site.btaInterior Ministers of Bulgaria, Turkiye Discuss Illegal Migration

Bulgaria's Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov and his Turkish counterpart Ali Yerlikaya met here on Tuesday and discussed illegal migration across the Bulgarian-Turkish border and Turkish citizens crossing Bulgaria, Mitov's Ministry reported. 

Yerlikaya is in Bulgaria for the Second Ministerial Meeting between Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkiye on countering illegal migration.

Mitov pointed out that Turkiye is Bulgaria's strategic partner, a neighbouring and friendly country with which we maintain an open and constructive dialogue. He emphasized that the two countries are collaborating to curb illegal migration and related negative phenomena such as organized cross-border crime, human trafficking, drug trafficking and terrorism.

The two ministers said that the migration situation in the region is dynamic, and the good results achieved should mobilize Bulgaria and Turkiye for even better and more effective cooperation.

The meeting's agenda included the upcoming trips of Turkish citizens who are passing through Bulgaria over the summer. The progress on the modernization of the border crossing points Kapitan Andreevo, Lesovo and Malko Tarnovo was also brought up. At the end of the meeting, Mitov said that the key to success in countering illegal migration is the timely sharing of information and interaction between the responsible structures from both countries.