Islamic State-Related Anti-terrorism Legislative Changes  under Preparation

Sofia, February 27 (BTA) - Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov told
journalists that anti-terrorism legislative amendments are under
preparation.

The government Friday discussed a report by an intergovernmental
working group on Bulgaria's need to change its legislation in
view of the changing security environment and the terrorist
threat from foreign fighters - people fighting on the side of
the Islamic State or other terrorist organizations.

Bulgaria must respond to the changed security environment and
new threats, said Mitov. "The Middle East conflict is too close
to home for us not to pay serious attention to the problem," he
said.

Based on the analysis offered on Friday, the Ministries of
Justice and the Interior have until the end of April to come up
with legislative amendments: the former to the Penal Code, and
the latter to the Aliens in Bulgaria Act, the Asylum and
Refugees Act, and the Entry, Residence in and Departure from the
Country of EU Citizens Act, among others.

Bulgaria has already tightened control along its border with
Serbia and Turkey - on the road to the Middle East. These
measures also apply to air transport. More intensive information
exchange is under way with the special services of Bulgaria's
EU and NATO partners, said Mitov. Bulgarian citizens must be
sure that the State is taking all the necessary measures to
protect their security and deal with the manifestations of
global terrorism. This security is of prime importance and no
resources will be spared for this purpose, Mitov said.