Bulgarian Interior Minister Valentin Radev and his Turkish counterpart Süleyman Soylu met in Edirne on May 29 for a workshop on border security and co-operation, the first such workshop on the topic of its kind between the two countries.

The main focus of the talks was the efforts made by the two countries to ensure the security of the most sensitive external European border – the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint, Bulgarian National Television reported.

Thanks to the joint work, migratory pressure is “almost zero”, with about 50 to 70 attempts a week to penetrate Bulgarian territory, the report said.

Since the beginning of the year, some 700 people have been detained.

Soylu also raised with Radev the issues of the lifting of the EU’s visa system for Turkish citizens, and of improving communication with the EU.

Radev told the media that the Turkish side had several comments about the work and overall attitude of Europe towards them.

Also discussed had been funding, Radev said.

“But we are the ones who are trying and so far succeeding to do things in a way that there is good dialogue and listening between the EU and the Turkish state. And we are standing very well against this background,” he said….. / IBNA

Main Photo: Süleyman Soylu (L) and Valentin Radev (R)