Bulgarian troops in the KFOR mission make a significant contribution to guaranteeing peace, security and stability not only in Kosovo but also in the region. This is what President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with the Bulgarian contingent of the International Security Force KFOR. Prior to the talks with the Bulgarian service persons, Rumen Radev met with the commander of the International Security Assistance Force (KFOR) mission in Kosovo, Major General Ozkan Ulutas.
On the eve of the Christmas and New Year holidays Rumen Radev congratulated our service persons for the professionalism and responsibility with which they carry out their tasks. The experience that you are gaining here in terms of a culture of joint thinking, planning and joint actions is invaluable, the President said and expressed his expectation that our service persons will apply it after their return to Bulgaria.
Important decisions are currently being taken for the Bulgarian Armed Forces and your opinion and participation in this profound transformation process is crucial, the President emphasised. Radev also outlined the priorities related to the delayed modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. He also recalled that from next year our country would allocate 2% of GDP for defence. The Head of State also drew attention to the need to focus on small projects along with large defence projects, which are an important part of the process of building modern defence capabilities, but which provide a great information and asymmetric advantage. President Radev also highlighted personnel as a top priority. The trend of officers, sergeants and soldiers leaving continues, while there are not enough candidates for cadets and staff soldiers, he noted. This problem, he said, requires not only quick but also emergency measures to attract young people with qualities into the armed forces for their professional training, development, realisation and motivation.
During the meeting, as a token of appreciation of the important mission performed by our service persons in KFOR, Rumen Radev presented the commander of our contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Boyko Tsvetanov, with the plaque of honour of the President.