site.btaInterior Minister Inspects Danube Bridge-2 Border Checkpoint

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and Deputy Minister Ventsislav Katinov Friday inspected the Danube Bridge-2 border checkpoint between the Bulgarian town of Vidin and Romania's Calafat, the Interior Ministry said. They visited a video surveillance centre and talked with the Bulgarian and Romanian border police on duty.

The border checkpoint is operating at full capacity but traffic still  is heavy, said Commissioner Dimitar Chorbadzhiev, head of the Border Police Regional Directorate of Ruse. Some 1,400 vehicles bound for Romania cross the checkpoint in 24 hours.

Demerdzhiev called for a joint working group with Romania to find a long-term solution to truck tailbacks stretching for kilometres.

The Interior Minister and the Regional Governor discussed building parking lots as a short-term solution to heavy truck traffic.

The Customs Agency said that on March 23, 2,810 trucks crossed the Danube Bridge between Ruse and Giurgiu and 813 trucks crossed Danube Bridge-2.

Senior Commissioner Petko Kotsin, head of Vidin's Regional Directorate of the Interior, briefed the officials on the prevention of crimes against the citizens' electoral rights.

Demerdzhiev stressed the need of active comprehensive prevention, including conventional crime, drug distribution, domestic violence and conflicts between neighbours.