site.btaPresident Plevneliev: Bulgaria Is Well Aware of Risks Stemming from Disrupted Balance in Black Sea Region

President Plevneliev: Bulgaria Is Well Aware of Risks Stemming from Disrupted Balance in Black Sea Region

Warsaw, July 9 (BTA Special Correspondent Assen Boyadzhiev) - Bulgaria is very well aware of the risks that stem from the disrupted balance in the Black Sea, said here on Saturday President Rosen Plevneliev, who is in the Polish capital to attend the Summit Meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government.

Plevneliev heads the Bulgarian delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and Minister of Defence Nikolay Nenchev.

There are threats coming from the South and the East. The migration flow is not coming to an end and the conflicts that cause it are not resolved, Plevneliev said. "Meanwhile, the accelerated militarization in the Crimea, the absolutely disrupted balance in the Black Sea, are cause for concern and we are obligated to raise the question and seek a solution," the President noted. According to him, everyone agrees that NATO's presence must be increased while observing all principles of the Montreux and all international conventions, and of course, within the very clear statement that the Alliance will back any country, regardless of the type of threat.

A proposal is expected to be drafted by October, under NATO's military leadership, to all countries in the Black Sea region about how to address their concerns. All of this will be led by NATO and happen under its umbrella. "We agree in our assessment with all countries from the Black Sea region about the increased risks and are united by the way in which this can be resolved," Plevneliev said. He noted that this is not about bilateral or trilateral initiatives. According to the President, there will be specifics by October about NATO's forward presence in the Black Sea region. In any case, this would mean an initiative under NATO's umbrella, open to all member states, for trainings and coordination of activities, he explained. "This does not mean in any way, and no one is commenting the topic by using the word flotilla, which I hope we have long forgotten," Plevneliev said. There is no such thing and there will not be such a thing, he stressed.

The President commented the decision to deploy a multinational brigade to Romania. Bulgaria will join with a battalion for trainings, rotations and coordination of activities. This does not mean that this battalion will be permanently deployed to Romania and does not mean that the initiative will be between the two countries only, he said, noting that other countries will also join.

The President described Montenegro's NATO accession as an important highlight and huge success of Bulgarian politics, as well as the Balkans. Plevneliev and Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov noted the importance of the declaration for cooperation between the EU and NATO, as well as the coordination in fighting human traffickers and illegal migration.

Recalling the cyber attacks against Bulgarian institutions during elections, Plevneliev described as historic the Alliance's decision to view cyberspace as a new field of activity within each member state's defence, just as land, maritime and air space are viewed. Bulgaria will have to accelerate its strategy for cyber defence, he said.

"We demonstrated our unity during the Summit. We are united in our assessment of the risks and threats, as well as the ways to overcome them," the President concluded.

FOREIGN MINISTER DANIEL MITOV

The challenges facing NATO and the EU are the same and addressing them calls for building joint capacity and coordination, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov told journalists here on Saturday.

Mitov described the signing of the declaration between the EU and NATO for deeper cooperation as one of the most important elements of the Warsaw Summit. He noted that the EU leaders and NATO's Secretary General have accomplished more in the past months for deepening cooperation between the two organizations than had been done in the past decades.

Commenting the common challenges, Mitov said that dealing with the migration pressure is one of the most important elements, adding that NATO is ready to contribute to solving the problem with all possible instruments.

Asked whether this means that NATO military personnel will protect the European borders, Mitov said that this is already happening in the Aegean Sea, adding, however, that no such need exists when it comes to the Black Sea, because the migration flows have not been redirected there. "We are all monitoring the situation carefully and if such type of migration flow diversification emerges, if human smugglers and traffickers start seeking alternative routes through the Black Sea, we will react adequately in any case, and NATO has guaranteed that we will be able to turn to the Alliance's instruments for dealing with a problem of such nature," the Foreign Minister said.

Asked about the message currently being sent to Russia, Mitov said that NATO mainly focuses on building its own defence, guaranteeing that each of its members is protected. The policy is a combination of restraint and continuing dialogue with Russia, Mitov noted.

Asked about the broader involvement in the Black Sea region, the Bulgarian top diplomat said that increased presence in the air and sea is demanded. The presence in the air is related to enhanced air space security, while presence in the sea is related to intensified trainings. Bulgaria insists that these trainings are conducted under NATO's flag and naval command. Everyone has reached the same position regarding this topic. "I believe that our Turkish and Romanian colleagues agree with this approach, which will continue, and trainings are currently held," Mitov said.

According to him, the severe imbalances in the Black Sea, which resulted from the annexation of Crimea, have led to a time when NATO must react, restore balance to a degree by creating better operational compatibility, build the naval, landforce and airforce capacity of its allies along the eastern flank, including Bulgaria, Mitov said.

"When you lock your house at night, you don't lock it because you believe your neighbours are thieves, but because you know that thieves do exist and it would be irresponsible not to do it," the Foreign Minister commented.

DEFENCE MINISTER NIKOLAY NENCHEV

There are no plans for Bulgarian participation in any shape or form in NATO's forward presence in the Baltic states and Poland, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev told journalists here on Saturday. The so called framework countries will play a leading role there and take their responsibilities, he added.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared at the forum on Friday the decision to increase military presence in the Alliance's eastern part with the four battalions in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on a rotational basis. Canada will be the framework nation for Latvia, Germany will lead the battalion in Lithuania, the UK - in Estonia and the US will be the framework nation for the one in Poland.

Stoltenberg and a number of other participants in the Summit have voiced their concern over the lack of balance in the Black Sea region. This will likely be the subject of discussion during a NATO meeting in October, Nenchev said in response to a question.

Asked to comment his views about an increased NATO presence in the Black Sea, the Bulgarian Defence Minister recalled the Montreux Convention, under which no foreign warships can be present in the Black Sea for longer than 21 days. Therefore, if there is such an initiative, which will likely happen, it will be carried out on a rotational basis, he explained.

Commenting the plans to deploy a multinational brigade to Romania, Nenchev noted that Bulgaria has expressed readiness to participate with up to 400 servicemen, which does not mean that this is exactly how many will be deployed to Romania and that they will stay there permanently. Bulgaria will participate with up to 400 servicemen in various exercises and trainings jointly with Romanian and other colleagues, which could mean that 20 are deployed there for a while and then returned to Bulgaria, Nenchev explained.

Asked if Bulgaria was subjected to criticism for not being homogeneous in its positions regarding the threat from the East, since this country's attitude differs from the one in the northeastern part of NATO's eastern flank, the Defence Minister said that no such criticism was voiced. "Our position is exceptionally balanced given the possibilities we have at hand, and I believe that our colleagues are showing exceptional understanding," he noted. "We came to the Summit with a notable self-esteem, we implemented the decisions from Wales, we had already made a decision to increase the budget, we had an adopted plan and programme for the defence capabilities' development, projects for modernizing the Army which are approved by Parliament," Nenchev commented.