Deputy PM Kuneva: European Leaders Should Change Position in Respect of Bulgaria's Accession to
Schengen Area

Kyustendil, Western Bulgaria, February 7 (BTA) - Speaking at a
news conference on Saturday here, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena
Kuneva said that in her view, the European leaders - concerned
with their national problems at the moment - are not aware that
they should "radically, sharply and immediately" change their
position in respect of Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area
 because for Bulgaria this is security, and for them, "security
of a European territory". Kuneva recalled that there is a
decision of the European Commission that Bulgaria is technically
 prepared to join the border-free area. She said that sometimes,
 the slow solution of an issue leads to it being dropped.

Kuneva said that for her, Bulgaria's presence in the Schengen
Area now is a matter of security. She said that among the inflow
 of refugees there are some who do not want shelter and are
potentially dangerous. "Such people are in closed facilities
which are managed by the Interior Ministry. They cannot be
integrated. All efforts should be focused on exchange of data
with the other EU member states and other allies to see who has
tried to enter the territory of Bulgaria without wanting to
remain legally," Kuneva said.

The Deputy PM said that Bulgaria's security is of paramount
importance and that "the truth and the danger must be looked in
the eyes". Bulgaria should at all times assess the risk with the
 refugees, she said.

Kuneva also said that there people with Bulgarian roots in
Ukraine who - given the developments there - would too demand
shelter here "along the same formula".