EDIRNE (A.A) - 16.04.2002 - Bulgarian Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov entered Turkey late on Tuesday from the Kapikule Border Gate as the official guest of Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen.
Speaking to reporters at the border gate, Petkanov said their talks in Turkey would be very important, adding, ''we want to further develop relations between our two countries at the interior ministerial level. Our works will be beneficial for both countries.''
When asked what kind of measures they would take to prevent highway attacks on Turkish citizens crýossing Bulgaria in summer, Petkanov said, ''such incident occurred until recent past. Turkish citizens and citizens of other countries suffered such incidents. We have almost removed such incidents in recent months. We captured five-six groups disguised as policemen. Our works continue. This is the essential duty of the Interior Ministry. We will try to completely remove such incidents in summer.''
When asked whether or not Sofia was planning to completely ban activities of terrorist organization or close such so-called culture associations, Petkanov said, ''any decision on closure of a culture association has not been taken. We took an exam when groups came from Europe. The interior and foreign ministries did their best. We prevented those people from going to Turkish border. We discussed this with the Romanian Interior Minister. We also prevented those living in Bulgaria from reaching the Turkish border. We achieved success against them.''
When asked whether or not the issue of prevention of international human smuggling would be discussed during his talks in Ankara, Petkanov said that the issues of ''illegal crossings and illicit drug trafficking'' would be discussed.
Petkanov will have a meeting with State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in Istanbul early on Wednesday.
He will later meet with Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir and Istanbul Police Chief Hasan Ozdemir.
Petkanov who will proceed to Ankara late on Wednesfay will meet with Yucelen.