Expats

Bulgaria Covered by Stage 1 of NATO Shield [May 21, 2012] The entire territory of Bulgaria is covered by the first stage of NATO's missile defense shield, according to Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Mladenov. Mladenov spoke at the NATO summit in Chicago, held on May 21 and 22. State and government leaders of NATO members announced the establishment of the shield's first stage. ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Urges NATO 'Open-Door Policy' for Macedonia [May 10, 2012] Bulgaria's Defense Minister Anyu Angelov has expressed the Bulgarian government's support for an "open-door" NATO policy towards Macedonia at a meeting with his Macedonian counterpart Fatmir Besimi. During Angelov and Basimi's meeting in Sofia Thursday, officials from the Defense Ministries of Bulgaria and Macedonia signed a Bilateral Cooperation Plan in Defense for 2012, which focuses on ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Was Smallest Defense Spender in NATO 2011 [Apr 14, 2012] Bulgaria was the NATO member who spent the least for defense during last year, according to information released by the Alliance. The gross defense spending of the 28 members of the block during 2011 was USD 1.38 B, which is a decrease with respect to 2010, when they spent USD 1.... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Urges SEECP Countries to Deepen Joint 'Smart Defense' [Apr 12, 2012] Bulgaria's Defense Minister Anyu Angelov has urged the countries from the Southeast European Cooperation Process to deepen further their cooperation within NATO's "Smart Defense" program. Angelov spoke at a ministerial of the SEECP in Belgrade, Serbia, on Thursday, as cited by the press service of the Bulgarian Defense Ministry. "These initiatives provide us with great opportunities for regional ... [via YahooNews] More >>

U.S. 'committed' to Bulgaria's security [Feb 07, 2012] SOFIA, Bulgaria, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The United States remains committed to the security of its "important NATO partner" Bulgaria, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says. [via YahooNews] More >>

NATO Secretary General Thanks President Plevneliev for Bulgaria's Contribution [Jan 26, 2012] Bulgaria's participation in NATO was given a high assessment by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. "2012 will be an important year for NATO and Bulgaria may play an important part in the process," Rasmussen said after a Thursday meeting with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev in Brussels. "The fact that you chose to visit the NATO headquarters so soon after your inauguration is a ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Leaked Milosevic's Kosovo Ethnic Cleansing Plan in 1999 [Jan 09, 2012] Bulgaria's government turned over to Germany and NATO intelligence information about "Operation Horseshoe" - the Kosovo ethnic cleansing plan of ex Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic back in 1999. This has been revealed by former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynski (back then Nadezhda Mihaylova) in a documentary on "Operation Horseshoe" of the private Bulgarian channel bTV. "I provided ... [via YahooNews] More >>

The Bulgaria 2011 Review: Defense [Jan 07, 2012] 2011 saw little tangible improvement in the situation of the Bulgarian military, with troubled arms deals, controversial reforms, funding shortages, and hopes for a bright future. Thus, first and foremost, Bulgaria's strategic alliance with the USA, and, second, its NATO membership, have remained the cornerstones of national security policy. The Bulgarian state kept paying for this protection ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria 'Sorry' for NATO, Russia Dissent on Missile Defense [Dec 08, 2011] Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov has expressed regrets over the lack of progress in the talks between NATO and Russia on the creation of a joint missile defense system in Europe. Mladenov took part in the NATO-Russia Council during the annual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Alliance in Brussels. Even though it was formally invited to join the US / NATO missile shield in ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Backs Kosovo's Territorial Integrity at NATO Ministerial [Dec 08, 2011] Bulgaria has stressed its adherence to the principled position of NATO on preserving Kosovo's territorial integrity, according to the speech of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov at the annual meeting of the Alliance member states' top diplomats. "The general principled agreement for the territorial integrity of Kosovo was among the main points stressed by Nikolay Mladenov. He ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Make Major Withdrawal of Afghanistan Troops by 2014 [Nov 30, 2011] Bulgaria's government has decided in favor of a major pullout of the Bulgarian troops stationed in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Anyu Angelov announced after Wednesday's Cabinet sitting. Thus, Bulgaria will bring home three-fourths of its more than 600 troops currently serving within NATO's ISAF mission, under a newly adopted document with the lengthy title "Strategy for the Transformation of ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bisongniero Welcomes Bulgaria's Smart Defense Push in Sofia [Nov 25, 2011] The introduction and development of the so called "smart defense" should be used as an excuse to downsize military budgets, NATO Deputy Secretary-General Claudio Bisogniero declared in a lecture in Bulgaria's capital Sofia. NATO's smart defense initiative is supposed to build up capabilities through multinational approaches," Bisogniero stated further in Sofia, as cited by BNR and BGNES. He ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Has No Intention of Beefing Up Further Troops in Afghanistan [Oct 06, 2011] Bulgaria has no plans for further increases of the number of its troops in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Anyu Angelov has told his counterparts from the NATO member states in Brussels. Angelov took part in the meeting of the NATO Defense Ministers on October 5-6, which focused on the situations in Afghanistan and Libya, where the Alliance recently extended its Operation United Protector against ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Claims to Be Happy Turkey Got US, NATO Missile Shield Radar [Sep 02, 2011] Bulgaria is satisfied with the agreement reached between the USA and Turkey to deploy in the latter the radar of the US/NATO missile defense system in Europe, Bulgaria's foreign and defense ministers said in a joint statement. Turkey's decision to agree to host elements of the missile shield in spite of its earlier misgivings was announced by a Turkish official early Friday. "This step is part ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Sells 36% Stake in Arsenal Rifle Maker [Aug 05, 2011] Bulgaria is opening a one-stage tender to sell the 35.8% minority stake it still holds in one of the largest military factories in the country, Arsenal Kazanlak, which produces arms suitable for use by NATO. Eligible bidders will be companies involved in weapons production.... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to target EU, NATO markets for arms exports [Jul 05, 2011] (SOFIA ) - Bulgaria plans to shift its arms exports to markets in the European Union and NATO, after decades concentrating on Asia and Africa, according to a new defence strategy presented Tuesday. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Top Diplomat Heads for Capital of Libyan Rebels [Jun 28, 2011] Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov is on a one-day visit to Benghazi, the capital of the Libyan rebels fighting against dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Mladenov will meet with members of the National Transitional Council of the Libyan opposition, which has the functions of a rebel government as a NATO-led international coalition is carrying out military strikes against the Gaddafi regime ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Host Elements of NATO Missile Defense if Turkey Refuses [Jun 24, 2011] Bulgaria is likely to host elements of the US/NATO missile defense system in Europe instead of Turkey if Turkey refuses to host them, according to Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Avgustina Tsvetkova. Turkey's position about hosting elements of the US and NATO missile shield, most likely its radar system, should be clear by the fall of 2011, Tsvetkova told journalists in Pamporovo Friday ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria to Send 5 Military Officers to Libya [Jun 09, 2011] Bulgaria will send five military officers to the NATO's navy and aviation headquarters for the operation in Libya, the country's Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov, announced Thursday. Speaking before journalists while on a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Angelov pointed out that the move will be done in cooperation with the Alliance's command. The five officers ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Drazki Frigate Back Home from NATO Mission [Jun 04, 2011] Bulgaria's navy frigate, which set out on April 27 to join NATO's Operation "United Protector" patrolling off Libya's coast to enforce a UN arms embargo, returned to the country Saturday. The frigate arrived at the navy port of the Black Sea city of Burgas at 7:10 am, and was met by officials, friends and relatives. The official military greeting ceremony was attended by Deputy Defense Minister ... [via YahooNews] More >>