site.btaWith or Without Syria Tensions, Bulgarian Armed Forces are Getting Prepared, Defence Minister Says

Sofia, April 13 (BTA) - Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov said on Friday that the Bulgarian Armed Forces are being trained on a regular basis, "not because there is some sort of situation somewhere in the world." The comment came in response to a journalist's question about whether there is any change in the training routine of the Bulgarian military in connection with the tensions over Syria.

Karakachanov said: "If we begin to get prepared only after the situation somewhere in the world changes, then we are no good. The Armed Forces have their plans and are implementing them."

"Nothing in particular has changed" for the Bulgarian military, he went on to say, noting that the Armed Forces are not a fire brigade.

Taking a question about whether Bulgaria has been asked to provide political or logistical support or an air corridor, the minister said no such requests have been received at the Defence Ministry or the Foreign Ministry, as far as he knows.

Karakachanov was also asked to comment on the outlook for Syria, based on Bulgarian military intelligence information. He said there are several possible scenarios: "One of them is what we noticed last night and this morning, a slight softening of the tone between the United States and Russia. Another scenario would involve strikes and subsequent activation of Syrian or possibly Russian air defence forces. The most sensible scenario is to seek reasonable, peaceful compromise. Military strikes are no way to solve problems, particularly in a situation like this, with the Syrian conflict going on for years."

The Defence Minister said that President Rumen Radev has called a meeting of the Consultative Council on National Security on April 19 and one of the topics to be discussed is Syria.

Karakachanov took part in observances of the 106th anniversary of the G. S. Rakovski Military Academy.