site.btaDefence Committee Backs Report on State of National Security in 2017

119 POLITICS - NATIONAL SECURITY - REPORT - COMMITTEE

Defence Committee
Backs Report on State of National
Security in 2017


Sofia, September 13 (BTA) - The parliamentary Defence Committee voted 11 in favour, with eight abstentions, to approve the Annual Report on the State of National Security in 2017.

The Council of Ministers introduced the document into Parliament on July 20. It is due for consideration by 17 committees.

The Annual Report offers an adequate assessment of the security environment and notes objectively the progress made and the problem areas in sectoral policies, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov told the MPs. Regarding the defence system and the challenges to defence policy, the main conclusion stays valid: the Bulgarian Armed Forces are in a position to perform their tasks, albeit with difficulties and at a greater risk.

Karakachanov recalled the causes for this: chronic underfinancing over the years, lack of a vision for modernization, and a personnel shortage. This situation started to change in 2016 with the two projects for modernization of the Air Force and the Navy, followed this year by a project for acquisition of armoured personnel carriers for the Land Forces. Also, salaries were raised and an extra 30 million leva were allocated to bring the Armed Forces up to strength. The Defence Minister commented that the first positive steps were being made. LI/DD


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