site.btaDefence Minister Zapryanov, Slovenian Ambassador Bergelj Discuss Defence Cooperation

Conferring here on Friday, Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov and Slovenia’s Ambassador in Sofia Nataša Bergelj discussed opportunities for deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation and reconfirmed their countries’ desire to broaden the range of their relationship, Zapryanov’s Ministry said in a press release.

Zapryanov and Bergelj stressed the excellent cooperation between Bulgaria and Slovenia within the context of NATO and EU membership, as well as in strengthening the Eastern flank of the Alliance.

The Defence Minister thanked Slovenia for its decision to commit its armed forces to NATO's Multinational Battlegroup, based in Bulgaria, as the eleventh Ally participating in the Battlegroup. The structural and logistical details concerning the transfer of the Slovenian contingent to Bulgaria are to be sorted out shortly.

The sides discussed defence spending and the prospects to the national defence industries in the context of NATO’s and EU’s initiatives for an increase of investments in defence. An emphasis was also laid on the opportunities for cooperation in education, military personnel training and experience sharing, the Defence Ministry press release said.