site.bta30th Bulgarian Contingent Leaves for Afghanistan

30th Bulgarian ContingentLeaves for Afghanistan

Yambol, Southeastern Bulgaria, November 3 (BTA) - A sendoff ceremony for the 30th Bulgarian contingent participating in NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan took place in Yambol on Tuesday. Attending the ceremony was Defence Minister Nikolai Nenchev.

The contingent comprises 90 servicemen, of whom nearly 60, including eight women, will be tasked with providing security.

Nenchev told journalists that the increase of defence expenditures to 1.35 per cent of GDP or some 200 million leva is a great success. "The increase allows us to modernize the army, to integrate better within NATO and prepare better our servicemen," said the Minister.

Nenchev added that besides negotiations for the purchase of a new fighter jet in 2016 a purchase procedure for two new naval vessels will be launched. The Ministry has opened a competition to fill in the vacancies in 2016.

The Minister said that some 70 servicemen have been deployed at the border to assist the border police in discharging their duties but more will be sent in case of emergency.