site.btaBulgarian Navy to Take Part in NATO Operations

Bulgarian Navy
to Take Part
in NATO Operations


Rousse, on the Danube, August 7 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Navy will
commit the frigate Drazki to NATO's Operation Sea Guardian in
the Mediterranean Sea in November. Before that, the Bulgarian
minehunter Tsibar will join Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures
Group 2. The news was unveiled by the Navy Commander, Rear
Admiral Mitko Petev.

Petev told the press that the Commander of the US Sixth Fleet,
Vice Admiral Lisa Franchetti, will visit the Bulgarian seaside
city of Varna on August 13 in connection with a joint exercise
with the Bulgarian Navy which will involve new boats donated by
the US.

Petev also spoke about the honouring of his country's
commitments to the EU and NATO through permanent participation
of Bulgarian naval officers in the two EU counter-piracy
operations off the coast of Somalia and in the fight against
illegal migration in the Mediterranean Sea.

Petev gave high marks for the participation of the Bulgarian
Navy in NATO exercises this year.

The Commander was in the Danubian city of Rousse for observances
 of the 139th anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian Navy.

He said that over the last few years there have usually been
four applicants for each enrollment position in the Naval
Academy in Varna, which shows that interest in naval education
has increased. A new study course for military physicians is
also becoming popular, with 45 applicants contesting 20
enrollment positions this year.