site.btaDefence Minister Nenchev: No Direct Threats to Bulgaria at Present Because of Events in Macedonia

Defence Minister Nenchev: No Direct Threats to Bulgaria at Present Because of Events in Macedonia

Ulan Bator/Varna, May 13 (BTA) - At present there are no direct
threats to Bulgaria because of the events in Macedonia, Defence
Minister Nikolay Nenchev said in reply to a journalist's
question in Ulan Bator. "We have no reason for concern but,
nevertheless, we are ready, if necessary, to join and assist the
Interior Ministry in the protection of the Bulgarian border,"
he added.

Nenchev is on President Rosen Plevneliev's delegation to
Mongolia and South Korea.

Nenchev also said that next week a Defence Council meeting will
discuss the issue with the repair of Bulgaria's MiG-29 aircraft.
"During the President's visit to Poland, our representatives
talked with the Polish side. The difference in the cost between
Russia and Poland is significant: if the Russian side offers us
to repair these fighter aircraft for 3 million leva per engine
[MiG-29 have two], the Polish side offers the same for 2 million
leva," he explained. After September, the moment the contract
with the Russian side for the aircraft's maintenance and repairs
expires, Bulgaria cannot renew it because of a series of
reasons and sanctions imposed by the EU, the Defence Minister
added.

Taking a question in Varna (on the Black Sea) on Wednesday,
Defence Chief Vice Admiral Roumen Nikolov said that at this
stage there is no risk of the Balkans' destabilization because
of the situation in Macedonia. He specified that the diplomats
are working for calming and clearing the actual situation in
Bulgaria's neighbouring state.

Nikolov and Deputy Defence Minister Dessislava Yosifova are in
Varna to take part in a two-day international scientific
conference, entitled "Technologies and Science for Sustainable
Maritime Development" and organized by the Nikola Vaptsarov
Naval Academy. Participating in the forum are representatives of
Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia and Turkey.

Yosifova said that probably the best scenario for Macedonia is
the conduct of early elections. In her words, it would be a good
option to first appoint a caretaker government and then hold
the elections. She specified that Bulgaria is ready to meet a
potential refugee wave from Macedonia.

Nikolov noted that the threat of terrorist attacks is becoming
ever more serious on a global scale, their number is increasing
and this makes it necessary to pay greater attention to the
development of Bulgaria's security sector.

Taking a question, Nikolov said that the topic of providing new
ships for Bulgaria's navy has not been forgotten. He noted that
there is a decision on the gradual increase until 2024 of the
resources for the security sector and, in particular, for the
Armed Forces by 1.35 to 2 per cent of GDP. According to him,
next year there will be an increase which will guarantee a
higher level of the army's equipment.

Commenting on the pension reform currently being discussed,
Nikolov said that the best option is service members to acquire
the right to pension after 27 years of service, two-thirds of
which in the Armed Forces. According to him, there should not be
a minimum threshold for the age limit, as in most of the NATO
member countries.