site.btaDefence Minister Karakachanov Visits 68th Special Forces Brigade

Defence Minister Karakachanov Visits 68th Special Forces Brigade

Plovdiv, South Bulgaria, May 16 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Krassimir Karakachanov and Deputy Chief of Defence Major General Plamen Atanasov visited here on Tuesday the 68th Special Forces Brigade. The two observed combat training of the special operations forces and acquainted themselves with the training facilities.

"I saw that the boys are well-trained, morally motivated, and it would be a pleasure to see them in action during a real training," Karakachanov said.

The problems with the equipment and pay can be solved only by allocating the necessary funds, the Defence Minister told a journalist's question. The public needs to understand that the Army is not an institution only for the May 6 military parade, but must protect Bulgaria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the lives of Bulgarian citizens, Karakachanov said. He explained that it is no coincidence that his tour of military formations starts with the 68th Brigade, because the formation may have to act under all types of circumstances.

According to the Defence Minister, a private must be paid at least 1,000 leva a month, given the profession's risks, instead of the current 608 leva. The pay rise, however, will depend on next year's budget. "We will aim high," he said.

Karakachanov said that the 3,000,000 leva, allocated by Borissov's second cabinet for renovating the Brigade's garrison in Plovdiv and the Tsruncha training centre, have not been absorbed and will be provided once again.

Asked about the new multi-purpose aircraft, the Minister said that his team will first become familiar with the three current offers, after which they will be discussed at the Council of Ministers. This concerns a huge sum of money and things should not be rushed, he went on to say.