site.btaBulgarian Defence Ministry: Permanent NATO Naval Presence in Black Sea Is Not Planned

Sofia, October 11 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said Wednesday that there are no plans to establish permanent NATO naval presence in the Black Sea. He was speaking before journalists at the Council of Ministers in the wake of reports by the international media two days ago that NATO is establishing a new multi-national force in the Black Sea.

At the same time in Parliament, socialist leader Kornelia Ninova requested a hearing of the Prime Minister about the reports for a new NATO force in the Black Sea.

Reuters, among other media outlets, reported that NATO is launching a Black Sea force as its latest counter to Russia. It aims to develop its presence in the Black Sea region without escalating tensions. The force will initially be built around a Romanian brigade of up to 4,000 soldiers, supported by troops from nine other NATO countries, and complementing a separate deployment of 900 U.S. troops who are already in place. The plans are to include additional air and sea assets to give the force greater capabilities. Apart from Romania, Poland is the biggest troop contributor. Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal will train regularly with the force in Craiova, and Germany is also expected to contribute. In addition to existing NATO Black Sea naval patrols, a maritime presence will include more allied visits to Romanian and Bulgarian ports, training and exercises, Reuters said.

Zapryanov explained that information about all training and exercise events are announced publicly in advance, and that the government and the presidency are informed about each exercise with an active scenario. "There is no movement of troops anywhere on NATO territory. Their only objective is to map out military and political decision-making at the headquarters in Brussels and NATO's command, as well as in the countries authorized at management of military and political crises," he added.

A Bulgarian frigate will sail out on October 27 to take part in the Sea Guardian exercise against terrorism. "This is real navy activity along NATO lines to which Bulgaria will contribute in the Aegean," Zapryanov said.

Taking a question, the Deputy Defence Minister said the Italian Air Force is performing air policing flights in Bulgaria jointly with the Bulgarian Air Force. Italy has proposed and Bulgaria has accepted to extend this mission until November 10, after which the Italian Air Force aircrafts will leave Bulgaria on November 15.

Zapryanov said that the air policing flights have not been beefed up due to Russian aircraft flying close to Bulgarian air space. The Russian Air Force flights are performed in international air space in observation of the international rules, he added.