site.btaInterior Minister Demerdzhiev Attends Regional Ministerial Conference on Migration

Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and Deputy Minister Ventsislav Katinov took part in a regional ministerial conference on migration in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. The aim of the forum was to strengthen and deepen cooperation between EU member states and the Western Balkan countries to more effectively address issues related to migration management and border security, return and readmission policies, as well as countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

During the conference, Minister Demerdzhiev held bilateral meetings with Suleyman Soylu, Minister of the Interior of Turkey, Karin Keller-Sutter, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police of the Swiss Confederation, and the Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Selmo Cikotic.

The conversation with the Turkish Minister of Interior was held in a spirit of open and constructive dialogue. The two sides praised the regular political dialogue, the excellent cooperation in the field of home affairs and expressed their readiness for pragmatic and effective interaction on all issues of mutual interest, including the security of the common border and even more effective management of migration processes. The two sides agreed to continue the bilateral dialogue in the framework of a cooperation mechanism at the level of deputy ministers of the interior.

The good cooperation between Bulgaria and Switzerland in the field of home affairs and the opportunities for its development and deepening were the focus of the talks between Minister Demerdzhiev and the head of the Swiss Federal Department of Police and Justice. Minister Demerdzhiev presented Bulgaria's progress in preparing for Schengen accession and expressed confidence that Switzerland will continue to support Bulgaria's efforts in this area.

During the bilateral meeting with the host of the conference, Minister Selmo Cikotic, the Bulgarian side commended the commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina on issues such as border security and the fight against illegal migration. Minister Demerdzhiev expressed his Ministry's readiness to support efforts to address the current migration challenges by sharing professional experience and expertise.

In his speech during the conference, Deputy Minister Ventsislav Katinov stressed the need to seek comprehensive solutions to the common migration challenges, as well as better coordination and planning of joint actions by the countries in the region. He stated that Bulgaria, and in particular the Ministry of Interior, is strongly committed and has intensive interaction with all European and international partners in the field of migration management. He also pointed to the key importance of preventing irregular migration and maintaining good cooperation with transit and origin countries.