Bulgarian Contingent Joins KFOR

Kaloyan Vassev

BTA Photo

Blagoevgrad, Southwestern Bulgaria,

24.08.2023 17:27

(BTA)

A contingent of over 100 servicemen from the Third Brigade Command of the Ground Forces in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) will join the operational reserve of the NATO Stabilization Force in Kosovo (KFOR), the Ministry of Defence said Thursday.

The ceremony for the official deployment of the Land Forces unit to the operational reserve of the NATO Stabilization Force in Kosovo (KFOR) took place today in Blagoevgrad. More than 100 servicemen, mainly from the Third Brigade Command - Blagoevgrad, will take part in the NATO Stabilization Force operation in Kosovo. The Bulgarian contingent will carry out tasks in support of efforts to restore and maintain security in Kosovo.

At the ceremony of the contingent's official deployment in Blagoevgrad on Thursday, Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Mihail Popov said in his address to the servicemen: "You go into an area where calmness is apparent, the situation can change in hours. That's why it's important that you work as a team, which is what you are trained to do during your preparation for the mission. We expect you to follow standard operating procedures, to perform your tasks strictly and most importantly - to support each other". On behalf of the Defence minister, Popov presented the assistant national commander of the contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Tsonev, with an icon of Saint George. Tsonev thanked the military leadership for the trust and the contingent personnel for their professionalism, diligence and high motivation.

The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the Joint Forces Command Major General Valery Tsolov, the Commander of the Ground Forces Major General Deyan Deshkov, the Commander of the Third Brigade Command Colonel Mitko Baltov, representatives of the local and state authorities in Blagoevgrad, relatives of the servicemen and many citizens.

/LG/