site.btaPresident Radev: Enhancing NATO's Contribution to the Fight against Terrorism Is Guarantor of Migrant Flow Reduction

President Radev: Enhancing NATO's Contribution to the Fight against Terrorism Is Guarantor of Migrant Flow Reduction

Brussels, May 25 (BTA special correspondent Assen Boyadjiev) - Enhancing NATO's contribution to the fight against terrorism is a guarantor of reducing the migrant flows, President Rumen Radev told journalists before attending the NATO Summit here on Thursday.

Terrorism is spreading towards Europe more and more, and NATO must counter it, said the Bulgarian head of State. This means more security in the countries in the Middle East, which is of exceptional importance for Bulgaria, he said, stressing the importance of NATO giving a political signal to the countries from the region, who are truly fighting terrorism, and confirming its committment and solidarity with their efforts.

Commenting Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's recent statements about the possible reconsideration of defence and modernization projects, Radev said that changing the positions and priorities on a daily basis does not work in the interest of Bulgaria's security. There are decisions by Parliament, and undermining these decisions by other institutions, undermines institutionality in Bulgaria as a whole, the President said, adding that he expects serious debates on these important topics.

Approached to comment Bulgaria's position for the NATO Summit in Brussels, Radev said there are a few main topics. The first one is reaffirming the political consensus in all countries about increasing the contribution to the Alliance's common defence capabilities, achieving two per cent of GDP on defence spending and utilizing these resources in the best way possible. It is very important that the trend of cutting defence budgets and staff ended last year. From now on, all countries should increase this percentage by 2024, including Bulgaria.

Radev arrived in Brussels to attend the NATO Summit. The delegation he leads includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Krassimir Karakachanov, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the NATO Summit as brief but very important, also due to the presence of the new presidents of the United States and France. Among the topics are unity against the terrorism threat, the question of the shared burden of the Alliance's activities, achieving the two per cent of GDP defence spending target, developing national plans for setting out and reporting on these goal's progress.