site.btaBulgaria, Sweden to Begin Negotiations on Gripen Fighter Deal in Coming Weeks

Bulgaria, Sweden to Begin Negotiations
on Gripen Fighter Deal
in Coming Weeks


Brussels, June 23 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) -
"Sweden's Gripen fighters have been ranked first, followed by
Italy's Eurofighters, while the F-16s were declassified. In the
next couple of weeks we'll begin negotiations," Prime Minister
Boyko Borissov told Bulgarian media in Brussels.

Within the framework of a European Council meeting Borissov
conferred with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Loefven. Borissov
urged for industrial cooperation and investments in Bulgaria so
that the country was able to pay for the purchase.

Borissov specified that the Bulgarian government wants to pay in
 installments over a long period of time and agree conditions
which will create new jobs in the Bulgarian defence industry in
order to generate employment and profits. Borissov said that
Bulgaria will be paying millions for armament which it made
itself in the past.

The Prime Minister said that Bulgaria is considering to purchase
 nine military aircraft and 200 armoured vehicles.

Of migration, Borissov said that the flow of illegal migrants
should be stopped to avoid driving a wedge in the heart of the
EU between countries such as Hungary and Poland and others which
 support the relocation schemes. "Fortunately, my proposal to
work on the implementation of the agreement with Turjey and
protection of EU borders was accepted," he added.

Borissov expressed concerns over the shortage of workers. "If we
 don't import workers from Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Macedonia,
 and Serbia, we won't be able to cope," he said.

Earlier in the day Borissov and Swedish counterpart Stefan
Loefven discussed issues on the EU agenda.

Borissov stressed that his Government is committed to a
successful implementation of the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency
of the EU Council in 2018, so that it can benefit the EU family.

The two heads of government considered ways to advance bilateral
 cooperation. Borissov familiarized his Swedish counterpart with
 the programme priorities of the Bulgarian Government for its
four-year term. The Bulgarian Prime Minister noted his country's
 efforts to join ERM II and the Schengen area. Migration, the
situation in the Balkans and the fight against terrorism also
figured on the agenda of the meeting. VI/PP

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