site.btaDefence Minister Tagarev Stresses Importance of Regular Government

It is not just desirable, it is very important to reach an understanding in order to continue with a regular government, outgoing Defence Minister Todor Tagarev told journalists at the foot of Mount Perelik above Smolyan, where he attended the capability demonstration day of the fourth joint international training "Rhodope 24".

According to Tagarev, steps should continue on judicial reform, on strengthening defence capabilities, NATO integration, and aid to Ukraine. “All these are extremely important issues, I hope that we will not end up with some series of caretaker governments, which we have seen in the past two years,” Minister Tagarev added.

Cabinet has secured a very significant increase in the defence budget, Minister Tagarev said. According to him, it is an exceptional growth, taking into account that the Ministry of Defence received BGN 800 million more for 2024 compared to 2023.  

Responding to a journalist's question about the work done in the ministry over the past nine months, Minister Tagarev said that several of the most important projects for rearmament of the army have been launched and a strategic review of the defence policy has started.

Asked about the assistance to Ukraine, Tagarev said that there are resources and if support is received from the National Assembly, more assistance could be provided. 

The international training included a demonstration by over 300 servicemen from Bulgaria, Croatia and Austria. 

“We have seen that the Bulgarian servicemen are well prepared, they act not only independently but together with their counterparts from Croatia and Austria,” Minister Tagarev said. According to him, it is impressive what has been achieved in just four days of preliminary training.