site.btaDefence Minister Karakachanov: Joint Trainings Develop Skills and Qualities of Common Interest

March 2 (BTA) - Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov and the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, expressed satisfaction with the high level of implementation of tasks during the joint training of servicemen from the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the British Army, the Defence Ministry here said Tuesday.

A day for high-ranking guests was held at Cheshnigirovo Air Base on Tuesday in the presence of British Ambassador Rob Dixon and representatives of the Ministry of Defence.

After the demonstration of combat capabilities, Karakachanov said that ''these are the boys we will rely on in the first hours of a possible conflict''. According to the Minister, their preparation is very good, and through such joint exercises with servicemen from the armies of other allied countries, it is rising to an ever higher level.

Joint Bulgarian-British teams have staged a demonstration to neutralize terrorists in a building using simulation munitions. This and other tasks, specific to the actions of the special forces on different terrains and under different conditions, were worked out for two weeks during the joint training.

The commander of the JSOC, Major General Yavor Mateev, said that the purpose of the joint Bulgarian-British training was to work out tactical actions. "In the special forces, the success of a small group in many cases determines the success of large operations. I would like to express my gratitude to these men who are training for a second week straight and will continue until March 5, because so far they have been successfully training in three different centres without any accident, "said Major General Mateev.

Minister Karakachanov, Admiral Eftimov and Ambassador Dixon received a symbolic sign of the joint training with the date and place of its holding. RI/DT

/МЙ/