site.btaPresident Plevneliev: "I Will Impose Veto if 2016 Defence Budget Mismatches Commitments"

President Plevneliev: "I Will Impose Veto if 2016 Defence Budget Mismatches Commitments"

Sofia, October 23 (BTA) - "I expect the 2016 defence budget to
be not less than 1.33 per cent of GDP. I expect defence to be a
clearly declared government priority in 2016, to be backed up by
 adequate financing. I reserve the right to act according to the
 Constitution and the laws of the land, including to impose a
veto, if the politicians dishonour the commitments they have
assumed," Bulgarian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of
the Bulgarian Armed Forces Rosen Plevneliev said in an interview
 for the "Bulgarska Armiya" newspaper, published on Friday, the
head of State's Press Secretariat said.

"If the defence budget remains unchanged from 2015, this will be
 glaring political irresponsibility and breach of the decisions
adopted by the Consultative Council on National Security," the
President commented. He points that the global geopolitical 
order has changed dramatically and there is a record large
number or crisis, many of which in immediate proximity to
Bulgaria's territory.

"Bulgaria, too, must contribute to NATO's capabilities to cope
with all current threats. This is precisely why, as head of
State, I convened a Consultative Council on National Security on
 defence matters, and I am proud of the results achieved and of
the decisions adopted. I expect politicians, the Government and
the National Assembly to honour them, so that these decisions
would not remain mere wishful thinking, as has been the case for
 years on end," Plevneliev also said.

The President stressed the need of technological rearmament and
modernization of the armed forces. "This is precisely why the
Consultative Council on National Security, which I convened in
April, decided that the Government will submit to the National
Assembly a Programme for Development of the Defence Capabilities
 of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, which I expect
 to be adopted urgently. A new Armed Forces Development Plan
must be elaborated on the basis of this Programme and must enter
 into force before the end of the year," the head of State says.

"Interoperability with the allies is a key priority, and
honouring commitments assumed to the [North Atlantic] alliance
must be guaranteed fully and comprehensively. We decided that
despite the limited national budget resources we will gradually
increase defence spending and honour the commitment assumed at
the Wales Summit," the President recalled.

He is categorical that the executive and the legislature must
ensure respect for the principle of keeping defence spending at
the same level as GDP share as in 2014 and increasing it
gradually to 2 per cent of GDP within a decade, excluding the
crisis year 2015.