News

NATO declared that has achieved an interim BMD capability and operational readiness of its missile defense system on the territory of the European countries of the Alliance.  That was what the President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces Rossen Plevneliev announced after the NATO Summit meeting which is held in Chicago, USA, and his statement was quoted by the Bulgarian News Agency. During the meeting of the heads of state and government of the NATO member-countries, a report on the Alliance’s defense capabilities was presented, and   special declaration was adopted. Through it, a powerful signal to member countries and partner countries was sent that the Alliance is able to successfully deal with all possible challenges irrespective of the existing economic constraints

At the Chicago Summit, in which the Minister of Defence Anu Anguelov and the Chief of Defense General Simeon Simeonov participate, the interim NATO BMD capability on the territory of the European member countries was declared. Five countries: Turkey, Romania, Poland, Italy and Spain have adopted engagements during this phase. The territory of Bulgaria is within the coverage of protection with the already available capabilities for counteraction against possible intercontinental ballistic missile threat coming from unstable regions.

“Human Resources Diversity along with the integration of women and their experience and qualification contribute to the enrichment of the national and international security and defence structures with varied perspectives and approaches. Women can have a decisive role in policy shaping, decision making and implementation of decisions at strategic, operational and tactical levels in the area of defence,” said today, May 15, Deputy Minister of Defence Mrs. Avgustina Tzvetkova during the presentation of the Female Leadership in Security and Defence Project.

This project, of which Bulgaria is the Leading Nation, is among the priority ones within NATO’s Smart Defence initiative. In the period July 9 – 11, 2012 Sofia will host the forthcoming first high-level conference devoted to Female Leaders in Security and Defence: a Roadmap to Turn Potential into Capabilities. The Conference will be held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria and Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Armed Forces Mr. Rosen Plevneliev.

“Our guiding vector is to involve in the capability building process all those who are professionals and can work in the sphere of security and defence. We have to augment capabilities engaging women in leadership positions,” pointed out Deputy Minister Tzvetkova and further elaborated that Minister of Defence Anu Anguelov and his team have removed all limits and constraints in the Bulgarian Armed Forces connected with female education and career development opportunities.

Deputy Minister Tzvetkova also stated that it is necessary to introduce relevant policies and practices both at national and international level to give impetus and inspire competent implementation of human capital and talent emphasizing that the project is not focused on gender equality but aims at capabilities improvement. “Women can be most contributing both as participants in peacekeeping and peace securing missions and operations and as holders of leadership positions and decision- makers”, declared Deputy Minister Tzvetkova.
The project presentation in the Central Military Club’s Ceremony Hall was attended by Vice Admiral Plamen Manushev, Deputy Chief of Defence and LTC Nevyana Miteva, Chair of the Bulgaria’s Association of Women Serving in the Military.

In his address, Vice Admiral Plamen Manushev, Deputy Chief of Defence expressed full support to Deputy Minister Tzvetkova and underlined that his experience in the Navy has confirmed that women-professionals perform their duties with such competence as their male colleagues.

The presentation of the project was joined by commanders and service members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, lecturers of “G.S.Rakovski” National Military Academy and “Vasil Levski” National Military University, representatives of the Defence Advanced Research Institute, of the Bulgaria’s Association of Women Serving in the Military and other Non-Government Organizations.

The Minister of Defence Anu Anguelov stated before journalists at the site of the incident with MiG-29 aircraft that the two pilots are in good state. Immediately after the incident, they were hospitalized at the Military Hospital in the town of Plovdiv. There is no danger for their lives. Major Doychinov and Captain Metodiev had traumas in the area of their vertebral columns that are typical in cases of catapulting.   

 Later today, the two pilots will be visited by the Minister of Defence.

Minister Anguelov declared that the reaction of the two pilots was very quick and adequate since they succeeded in directing the aircraft outside the perimeters of human settlements. There are no victims and no damages were suffered. “The profession of a serviceman is risky,” Minister Anguelov said, adding, “But the Bulgarian servicemen prove that in critical situations they act professionally and responsibly.”

A commission, in which representatives of the Air Force and Military Police participate, has already been established and is investigating the reasons that caused the incident.

Today, April 26, 2012, during the takeoff for the implementation of a flight task, a fire broke out on board of trainer combat MiG-29 aircraft. By instructions of the air traffic controller, the pilots flew the fighter in safe direction and successfully catapulted at 1.5 km east of Golyam Chardak village.

