site.btaBulgaria Sends 100 Service Persons to NATO Mission in Kosovo

A contingent of about 100 Bulgarian service persons was sent off with a ceremony in Yambol on Thursday to participate in the NATO Stabilisation Force in Kosovo (KFOR). The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Chief of Defense, Lieutenant General Mihail Popov, and the Commander of the Land Forces, Major General Deyan Deshkov.

The contingent is mainly from the 2nd Tundzha Mechanised Brigade, and their mission will last six months, Popov told reporters. "Danger is always present, but the danger in the region is low. These are preventive actions by NATO, in order to prevent the escalation of tensions", he said. According to him the servicemen are well prepared as they know exactly what tasks they will be performing in the mission area. "I am sure that once again we will prove that we are a reliable and well-prepared partner," said Popov.

Major Svetlin Simeonov from the management of the 2nd Tundzha Mechanised Brigade serves as the assistant national commander of the contingent, with Senior Lieutenant Slavi Slavchev from the 38th Mechanized Battalion appointed as the commander of the security company.