site.bta"Bulgaria Backs NATO's Efforts to Build Modern Defence Capabilities," President Radev Says in Warsaw

Warsaw, June 8 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is taking part in a Bucharest Format (B9) Summit here on Friday. At the international forum, the leaders of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia are exchanging views and are coordinating their positions on matters on NATO agenda, ahead of the Alliance's Summit due in Brussels in July, the President's Press Secretariat said.

A joint EU-NATO declaration is also expected to be adopted at the Brussels Summit, outlining the framework of future cooperation between the two organizations.

"Bulgaria backs NATO's efforts to build modern defence capacities, and the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces is part of this process," Radev said at the B9 Summit in Warsaw.

"Meeting the security challenges that we confront is beyond the limited capacities of the separate countries and requires a joint response," the head of State stressed in his statement at the forum.

The heads of State and government confirmed the common commitment from Wales to a gradual increase of defence budget resources to 2 per cent of GDP for development of national and joint defence capabilities.

As the President put it, NATO should keep its "open door policy", and Bulgaria will continue to support the aspirants to full membership in fulfilling the eligibility requirements. Radev singed out strengthening stability, continued reforms, building good-neighbourly relations and promoting the Western Balkans' Euro-Atlantic perspective as key priorities for Bulgaria. "Without guaranteed security, we cannot possibly achieve sustained stability in the Balkans," the speaker emphasized. He confirmed Bulgaria's support, within the framework of NATO's policy, to assist the countries engaged in the fight against international terrorism and countering the Islamic State in the Middle East in building their defence capacity.

"In its relations with Russia, the Alliance must be guided by realism and pragmatism, in line with NATO's approach to strengthening defence capabilities while remaining open to dialogue," the head of State said further on. At the discussion, the President stressed the need to assess the changed conditions, to seek opportunities for easing tensions and normalizing relations while avoiding an aggressive tone. In his words, this will help keep communication channels open and pursue important national economic interests, the way this is done by the leading NATO and EU Member States.

Later in the day, President Radev will attend observances in Warsaw of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Poland's regained independence.