Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye are preparing to launch a mine clearing operation in the Black Sea, said Defence Minister Todor Tagarev on Friday. He was speaking at the opening of an international conference, entitled “Winning the Peace in Ukraine” It is organized by the Sofia Security Forum in partnership with the US Embassy in Bulgaria.
"We have been working for two months without making the information public,” said the Minister. “I hope that in the near future this operation will be launched which will enhance security in Bulgaria’s territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone. It will aid wheat exports from Ukraine too,” said Tagarev.
The terrorist threat has become particularly visible with the terrorist acts by Hamas against Israel and the ensuing tensions which are still likely to escalate. These developments can result in increased migrant pressure on Bulgaria as well as in tensions between the different fractions which support the sides in the conflict. Currently, the likelihood is very small, said the Minister.
“In this situation we are working with our allies and this is the most important guarantee for our security,” said Tagarev. He reiterated that Bulgaria will continue to provide political, military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine for as long as it is necessary.
The prospects for peace in Ukraine, the strategies and the ways to achieve security in the Black Sea region, the role of NATO and the European union and the future of the European security architecture will be among the topics which will dominate the agenda of the conference.
/PP/
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