site.btaBulgaria Officially Bids to Join Germany-Led Group within NATO's "Framework Nations" Concept

ESD 17:50:00 10-09-2014
VE1749ES.121
121 MILITARY - NATO - FRAMEWORK NATIONS - BULGARIA

Bulgaria Officially Bids to Join
Germany-Led Group within NATO's
"Framework Nations" Concept


Sofia, September 10 (BTA) - Bulgarian Defence Minister Velizar
Shalamanov sent an official letter to German Defence Minister
Ursula von der Leyen expressing Bulgaria's willingness to join a
group of countries led by Germany within NATO's "framework
nations" concept, Shalamanov's Ministry reported on Wednesday.

The "framework nations" concept is about creating groups of NATO
member countries on a voluntary basis. The members of each
group will build a common platform for maintaining and improving
military capabilities. The leading nation in the group, which
possesses a wider range of military capabilities, will offer a
framework for the other nations which have only developed
separate elements of these capabilities. The idea is to assist
Allies in putting priority capabilities at NATO's disposal.

The Defence Minister's letter is in line with the desire which
President Rosen Plevneliev expressed at the NATO Summit in Wales
last Friday. Plevneliev said back then that Bulgaria wants to
join the group led by Germany. VI/VE