NEWS

The Head of State held a working meeting with Defense Minister Angel Naydenov regarding the situation in Ukraine. The talks today are yet another instance of the efforts made by the President to coordinate the position on Ukraine on a state level, given the forthcoming European Council and Council of NATO to be held in Brussels. 

 

Minister Naydenov gave the Head of State a detailed account of the highlights in the last meeting of the defense ministers of the NATO member states, where the situation in Ukraine was also discussed.

 

Posen Plevneliev and Angel Naydenov pointed out that preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is of considerable importance. They shared the position that guarantees for protecting the rights of the Bulgarian community and the other minorities in the country are necessary.

 

President Plevneliev and Minister Naydenov also discussed the issue of ensuring the gas supplies and the energy security of Bulgaria in the context of the tension between Ukraine and Russia.

 

The two outlined measures to secure Bulgaria’s more active position in NATO and discussed the need to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between our country and the Alliance. Minister Angel Naydenov informed President Plevneliev about the possible spheres for building capabilities and realization of Bulgaria’s armed forces – in the sphere of medical care and specialization in military medicine, the joint multi-component intelligence, cyber-defense and the usage of military exercise fields and joint Bulgarian and American equipment in Novo Selo by military formations of third countries. 

 

The Head of State raised the issue of NATO’s more active participation in Bulgaria and work on the Alliance’s projects related to cyber-security, as well as establishing a center for the study, building and improvement of NATO’s capabilities for crisis management and reactions in case of disasters. Rosen Plevneliev and Angel Naydenov also discussed the direction for modernizing the Bulgarian army and the opportunities for diversifying the defense equipment.

 

Representatives of the President’s administration are taking part in today’s meeting of the security council at the Council of Ministers. A crisis center which closely follows the situation in Ukraine and the region has been functioning for two days. 

The active participation of the Bulgarian defence industry will strengthen the capabilities of the EU and NATO, said Iliana Iotova at a meeting with the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich

Statement by Head of State Iliana Iotova

For projects aimed at improving connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkiye must be viewed as a whole, to be successful, and within the context of closer cooperation in Southeastern Europe. This will bolster both economic development and security in the region, whose strategic importance is growing. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is on a formal visit to Bulgaria.

Albulena Haxhiu expressed her gratitude to President Iotova for Bulgaria’s support on Kosovo’s path toward membership in NATO and the European Union.