site.btaDefence Conference Discusses Problems of Armed Forces

Defence Conference Discusses Problems of  Armed Forces

Sofia, May 18 (BTA) - Bulgaria's membership in NATO does not free the country from responsibility to keep its armed forces in combat ability. On the contrary, the NATO member states individually and jointly, call for combat fitter Bulgarian armed forces, Ilia Miloushev, Security and Defence Advisor to President Rumen Radev said, during a scientific conference on "Regional Aspects of Collective Security and Defence" on Thursday. The event is organized by the Association of the Officers in the Reserve Atlantic and the Sofia Security Forum. Miloushev presented the opinion of the Presidency about the development of the capabilities of the armed forces.

Miloushev said that the President has been calling for urgent measures to restore lost combat capabilities and create new ones. He said that the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Armed Forces intends to use all opportunities vested in him by the Constitution and the law to strengthen the armed forces.

Miloushev once again recalled a conclusion in the report on the state of the armed forces in 2016 according to which the armed forces are only partly capable of fulfilling their obligations to safeguard the country's sovereignty. He outlined the priorities of the President and the presidential administration aimed at achieving the intended strengthening. Miloushev outlined urgent measures for proper staffing of the armed forces, a set of more measures to strengthen the motivation of the people, improve the reputation of the occupation, increase the pay of the service staff and put an end to the outflow of people.

As other important priorities Miloushev outlined making a review and updating the doctrinal and statutory documents in the defence sector, and the need for modernization and re-armament, where the focus is to be on restoring lost and creating new combat capabilities that are adequate to the current threats. The presidential advisor said it was high time to give the go ahead of the prepared projects for jet fighters for the Air Forces, fighting ships for the Navy, and armoured vehicles for the Land Forces. "The further delay of these projects will be fatal," Miloushev said. Another key priority is the training of the troops which should be aimed at carrying out the full spectrum of missions and tasks for full-scale action.

Defence spending should be increased to two per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, and the increase should be done or at least begun immediately.

Presenting the opinion of the government and of the Defence Minister and his team, Deputy Defence Minister Anatolii Velichkov dwelled on the introduction of extended military training which be followed by opportunities to enrol in voluntary service.

Velichkov too spoke about the alarming assessment of the state of the armed forces. He said that the Defence Ministry has drawn up and expressed an opinion about a considerable increase of defence spending by more than 300 million leva. The Deputy Defence Minister recalled that funds have been allocated for implementation of the investment projects for a jet fighter and multifunction patrol vessels for the Navy. A review will be made of the organization and deployment of the armed forces.

Head of the Strategic Planning Directorate in the Defence Staff, Brigadier General Kalin Kouzmanov, too voiced concern with the problem of shortage of staff, saying that by 2020 due to reaching retirement age, more than 940 service people will leave the armed forces.