site.btaSupreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Scaparrotti: Bulgaria Is a Reliable Ally, Contributes to Collective Security of Alliance

Sofia, April 17 (BTA) - Addressing the press in Sofia during a visit here Tuesday, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Curtis Scaparrotti said that Bulgaria is a reliable ally and contributes to the collective security of the North Atlantic Alliance in a number of ways. The general was speaking at a news briefing he held jointly with the Bulgarian Chief of Defence, Lt. Gen. Andrei Botsev, during an official visit in Sofia at Gen. Botsev's invitation.

He went on to catalogue the contribution of Bulgaria to security in the Black Sea and Kosovo, support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans and its leading role in the NATO Trust Fund for medical rehabilitation of active and retired Ukrainian service persons.

Gen. Scaparrotti said that Bulgaria has very capable Armed Forces and is an indivisible part of the Afghanistan training mission. He commended "the brave men and women of the Bulgarian Armed Forces" for continuing to aspire to greater security and stability for their nation and thus contributing to Euro-Atlantic security.

Asked to comment possible new Bulgarian commitments to NATO operations, Gen. Scaparrotti said it a sovereign decision which only Bulgaria can make.

Gen. Botsev recalled that Bulgaria has increased this year its participation in KFOR by 50 per cent and in Resolute Support in Afghanistan by some 50 personnel, and said that is enough at this stage.

He said that for Bulgaria, security in the Black Sea involves more active involvement by NATO in the region to ensure reliable options for dialogue among the Alliance, the partner countries and Russia in respect to military activities in the Black Sea.

The two sides also discussed security in the Black Sea and the Western Balkans, including the role of KFOR in Kosovo and Althea in Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Scheduled Bulgarian participation in NATO exercises and training in 2018 and the next two years was also on the agenda.

Gen. Botsev said that Bulgaria has been able, despite the limited resources, to preserve the level of exercises included in the NATO schedule. He added that exercises and training in this programme will be considerably stepped up during the next couple of years.