site.btaCompulsory Military Training Considered for Professions that Use Weapons

Compulsory military training is being considered for professions where weapons are used, which will require legal changes, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on Bulgarian National Radio on Sunday.

“It should not be understood as conscription service or as compulsory for all citizens, but only for those who want to work and their profession is related to the use of weapons,” the Minister said, clarifying that these could be border guards, court security guards and even those working in private security companies.

Security in the Western Balkans has always been a top priority of Bulgaria's foreign policy, Zapryanov said and added that Bulgaria has never discussed joining the document signed by Croatia, Albania and Kosovo.

“Defence spending should be increased. We need to staff the armed forces, modernization projects are important, but we also need to modernize the capacity of the European defence industry. Active work has already begun at the Prime Minister's orders. We are already analyzing different plans for the coming years, we need to develop a concept for the modernization of the country,” Zapryanov said. 

The increase in the defence budget is about BGN 270 million. It provides for the increase in salaries of the servicemen from January 1. This has led to increased interest in military service, the Minister added. 

A decision according to which Bulgaria would refuse the delivery of the second batch of eight aircraft from the US is not being discussed. "By the beginning of April we will know the exact delivery of the first one, with the welcoming ceremony remaining on April 12," Atanas Zapryanov added.