site.btaDefence Minister, Chief of Defence Greet Bulgarian Military Contingentson Overseas Missions

December 19 (BTA) - On the occasion of the forthcoming Christmas season, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov and the Chief of Defence General Andrei Botsev Thursday had a video conference with the commanders of the Bulgarian military contingents participating in operations and missions in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Mali.

Colonel Krassimir Goranov, National Commander of the 39th contingent in the NATO-led train, advise and assist Mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan, said that the situation remains unstable and the contingent continues to fulfil its tasks successfully. Karakachanov said that the mission in Afghanistan is the hardest. Botsev said that the military leadership gives high marks to the tasks that are being fulfilled in Kabul and Kandahar.

Colonel Plamen Petkov, National Commander in Operation EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reported that the security situation in the area of the operation is relatively calm and stable, and the risk level is assessed as low. Karakachanov commented that the situation seems calmer than in Afghanistan but can change within hours, considering various processes. More than 3,500 Bulgarian service persons in aggregate have so far participated in the mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Lieutenant Colonel Todor Kolev, National Commander in the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), said that the security situation is relatively calm and periodically tends to escalate, while the degree of threat in Kosovo's territory is low. Karakachanov stressed that the mission is responsible and noted that Kosovo is in immediate proximity to both the ethnic and the international borders, and the situation there can easily get complicated. A total of 1,100-plus Bulgarian service persons have so far participated in the Kosovo mission.

Lieutenant Yordan Kiryakov, National Commander in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), reported that the situation in the area of the mission remains unstable, with an increased intensity of ethnic strife. The risk level is assessed as high, but there is no information of threats to the members of the Bulgarian contingent. Over 80 Bulgarian service persons have so far participated in the Mali mission.

At this point in time, more than 205 members of the Bulgarian Armed Forces are involved in nine overseas operations and missions. RI/LG



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