Bulgaria, U.S. Discuss Exchange of Information on Organised Crime, Terrorism

The implementation of agreements on the exchange of information relating to security and law enforcement has been in the focus of a meeting between Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova and Alan Bersin, assistant secretary for international affairs at the U.S.  Department of Homeland Security.

The  working meeting on Thursday was part of Bachvarova’s ongoing visit to the U.S.

The agreements provide for the exchange of operational information on combating serious and organized crime, including dactyloscopic data and DNA profiles, as well as information on passengers between the law enforcement agencies of Bulgaria and the United States.

According to Alan Bersin, the agreements are "a very good framework for effective exchange of operational information between our structures," which is crucial for the joint fight against terrorism and organized crime, the Interior Ministry in Sofia said in a statement on Friday.

Rumyana Bachvarova informed Alan Bersin about the security measures which Bulgaria is taking in view of recent terrorist attacks in Europe, as well as measures to step up security at the country’s borders to counter irregular migration and the smuggling of people.