site.btaBulgarian Defence Minister Meets with Swedish Counterpart in Bucharest

110 MILITARY - DEFENCE MINISTERS - BULGARIA - SWEDEN - MEETING

Bulgarian Defence Minister
Meets with Swedish
Counterpart in Bucharest


Sofia, February 1 (BTA) - Bulgarian Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov met with his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist in Bucharest, Karakachanov's Ministry said Friday. They talked on the sidelines of an Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers held in the Romanian capital on January 30 and 31.

Karakachanov informed Hultqvist about the National Assembly's decision to launch negotiations with the US for the acquisition of F-16 fighter jets for the Bulgarian Air Force.

The Swedish Defence Minister said that his country respects this decision, and expressed Sweden's readiness for new talks on the topic in case such are needed in the future. The characteristics of Gripen fighters make these an exceptionally good alternative to F-16, he said during the meeting, which was held on Sweden's initiative.

The two defence ministers also discussed Sweden's experience in reintroducing conscription service as of January 2018, which lasts between 9 and 12 months.

Hultqvist said that Sweden considers the removal of the conscription service as a mistake, which the government's new decision fixed and also filled a void in Swedish culture and society.

Karakachanov underscored that this debate is already on the agenda in Bulgarian society.

RY/DS
/ДЛ/