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Participation in the conference on THE THREAT OF TERRORISM AND CRIME IN TOURISM FROM THE STANDPOINT OF EUROPEAN UNION POLICY, Sofia, 19 March 2010.

On the invitation of the Chairperson of the National Tourism Board, Mr. Rumen Petkov, Chairperson of the IISC GM, was an official guest and participant in the conference on The threat of terrorism and crime in tourism from the standpoint of European Union policy.

The conference allowed leading international experts and companies in the field of security to talk to the Bulgarian representatives of the legislature and the executive, banks, non-governmental organizations, media and Bulgarian businesses about current topics related to the threat of terrorism and crime in tourism and the latest techniques and tools of combat and countering.

The conference was attended by 16 representatives of 12 leading international companies in the field of security and anti-terrorism, including  Armeros, an Israel-based company set up by former Internal Security Service (Shin Bet) staff; Arrowmid Group is a company which since 1985 has successfully established itself as a leader in the sectors of communications and security on the market in Israel; Advanced Security Concepts (ASC) was set up in the USA in 2000; Threat Management Services (TMS) has training facilities in the USA; the Elk River training center is highly qualified in risk assessment for terrorism and crime; ASCP is based in Lima, Peru, and was created by military officers, experts in anti-terrorist tactics, arms and electronic surveillance; Threat Management Services (TMS) is a US-based academy specialized in guard services and security training; Milestone Europe is a London-based British company with offices in the Middle East and Washington, and others.

Tourism is one of the areas of economy that are most vulnerable to terrorism. The rise in threats against it must entail an increase in the money for security - this is what the president of the Israeli security company Armeros Holding Yitzchak Dar recommended. In his opinion, security is an expensive endeavor everywhere in the world but for us it is even more expensive to deal with the consequences and damages when a bad accident happens. In the words of former Israeli Transport Minister and Deputy Defense Minister Efraim Sneh, Bulgaria just like Israel is located geographically on the edge of the world where religious fanaticism is growing. And it must deal with illegal emigration as a potential threat.

Poli Karastoyanova, Executive Director of the National Tourism Board, organizer of the forum, pointed out that the investments in security made in Bulgaria fall within the competence of the government institutions. But they do not take into account the perspective of tourism as they follow the country's general security plan. The Lisbon Treaty which entered into force on 1 December 2009 provides for a common EU defense policy. At present, the EU does not have a clearly defined common defense strategy and policy. "In this sense, it is even more difficult for Bulgaria as regards security," Poli Karastoyanova noted. "As the EU external border, Bulgaria's role in the event of a potential threat is obviously more specific when compared to the countries bordering on other Member States only. After this international forum focused on the problems in Bulgaria, the next step in a few months will be the organization of a similar forum with the Balkan countries. Our problems are similar and, from the point of view of the security map, the Balkans are considered one region. If we want to say that the Balkans are an attractive region for tourism on the overall tourism map, we also need to say that the Balkans are a region which is calm for tourism."

"Schengen is a well protected mechanism and Bulgaria's accession to it will, on the one hand, be a proof that we are a secure country and, on the other hand, it will increase the security in Bulgaria," believes Solomon Pasi, President of the Atlantic Club and former Bulgarian Foreign Minister, who also took part in the event and who finds that the accession to Schengen must be a main priority.

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