site.btaBulgaria Gets Two MiG-29 Engines for Free for Two Years after Contract Is Signed with Poland - Defence Minister

Bulgaria Gets Two MiG-29 Engines for Free for Two Years after Contract Is Signed with Poland -
Defence Minister

Sofia, October 6 (BTA) - Defence Minister Nikolai Nenchev said Tuesday that after a contract for MiG-29 engine repairs is signed with Poland, Bulgaria will get two repaired engines for free for two years.

He was talking to journalists after answering questions in the parliamentary Defence Committee on Tuesday.

The contract with Poland has been finalized and the Defence Committee has been informed about its parameters, Nenchev said. The price is 1,023,000 euro per engine. Being an EU Member State, Bulgaria will not pay 20 per cent VAT and 9 per cent in other taxes and fees. The terms of the contract are very favourable as the MPs saw for themselves, the Defence Minister said.

Bulgaria has 15 MiG-29 fighters, but only four of them are airworthy. Another two will have to be grounded by the middle of 2016, according to official information from the Defence Ministry. In September, Nenchev accused Russia of blackmailing this country by asking an exorbitant price for extending the fighters' service life. This compelled the Ministry to approach Poland as an alternative option for the repairs. Nenchev said that unless the aircraft are repaired, Bulgaria will have to rely on another NATO Member State to guard its airspace.

Asked to comment on the opposition's demand for his resignation, Nenchev said it had not been discussed at the meeting: "On the contrary, I met with understanding and support, including from the Socialist MPs, because they realized that the project and the transaction make sense and, along with everything else, provide guarantees that the Air Force will be able to perform its tasks."

He was adamant that this was the best possible price, way below the market price for repairs.He added that several companies had made offers.

Taking a question, Nenchev also said that on Tuesday he talked with Director of the Defence Intelligence Yordan Bakalov who had tendered his resignation following newly passed legislation which made him unqualified for the job. Nenchev did not accept the resignation, and argued that the legislation in question is likely to be vetoed by the President and returned to Parliament for further consideration. Nenchev said he will take a decision on Bakalov's resignation after the debates in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary group of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) once again said it demands Nenchev's resignation, BSP MP and member of the parliamentary Defence Committee Angel Naydenov said. Naydenov, who is a former defence minister, said he continues to have reservations about the future agreement with Poland for repair works of the MiG jet fighters. "These reservations concern the quality guarantees, the reliability of the repair works and the duration, given the clear statement of the Russian MiG maker that puts into question the supply of the spare parts, including for Poland," Naydenov said.

The MP also said that he sees no reason why the President should veto the Defence Intelligence Act.