Presidents Radev and Duda: Ensuring security requires solidarity and concerted efforts of Eastern European countries
2022-03-22 15:44:00
The two heads of state discuss the possibility of Poland providing assistance for the maintenance of Bulgarian MiG-29 fighters
We are united with Poland in our effort to strengthen security in our region, but this does not cancel the great responsibility, which I have brought to the attention of more than one Bulgarian government: to build and develop our own defence capability. This is what President Rumen Radev said after a meeting with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda who is on a working visit to this country.
The talks focused, among others, on the changed security environment due to the war in Ukraine, the ensuing challenges for the region and Europe, as well as possible solutions to overcome the adverse aftereffects on the economy and the social systems. The two presidents expressed a common position on the unacceptable fratricidal war between two brotherly Slavic nations and called for its immediate end and for peace to be achieved through the efforts of diplomacy. This war is not only causing destruction, not only enormous suffering for the people, it jeopardises international security, the Bulgarian Head of State stressed.
In his words, the war also raises the acute issue of Bulgaria's security. Bulgaria cannot be part of NATO's new defence concept without real and modern defence capabilities, Radev concluded. He pointed to Poland's efforts in this direction with the recently adopted Homeland Defence Act and the anticipated increase in defence spending from 2.2% to at least 3% of GDP by 2023. The Bulgarian President noted that both Poland and Romania were undergoing similar processes of radical modernisation of their armed forces. Neglecting the defence problems in Bulgaria for years has led to a deficit of capabilities, Radev said, adding that urgent measures were needed, as noted at the recent meeting of the Consultative Council for National Security.
Radev singled out the maintenance of the fighter fleet as a particularly critical problem for this country, as the aircraft engines would expire by the end of the year and the operational readiness of the F-16s for combat duty could be expected around 2030. Therefore, the two presidents considered the option of expert teams to discuss the capacities of Poland, with its industry and Air Force, to assist Bulgaria in the maintenance of the MiG-29 fighters. If we do not take urgent measures, we risk losing our 110-year-old military aviation, begging our neighbours to take on our commitments, losing air sovereignty and abandoning our allied commitments, the Head of State stressed. In his view, there is also a risk that the F-16 acquisition project will be compromised because of the danger of not having anyone to fly and service the fighters.
The two expressed a common position on the need for solidarity and concerted efforts for greater sustainability of the logistics system in the region. Improving infrastructure connectivity in energy and transport is a common goal for Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, including the construction of fuel pipelines from Greek ports via Bulgaria to Romania. Some of these projects can be implemented through NATO's financial mechanisms, which the countries of the region will insist on at the upcoming summit in two days, Rumen Radev said.
The presidents of Bulgaria and Poland reaffirmed both countries' commitment to continue providing assistance to all those who seek refuge from the war. Bulgaria has already lent support to more than 100,000 Ukrainian citizens who, in addition to shelter and food, are receiving medical care, employment, education and the opportunity for social integration. Radev and Duda also made a joint appeal to the European Union for long-term support for countries receiving and hosting refugees.
As part of the joint efforts to provide humanitarian support to Ukraine, Radev called on the Bulgarian government to consider sending individual protective equipment to the civilian population of Ukraine - bulletproof vests, helmets and other necessary equipment, especially focusing on the areas where the Bulgarian minority, which is under fire, is predominant.
The Polish president voiced confidence that Russia's unacceptable violation of international law would be firmly sanctioned. He also highlighted Poland's ambitions to accelerate the development of the country's defence capabilities, for which there is broad public consensus.
Duda also shared the efforts to support those seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine, pointing out that Poland had already received over two million people. I believe that at the upcoming NATO Summit decisions will be taken to beef up our security and restore peace and calm in Ukraine, President Andrzej Duda concluded.
