NEWS

Margarita Popova: Bulgaria needs to build a new center for asylum seekers

The number of asylum seekers in Bulgaria has considerably increased compared to 2012, Vice-president Margarita Popova, who visited Strazhitsa to commemorate the day of the municipality, said. Margarita Popova told journalists that only in the first six months of the current year the refugee flow to Bulgaria outnumbers the asylum seekers throughout the entire 2012. The asylum seekers were 1380 in 2012, while in the first half of the current year they have reached 1880 people.

The Vice-president said that asylum is only one type of refugee protection. The largest group of asylum seekers, over 740,  have come from Syria since the beginning of the current year, over 220 come from Algeria, Iraq and Mali come next – over 100 people from each of the two countries come from there.

The state will have to address the issue of the growing number of asylum seekers by earmarking a site for building one more center on the country’s territory. This center should not only have the adequate capacity, but also offer the adequate living conditions.  

According to Margarita Popova, such a center should have a capacity for accommodating at least 500 to 700 people.  In her words, the institutions are considering the issue with responsibility. Currently in the country there is one transit center in Pastrogor and two registration centers – in Sofia and the village Banya, Nova Zagora district.

One of the most difficult problems we are facing is to provide the opportunity for bringing together families that have been separated, the Vice-president emphasized.  “Above all we must display a humane attitude to the human being – the people must be accommodated well, amid tolerable living conditions and, most importantly, we must closely cooperate with the representative of the UN Supreme Commissioner for Refugees,” Margarita Popova said.

The Vice-president added that the Presidential institution is working hard to process the applications lodged by asylum seeks as a result of the regional conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. Margarita Popova highly appreciated the work done by the Commission on Granting Political Asylum at the President’s Office. Its activity contributed to considerably improving the interaction between the institutions. The Vice-president recalled that an agreement for cooperation was signed with the State Agency for Refugees at the Council of Ministers and the Bulgarian Red Cross less than two months ago.

The leading principle we adhere to in search of a solution to the refugee problem is to show a humane and lawful attitude. In the Vice-president’s words, the security services “should work cautiously and with heightened sensitivity to ensure the security and peace of the other citizens who are ready to show a humane attitude towards refugees.”

“I hope all political parties represented in Parliament hold a constructive dialogue, adopt a moderate tone and display a good attitude,” Margarita Popova said in reply to a journalist’s question concerning the parliamentary debates due to be held on 16 August on the amendments of the State Budget Act returned for reconsideration.  “This would contribute to everyone’s peace of mind, to Bulgaria’s more positive image and to finding a better solution to such very important issues. Because the State Budget Act is a major tool for ruling in every country and we must talk about these issues by putting forward convincing arguments, carefully considering them, showing a responsible attitude and offering prospects,” the Vice-president commented.