The crew of the fighter, Major Ilia Doychinov and Captain Petar Metodiev are in good health condition and are not hurt. No civilians in the area of the incident were affected. The area has been safeguarded. Medical emergency, Fire-fighting and Military Police teams were immediately sent to the place.

Minister of Defence Mr. Anu Anguelov has left for the area of the incident.

Investigations of the incident to determine the causes are under way.

All scheduled flights have been cancelled. The planned for tomorrow Distinguished Visitors Day of the joint Bulgarian-American Thracian Star 2012 air training exercise has also been called off.

Graf Ignatievo Air Base will host the joint Bulgarian-American flight training “Thracian Star 2012 which will take place in the period 17 April - 11 May 2012. Crews from US Air Force in Europe with F-16 aircraft and crews of the Bulgarian Air Force with MiG-21, MiG-29 and SU-25 aircraft as well as units of the anti-aircraft troops of the Bulgarian Air Force will participate in the joint training. 

The training will include air combats with fighter aircraft, tactical interceptions, and combat maneuvers aimed at overcoming the air defence.  The pilots will also conduct flights of joint Bulgarian-American crews aimed at enhancing the skills in applying the procedures employed by the fighter aircraft aviation of the two countries.

A Distinguished Visitors and Media Day will be conducted on 27 April 2012. The accreditation of the journalist teams will be carried out at the Air Force Command on telephones:  02 92 24 014, 02 92 24 029 and at the e-mail: pr_vvs@abv.bg.

The accreditation of foreign journalists will be carried out until 20 April 2012 at e-mail: pr_vvs@abv.bg.

In order to accredit the journalists who would like to attend the joint Bulgarian-American flight training “Thracian Star 2012”, the following information will be necessary: first name, middle name, family name, number of the personal Identity Card/Passport, Unified Citizen’s Number,  number of the journalist card, the position the journalist holds at the respective media, telephone and active e-mail address. 

Transport will be provided for the journalists from Sofia to Graf Ignatievo Air Base and back on the Distinguished Visitors and Media day.

The Main Planning Conference for the 2012 South Eastern Europe Simulation (SEESIM) Exercise started today, April 3, in Boyana Residence.  The exercise will be conducted in October 2012 in Bulgaria.  

The computer assisted South Eastern Europe Simulation Exercise series (SEESIM Exercise series) is a part of the initiative of the Ministers of Defence of the countries in Southeastern Europe (SEDM Initiative). Each Exercise has a two-year planning cycle and is organized by the Host Country and the United States.  Representatives of the SEDM Initiative member courtiers, of Sweden and of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC) as well as of the observer countries Georgia and Moldova will participate in the exercises.

Five exercise of this type have been conducted so far, and Bulgaria was a host country in 2008 and will host the exercise in October this year.

More than 100 Bulgarian and foreign military and civilian defense and crisis management experts participate in the planning forum which was opened by the Deputy Minister of Defence Avgustina Tzvetkova.

“The national security of every country in the region depends on the common European and regional security. The aim of our efforts in the field of regional policy is to establish lasting peace and stability in Southeastern Europe and maintain European standards in the relations among the countries of the region,” the Deputy Minister of Defence Avgustina Tzvetkova said in her welcoming speech.  " Close cooperation in the crisis management domain requires  the formation of appropriate capabilities for intelligence and information  sharing, for early warning and situational awareness as well as for conducting crisis management planning" she pointed out, adding that the SEESIM Exercise series, in the course of which civilian and military experts are jointly trained, helps build trust and confidence. 

 

Representatives of NATO organizations: Allied Command Transformation (ACT), of the Joint Warfare Center (JWC) in Stavanger, Norway, the Joint Force Training Center (JFTC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and of the NATO Center of Excellence for Modeling and Simulation (COE M & S) in Rome, Italy, will participate in SEEISIM exercises. 

 NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) will test NATO software for the first time in a crisis management exercise.  Computer tools and models for planning and conducting similar exercises will be also tested in SEESIM 12.  Possibilities of using training simulation systems and new information technologies to increase the efficiency in the preparation of civil and military structures in the region with a view to eliminating the consequences of crises and providing assistance in cases of disasters will be experimented upon and tested in the course of the exercise.

Bulgaria’s initiative to build a regional network for training and exercises in the region will also be tested during SEESIM 12.

Brigadier General Marin Nachev, Director of the Operations and Training Directorate in the MoD, leads the Bulgarian SEESIM 12 Team.  Representatives of the US European Command (US EUCOM) from the US side and of the Joint Warfare Center will be a part of the leadership of the exercise.

