NEWS

The President: Currently There is no Need to Convene the Consultative Council for National Security

Currently there is no need to convene the Consultative Council for National Security, President Rosen Plevneliev told journalists in the Asparuhovo quarter of Varna, where he came to see what the consequences of the flood disaster were. The Head of State and European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva took part in the meeting of the district crisis headquarters for overcoming the damage in the region of Varna that was severely affected by the floods.

The President said that the coordination and willingness of the institutions to be close to the people and implement urgent short-term and long-term measures has considerably improved. “For me it is important that the institutions can perform their functions not only in Sofia, but also anywhere they are needed – in Varna, Dobrich, Veliko Turnovo, they should hold a good dialogue and be useful for the people,” the Head of State said. “Whenever the institutions convey divergent messages the citizens hesitate, therefore we cannot say that everything is OK,” the President replied to a journalist’s question.

As for the presumably reasons that led to the dire consequences of the disaster, Rosen Plevneliev informed that concrete and precise measures had been proposed which are valid for all competent institutions.

“The state should show that the country is on the citizens’ side and that the institutions could perform their functions 24 hours a day,” President Rosen Plevneliev further insisted. He added that it is necessary that the assessment commissions urgently start working so as to establish the damage suffered and thus any person in need can be compensated in accordance with the rules. The questions addressed by the people affected by the disaster in the Asparuhovo quarter with whom the President talked were related precisely to this issue. “Although funds will be provided for the affected by the disaster, a clear procedure and clear rules are needed to this effect,” the President was adamant. He added that a sufficient number of mechanisms are available so that all short-term and long-term measures are funded, not only by public funds, but also under European solidarity.

Rosen Plevneliev voiced gratitude not only to the contributors, but also to the hundreds of volunteers that joined the affected in their efforts to overcome the consequences of the disaster. “These people showed that we are a nation showing solidarity and expressing pride, a nation that can mobilize and it is the institutions that must organize them and be next to them,” the Head of State further said.

President Rosen Plevneliev and European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva set off for Dobrich, where they will get acquainted with the complicated situation and the damage the floods have caused.