site.bta Stationing NATO Military Equipment in Bulgaria Part of Agreements Reached during Wales Summit - Foreign Minister Mitov

Stationing NATO Military Equipment in Bulgaria Part of Agreements Reached during Wales Summit - Foreign Minister Mitov

Sofia, June 24 (BTA) - The declared intentions to station
military equipment in Bulgaria are both within the agreements
reached during the NATO Wales Summit, as well as within the
security and defence cooperation with the US, Foreign Minister
Daniel Mitov told journalists here on Wednesday. He noted that
no offensive arms or offensive NATO equipment will be stationed
here that could be seen as a sign of aggression. According to
the Foreign Minister, the exercises to take place will improve
the Bulgarian Army's defence capacity. "NATO troops are our
troops, regardless of whether they are from Germany, France, the
 US or elsewhere. We have an agreement with all of these
countries for mutual protection and when there is tension on the
 Eastern flank, they are here because of us and because of the
Bulgarian citizens, while as a Government, the State's security
is important to us, as well as the capacity of the Bulgarian
State," Mitov said. 

According to him, hysteria is once again being created over
something that had been planned, stated in advance, agreed on
during NATO's Summit in Wales. A Readiness Action Plan was
adopted during that meeting, which includes the enhancement of
NATO exercises in response to the crisis in Ukraine, while there
 is also a crisis in the Middle East, he noted. Mitov explained
that the plan in question includes adaptive measures and
measures that guarantee the security of NATO members, especially
 along the Eastern flank, while such guarantees are being given
by enhanced exercises. Such were held at the beginning of the
year, when there was also hysteria, Mitov recalled. Over 70
exercises are planned. "When we are ready and have more
information about the technical parameters, we will inform the
public and Parliament's Defence Committee," Mitov said.

Deputy Defence Minister Dimitar Kyumyurdzhiev noted that
stationing NATO troops and equipment is being done based on
previously approved plans for the military servicemen, who will
be conducting exercises and in that sense it is impossible for
the US, being a member of NATO, to station military equipment
without it having been included in the plan for conducting the
exercise. According to the 2006 agreement, up to 2,500 US troops
 with the relevant equipment can conduct exercises on the
territory of Bulgaria. This number has not and will not be
reached, the Deputy Defence Minister assured.