Bulgarian Deputy PM Attends Forum on Countering Foreign Fighters

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva participated at the ministerial meeting on countering foreign terrorist fighters, which was held in Washington on Wednesday.

The discussion is part of the three-day White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), the government's press service reports.

Kuneva reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 2178, which calls for increased exchange of operational information regarding actions or movements of terrorists.

In her statement, she justified the need to strengthen the control of the external borders of the EU with the aim of preventing the transit of fighters to and from the conflict zones in the Middle East.

Kuneva highlighted that the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area and the full-scale use of the information systems of all 28 member states will contribute to common EU security.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that the EU needs a single security system with common standards and preventive measures rather than 28 different systems.

She underscored the necessity of regional collaboration in tackling extremism and pointed to the successful cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkey.

Kuneva commented that Bulgaria has to adopt the amendments to the Penal Code, which provide stricter penalties for persons related to terrorist organisations.

The meeting was of extreme importance to Bulgaria, as it is an outpost, so the sharing of experience is essential for ensuring that the country meets the challenges adequately.

US State Secretary John Kerry hosted the meeting, which gathered deputy prime ministers, interior and foreign ministers from over 30 countries and international organisations.

The forum continues...