site.btaDefence Minister Karakachanov: Wages in Army Will Be Increased January 1, 2018

Varna, on the Black Sea, September 30 (BTA) - Starting January 1, 2018 wages in the Army will be increased, said here Saturday Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov, who attended an oath of enlistment ceremony at the Varna Naval Academy.

Not all servicemen will get the same pay raise, with more money expected to go towards combat units and those working on the field, such as soldiers, sergeants, junior officers, the Defence Minister said. ea,

Commenting the upcoming purchase of new military equipment for the Air Force and Navy, Karakachanov said that "no games will be played" and everything will be done as transparently as possible. "What was done with previous deals is shameful, because it turned out that we alone, and on our own will, have raised prices by dozens of millions of euro," he noted.

Commenting the idea to build a NATO naval base in Bulgaria, the Minister said that such a project would be met by a series of obstacles, including international rules pertaining to ship sailing through the straits and their stay in the Black Sea. Bulgaria must rely on its own Navy above all, which is why it must be secured as much as possible, he said.

Karakachanov also said that Cabinet continues to actively work on increasing pensions. The Labour and Social Policy Ministry is examining ways to stop the draining of millions of leva through fake disability pensions, he said, explaining that this money will be later used to raise the minimum pension.