site.btaUPDATED NATO Secretary General Visits Novo Selo Training Area

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived Thursday at the Novo Selo training area, where he will get acquainted with the activities of the Multinational Battle Group with Italy as framework nation and Bulgaria as host nation.

Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov and the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov are expected to confer with the NATO Secretary General.

Bulgaria plays a key role in NATO's security, both in the Black Sea region and beyond, Rutte said at a joint briefing with Zapryanov and Kondov at the training area later in the day.

During the news briefing, Zapryanov said that Bulgaria needs to increase its military spending if it wants to equip its army with personnel and modern weapons. "The increase in salaries for military personnel starting from next year is absolutely necessary, and I once again urge the Bulgarian Parliament to support the budget," the Defense Minister added.