site.bta Defence Minister Nenchev: Armed Forces Fully Prepared to Join Safeguarding of Bulgarian Borders

Defence Minister Nenchev: Armed Forces Fully Prepared to Join Safeguarding of Bulgarian Borders

Veliko Turnovo, Northern Bulgaria, March 14 (BTA) - The Armed Forces are fully prepared to join the safeguarding of the Bulgarian borders, Defence Minister Nikolai Nenchev said here on Monday, adding that the aim is to cover the entire land border.

Nenchev has sent letters to his counterparts in Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia stating that the presence of Bulgarian Armed Forces along the border should not be considered a threat but as an attempt to cope with the situation.

Nenchev said he will call a meeting with his counterparts from Bulgaria's neighbours.

In Veliko Turnovo Nenchev took part in a roundtable which discussed the education policy of the Defence Ministry and the national security.

In his address to the participants in the discussion the Defence Minister noted that the changed and deteriorating security environment requires from the Ministry to undertake concrete steps, including such relating to education. Nenchev said these include doubling the admissions in higher military schools and providing an opportunity for Defence Ministry staff that were laid off to return in the system, provided that less than ten years have elapsed since their dismissal and they have more than five years of service left prior to retirement.

The roundtable was attended by the heads of the higher military schools, Chief of the Defence Gen. Konstantin Popov, MPs, experts.