site.bta President Plevneliev Discusses Defence Spending, NATO Presence in Bulgaria, Denies "Insolent" Rumours about Mobilization

President Plevneliev Discusses Defence Spending, NATO Presence in Bulgaria, Denies "Insolent"
Rumours about Mobilization


Sofia, February 10 (BTA) - "While risks are increasing, defence
spending in Bulgaria is decreasing. This is inadmissible,"
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, who is also Supreme
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, told journalists here on
Tuesday after taking part in the conference of the Chief of
Defence, Vice Admiral Roumen Nikolov.

The head of State pointed out that "security costs money, but
freedom and peace are invaluable." "Investments in defence
capabilities imply more jobs and more business," Plevneliev
said, stressing that he was speaking about defence capabilities
because "no one in this country intends to attack anybody
whatsoever, nor is anyone planning any such move."

The President called on the Government to find reserves and
within the current year to honour the commitment assumed not to
cut the money for defence. "This is important for our army and
for its capabilities, for its motivation, but also for the
country's international authority and reputation as a reliable
partner in the Alliance." The head of State recalled that the
NATO Summit in Wales decided categorically that defence spending
should not be reduced but should be gradually increased over
the next ten years until it reaches 2 per cent of GDP. "This is
a politically binding decision," Plevneliev noted, adding that
it is the responsibility of the State to guarantee its
implementation. "I expect the defence budget to be updated while
the 2015 financial year is implemented," the President said.

He pointed out that the NATO Readiness Action Plan, adopted at
the Wales Summit, is entirely defensive and addresses security
challenges from both South and East. "The plan has been adopted
by full consensus, and three Bulgarian governments and two
parliaments have worked on it," he pointed out. "The
establishment of a NATO command and control unit in Sofia in
this building (also known as MoD2) is part of this plan," the
Supreme Commander-in-Chief said, adding that "the idea is to
improve coordination where necessary, logistics, to prepare
joint exercises and actions for the enhancement of defence
capabilities."

Plevneliev called for "sound reason and no more manipulation in
Parliament and in public space." He said that work on the
command and control unit was started by the government of the
Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Movement for Rights and
Freedoms (MRF), which was backed by Ataka, it was continued by
the caretaker cabinet, and will be completed by the present
cabinet. "Let those who imagined missile systems, bases,
mobilization for the purpose of declaring war, use of the Shabla
range for an attack eastward, be honest with the Bulgarian
people and say on the basis of what documents, decisions and
facts lie to and manipulate the Bulgarian public so
unceremoniously," the head of State said, urging them "to have
the dignity to apologize."

The President pointed out that long-planned exercises linked to
NATO exercises will take place this year. "This is quite normal,
we have been doing it for years, and it does not come as a
surprise to anybody," he said, adding that the exercises that
will be conducted in 2015 were planned by the Ataka-backed
BSP-MRF government. "Just months ago, when they were in power,
the present opposition were precisely the ones that negotiated
and planned these exercises," the head of State argued. "It is
normal for our partners who participate in military exercises
together with us to bring in their own aircraft, helicopters,
ships and tanks, just as we use our own materiel in dozens of
exercises annually outside Bulgaria," he added. The President
explained that he was saying that "within the context of ongoing
manipulation."

Replying to a question, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said
that 77 joint training activities with the Allies will take
place this year, and some 70 materiel units will be in Bulgaria.
"Consider that I am talking about different times. The tanks
that prompted mass hysteria will total 14-15 at most and will be
here at different periods, not all of them at the same time,"
Nenchev specified. He said that an aggression against a foreign
State in any form whatsoever has never been considered.

Regarding armed forces exercises and activities, Plevneliev
pointed out that everything will continue to be public and open
to the media. "I welcome the idea of the Minister briefing the
parliamentary Defence Committee, answering questions in
Parliament, but we must realize that, under the Constitution and
under the law, the Minister is fully entitled to carry out the
day-to-day activities and to assume responsibility for that, and
I don't agree that he should be denied the essential right to
organize day-to-day work, including long-planned exercises, and
that Parliament should grant him authorization for each and
every military operational arrangement," the President said.

"When we talk about mobilization, let it be clear that it is
declared by presidential decree on a motion by the Council of
Ministers. I have not been approached by the Government, nor
have I declared any such mobilization," Plevneliev said, adding
that such a matter has never been considered and he sees no
factors necessitating it. "There are no mechanisms under which
Bulgarian legislation can take such a step secretly," he
stressed, adding that "these are outright lies that are being
circulated" and he is amazed "at the insolence of those who
circulate them." According to the President, it is inadmissible
"to abuse the Bulgarian people's most natural fears for the sake
of any narrow partisan interests". "The ease with which
political forces which until quite recently declared their
Euro-Atlantic orientation subscribe to such false tenets is
amazing," said Plevneliev.

He reiterated that the dependence on Russia for essential types
of armament is an "exceedingly serious problem". "The army must
be left alone to build its capabilities, to adapt to the new
realities and to achieve interoparability with the partners:
this is the only way in which we can safeguard our national
security," the President insisted. In his words, "Parliament,
the Government and the political forces owe the army support for
a long-term plan for development and ensuring the resources
needed for its implementation."

Replying to a question, Plevneliev said that preparations for a
meeting of the Consultative Council on National Security on the
subject of defence and security have been underway for a long
time now. This meeting will probably take place in March. He
will convene it "do so some useful work for our army rather than
take advantage of a particular situation."