convening National Security Council

Speaking on Nova TV on Sunday, President Iliana Iotova said she would decide within the next few days whether to convene the Consultative Council for National Security (CCNS). 

On Saturday, reporters asked her whether she might convene the Council following further explosions at EMCO depots, and Iotova said she would consider the matter, "as these incidents have become much more frequent." "What is more, you can see that the wars in both the Middle East and Ukraine are escalating, and our security services need to give their assessment," she added.

In her Nova TV interview, the President said: "We cannot convene the CCNS over just one or two incidents, but it is worth holding a Consultative Council on the risks and threats to national security." She added that convening the Council was being considered because they wanted to see the results of the investigation into the latest fire. "Such a Consultative Council requires very thorough preparation in order to achieve results," Iotova said.

A fire broke out at an EMCO ammunition depot near Gorni Varpishta late on Friday. The incident comes just a month after a fire at an ammunition depot at the company’s plant near Belitsa in north-central Bulgaria. 

Regarding the pardon granted by Iotova to a person convicted of drug trafficking, which the opposition questioned earlier this week, Iotova said that none of the pardon decisions had been concealed.

"I take responsibility for every action I take and every signature I put on a document. I can provide an explanation for them, as long as they want to listen rather than simply put labels," Iotova said. "The only pardon case for which I refused to take responsibility and asked President Rumen Radev (2017–2026) and the [pardon] commission to make the decision was when a pardon request came from my father’s murderer. At that time, I simply did not have the strength to make the decision, and I also did not want it to be interpreted as being subjective," Iotova said, referring to the period when she served as Radev’s vice president.

As to the war in Ukraine, Iotova said she would work toward achieving peace. "I think everyone wants peace now, seeing what is happening. A very difficult winter lies ahead. Europe’s financial, economic and social situation is far from good. There is hardly a peaceful capital anywhere," the President said.

"The United States and Iran are currently at war," Iotova said, adding that she believes the only solution to that conflict is also peace through negotiations. "BRICS has put forward a very good proposal for making the entire Middle East a nuclear-weapon-free zone. I think this is a very good proposal, and they will put it forward at the United Nations," Iotova said.

The head of State said she did not rule out the possibility that a decision could be taken to increase contributions from EU Member States, stressing that she was firmly opposed to such a move.

On Bulgaria’s geopolitical course, Iotova said there was no doubt about the country’s choice to be part of the European Union. "The question is how we conduct ourselves in Europe – whether we simply toe the line or whether we are people with character," the President said.