site.btaGERB Leader, Turkish President Discuss Border Modernization, Black Sea Security

Good neighborly relations between Bulgaria and Turkiye and the personal and professional connection between GERB leader Boyko Borissov and President of Turkiye Recep Erdogan were the topics of discussion during their meeting in Istanbul, Borissov said on his personal social media page on Saturday.

Borissov said that cooperation with Turkiye remains excellent, is vital in the fight against illegal migration, secures the shared frontier—which also serves as the European Union’s external border—and sets a positive example of how to protect both national and European borders.

Borissov said the talks also addressed plans to expand and modernize the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint, already the world’s busiest land frontier for lorry traffic. Its capacity must increase sharply to generate greater economic returns for both countries, he noted, adding that upgrading the Lesovo and Malko Tarnovo checkpoints is equally critical.

“With President Erdogan we discussed security in the Black Sea region, focusing on coordination for the planned Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group,” Borissov said. He described Turkiye as not only a neighbour but a NATO ally and key partner in trade, investment, transport, energy, tourism and the fight against terrorism and organized crime. Cooperation on initiatives for Ukraine’s post-war recovery was another focus of the talks, he added.