site.btaDefence Minister Nenchev Signs MoU in Cyber Defence Cooperation between Bulgaria, NATO

Defence Minister Nenchev Signs MoU in Cyber Defence Cooperation between Bulgaria, NATO

Sofia, October 26 (BTA) - Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev signed in NATO headquarters in Brussels a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bulgaria and NATO in the field of cyber defence, Nenchev's Ministry reported Wednesday. The Memorandum becomes effective on the date of its signing without further endorsement, as formulated in the Council of Ministers' decision No. 689 from August 8, 2016.

The signing of the MoU will facilitate the information sharing process and the provision of expert assistance by the Alliance when requested by Bulgaria, Nenchev noted.

NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, Sorin Ducaru, underscored the importance of coordinating efforts in training, qualification and joint exercises. Bulgaria is among the first countries to sign the Memorandum in compliance with the Warsaw Summit's decisions to declare cyber space a separate domain within NATO. This will contribute to increasing national security and will create the conditions for developing an innovative industry and ensuring civil society's security, as set in the National Cyber Security Strategy, which was adopted this July.

The Memorandum is another step towards developing the mechanism for cooperation and interaction with NATO, including for building joint capabilities and defence from cyber attacks. This will create the conditions for increasing the situational awareness and building national capabilities that are compatible with those of the allies, said Georgi Sharkov, who is a national cyber security coordinator.