“This year 61 Stryama Mechanized Brigade will considerably increase the number of its personnel. The Brigade performs very important tasks – the First Battalion Battle Group is being established here,” said today, March 27th in Karlovo the Minister of Defence Mr. Anu Anguelov during the official send-off ceremony marking the departure of the Bulgarian Army 12 Company for deployment within International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan. He congratulated the military on their good preparedness and called for strict adherence to security regulations, respect for religious rites and promotion of good relationships with the population of Afghanistan.

Later, for the press, Minister Anguelov remarked that the preparation of the First Battalion Battle Group which recently returned from joint rotation training with military from other countries in Hohenfels Joint Multinational Training Center, Germany, is excellent. “In the course of training, the personnel have acquired skills and abilities to perform their tasks pertaining to the First Battalion Battle Group: national defence, participation in missions and assistance to the population in cases of crises and disasters,” further pointed out Minister Anguelov.

Minister of Defence specified that the number of 61 Stryama Mechanized Brigade military personnel will be increased by about 900 servicemen. It will be augmented with personnel from other military units undergoing restructuring of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

The official send-off ceremony was held in Karlovo for the contingent of 300 military to safeguard the Kandahar Airport inner ring. 12th coy Operational Readiness Certificate for ISAF mission participation was presented by Vice Admiral Plamen Manushev, Deputy Chief of Defence. He commended the military for the excellent results achieved in the course of preparation and emphasized that the Bulgarian military participation in missions has always received high recognition.

The contingent was further addressed by Major General Stefan Vasilev, Commander of the Land Forces and Brigadier General Krasimir Kanev, Commander of 61 Stryama mechanized Brigade.

Colonel Georgi Gatev, Assistant National Commander, thanked for the support during the preparation process and assured the attendees of the Company’s preparedness to professionally implement their due tasks with honour and dignity befitting 61 Stryama Mechanized Brigade servicemen. The mayor of Karlovo presented the soldiers an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect them.

The ceremony was attended by Rear Admiral Valentin Gagashev, Deputy Commander of the Joint Force Command, Mr. Zdravko Dimitrov, District Governor of Plovdiv, Dr. Emil Kabaivanov, mayor of Karlovo Municipality, Mr. Veselin Lichev, mayor of Sopot municipality, Mr. Rumen Stoyanov, mayor of Kalofer, representatives of military patriotic unions and guests.

Later the same day Minister Anguelov had a meeting with 61 Stryama Mechanized Brigade servicemen during which Brigade training and First Battalion Battle Group build-up issues were discussed.

Minister of Defence met Dr. Emil Kabaivanov, mayor of Karlovo, to discuss topical issues concerning the forthcoming increase of the Brigade personnel as accommodation, kindergartens and jobs.

Commander EUFOR Major General Robert Brieger expressed his personal gratitude to Deputy Chief of Staff for Support Colonel Vladimir Lalov of the Bulgarian Armed Forces for the timely and precise actions preventing fire in the area of Camp Butmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On March 14, 2012 during routine patrolling of Butmir Base (Bosnia and Herzegovina) area, corporal Daniel Georgiev and private Hasan Bayraktarov of the Bulgarian Force Protection company participating in Operation Althea prevented a fire in the proximity of working premises used by the Bulgarian contingent. The military noticed sparks from the electric system and immediately informed the officer on duty about the incident. As a result of their prompt reaction, the initiation of fire with unpredictable consequences was prevented.

Today, March 21, 2012 Minister of Defence Anu Anguelov received H.E. Jonathan Allen, recently appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Bulgaria.

“Bulgarian defence policy focuses on three main aspects – effective reforms, enhanced combat preparation and active contribution to international operations,” elaborated Minister Anguelov during the meeting. He acquainted Ambassador Allen with the Bulgarian Armed Forces units’ transformation process in view of the implementation of the Plan for the Development of the Armed Forces and the White Paper on Defence and the Armed Forces. They discussed the status and further perspectives of the cooperation between the two countries and the development of NATO and EU operations in which both states participate.

Minsiter Anguelov poited out that Bulgaria is the Leading Nation of the long-term NATO Female Leadership in Security and Defence project and stressed on the fact that the Ministry collaborates with the UK-based NGO Transparency International for the implementation of NATO’s Building Integrity in Defence Initiative.

The meeting was attended by Mrs. Avgustina Tzvetkova, Deputy Minister of Defnce, Mr. Yordan Bozhilov, Chief of the Political Cabinet of the Minister of Defence, Mr. Nickolay Milkov, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Colonel Andrew Shepherd, UK defence attaché accredited to the Republic of Bulgaria.