As Spain took over the rotating presidency of the European Union, Spanish ambassador to Bulgaria Jorge Fuentes gave an interview to local media.

Fuentes said there were two types of security in Bulgaria. The first, pertaining to common citizens, he qualified as "really good," while the other type of security, Fuentes said pertained people conducting "certain activities." In a European Union member state such divisions should not exist, he said.

On the topic of the murder of former radio host Bobbie Tsankov on January 5, the Fuentes said the opinion of Brussels about Sofia would remain unaltered.

Referring to remarks by Bulgarian Minister without Portfolio Bozjidar Dimitrov that Turkey should pay compensations for the forced resettlement of Tracian refugees and atrocities committed by the Ottoman army during the Second Balkan War in 1913, Fuentes warned that any attempts to alienate Turkey from the EU would be counterproductive and harmful. 

Spain has been an advocate of further EU expansion and supports future Turkish accession to the block.

"Spain recognizes the fact that Turkey's accession is intertwined with many factors, all of which make the country's integration into the European Union more complicated. But if Turkey remains isolated, this might bring upon unfavorable developments for the union," he was quoted by Bulgarian daily Dnevnik as saying.

Fuentes said that one of Spain's priorities for the country's EU presidency, was to works towards Bulgaria's integration in the Schengen Zone and the euro-zone, though he said he thought it would be unlikely for Bulgaria to achieve significant progress within the six month period. Instead, a more feasible and realistic time-frame in which Bulgaria would be able to qualify for both would be in 2013, Fuentes said.

Fuentes warned it would be advisable for Bulgaria not to be too hasty with its desire to enter the euro-zone.

"There are benefits, such as economic stability. But the flip-side of the coin is that entering the euro-zone will inevitably lead to sharp price increases," he said.

Finally, Fuentes wished Roumiana Zheleva, Bulgarian candidate for European commissioner, success. "I am certain that Zheleva has the resources and the potential to pass the exam before the European Parliament" Fuentes said.