Israel and Bulgaria to boost security cooperation in wake of bombing

Israel and Bulgaria signed a number of accords in a joint government meeting Tuesday, aimed at beefing up security cooperation between the countries.

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz and his Bulgarian counterpart, Ivaylo Moskovski, signed a series of measures regarding collaboration between the two countries on security issues, including an agreement to heighten security measures for Israeli visitors.

The measures come in the aftermath of the July 18 suicide bombing at the Burgas airport, in which five Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian bus driver were killed.

The agreements include clauses regarding special training of Bulgarian security personnel who guard tourist sites and buses, exchanges of information on aviation security, and placement of closed-circuit cameras at airports in Bulgaria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, in which he thanked Sofia for its friendship in the face of the Burgas bombing. “Friends are tested in times of need, and you rose to the challenge. You personally, Prime Minister, your government, your people, your doctors, everyone.”

Borisov compared the July 18 bombing to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the US, which were commemorated Tuesday.

“It is very important to point out today that the stream of Israeli tourists coming to Bulgaria continue, that we keep on working together, and build up new projects,” Borisov said.

The two countries also signed measures aimed at increasing cooperation in the fields of medicine, crime prevention and irrigation technology.