site.btaGovernment Adopts Programme for Development of Defence Capabilities of Armed Forces, Prepares Efforts for Joint Protection of Bulgarian Air Space

Government Adopts Programme for Development of Defence Capabilities of Armed Forces, Prepares Efforts for  Joint Protection of Bulgarian Air Space

Sofia, September 30 (BTA) - The government adopted Wednesday a
programme for development of the defence capabilities of the
Bulgarian Armed Forces until 2020, Deputy Defence Minister
Dimiter Kyumyurdjiev told the press here. "This document
provides the legal groundwork for starting the reform in the
Bulgarian armed forces," Kyumyurdjiev said.

He also said that a workgroup of the Ministry has prepared
revisions to the Defence and Armed Forces Act to allow joint
protection of the Bulgarian air space with another NATO country.

The programme is a strategic document which will serve as a
basis for a plan for development of the armed forces. All
operational and tactical plans will agree with it.

The programme makes a political commitment for increasing
defence spending to 1.35 per cent of GDP in 2016 to 1.5 per cent
 in 2018 and 2 per cent in 2024.

As far as the financial resources allow and in keeping with the
priorities in this programme, projects will be prepared for
modernization of the old Russian and Soviet platforms which are
still being used by the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

The government has given the Defence Minister mandate to hold
negotiations for purchase of multipurpose fighter aircraft to be
 introduced in the Bulgarian army in 2018.

All other projects included in the programme will be financed by
 2020 as much as the available resources allow, the Deputy
Minister said.

Commenting the proposed revision in the law allowing joint
guarding of the Bulgarian air space, he said that it is
"absolutely essential" in a view of implementing the measures
for providing security of the NATO southern flank, adopted in
Wales in September 2014.

Kyumyurdjiev said that all countries in the region - Romania,
ALbania, Slovenia and Greece - perform jointly air policing
functions.

He added that Bulgaria is not holding talks with any NATO ally
for a joint air policing mission but the revision will allow it
to do so. Such talks will be finalized by a memorandum of
understanding or another document which will need the
endorsement of the government and Parliament.