site.btaProsecutor General Geshev meets Turkish Interior Minister Soylu, Deputy Justice Minister Birkan

Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev and the Interior Minister of the Republic of Turkiye, Suleyman Soylu, met here on Wednesday. The two agreed that tackling migration pressure is a shared commitment of both countries and is key to tackling illegal migration and human trafficking. Geshev and Soylu highlighted the good professional contacts between the law enforcement institutions of Bulgaria and Turkiye, which favour the development of bilateral relations.

Future joint actions to combat illegal migration and human trafficking across the common border of the two countries were also discussed. "We need to focus our efforts on more decisive and timely actions in solving these problems, as well as actively countering drug trafficking and financial crimes, including money laundering and cyber crimes," Soylu said. He expressed his appreciation for Geshev's efforts to continue the bilateral dialogue.

The Bulgarian Prosecutor General stressed that the protection of the external European borders requires even closer cooperation with the strategic partners of the European Union, which Turkiye undoubtedly is, as well as targeted actions to find the organizers of illegal migration channels. Geshev noted that the Bulgarian prosecution service has focused its efforts on preventing these crimes. He pointed out a worrying trend of increasing migration pressure which has also led to several fatal incidents with the death of Bulgarian policemen. Geshev once again stressed the commitment of the Bulgarian prosecution service to proactive joint actions with the participation of the Bulgarian national security services in the fight against illegal migration.

The meeting also included head of the Turkish counter-terrorism department and general commander of the gendarmerie, the head of the Turkish national police and the head of the Turkish migration department. 

Within the framework of the visit to Ankara, the Bulgarian Prosecutor General also met with Zekeriya Birkan, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Turkiye. "There has been a long-term cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkiye, including in justice," said Birkan. He stressed that one of the priorities of his institution is the maintenance of close and fruitful contacts with the Bulgarian prosecution service when it comes to the prosecution of persons who have committed crimes of a cross-border nature, as well as the fight against terrorism.

For his part, Geshev noted that friendly relations have been established between the institutions of Bulgaria and Turkiye, due to mutual trust and professionalism. The successes achieved so far are a good basis for building on this cooperation, he added.

Earlier, within the framework of his visit to Turkiye, the Bulgarian Prosecutor General spoke with the President of the Supreme Court, Mehmet Akarca, and Turkish General Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeal Bekir Sahin.