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An Agreement on Joint Military Training and Exercises was signed today, January 15th, between Anu Anguelov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, and Ehud Barak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the State of Israel.

The Agreement aims to extend the military cooperation between the two countries by way of conducting joint training activities, which will result in greater interoperability and improvement of the level of training and preparedness of formations of the Armed Forces for work in international environment. The document regulates the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of the two countries with regard to joint trainings of the Armed Forces, the status of forces in the territory of the Host Nation, as well as environmental issues, jurisdiction, customs and immigration issues, financial issues, responsibility in the event of accidents, claims, obligations of the parties with regard to observing international treaties, etc.

One more bilateral document was signed at the meeting of the two Ministers held at the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv: Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Defence of Israel on Cooperation in the Field of Defence Industry. This document regulates the cooperation in production and trade in defence products between the two countries, as well as the extension of joint scientific, research, project and experiment activities.

"I am confident that the two agreements signed today are not simply a document concerning the business and a document concerning the armies of the two countries; they also bear their political message: Bulgaria and Israel are now a step further along the road towards enhanced partnership and strategic dialogue," Minister Anguelov said at the signature ceremony.

He was received with a guard of honour at the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv, where he had a nearly one-hour long conversation with his counterpart Ehud Barak. The two Ministers emphasized the importance of the documents signed for the deepening of the cooperation between the two countries and expressed their satisfaction with the long-lasting tradition of good relations of understanding. They identified some potential areas of cooperation in the field of defence, among which military education and training and exchange of information and experience.

Today, December 8th, with an official ceremony in Beijing, Mr Anu Anguelov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, and Gen. Liang Guanglie, Minister of National Defence and State Councillor of the People’s Republic of China, signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at the further enhancement of the cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the People’s Republic of China in the field of defence. Minister Anguelov was received at the central building of the Ministry of National Defence, August 1st, with an official welcoming ceremony and a Guard of Honour.

The Memorandum thus signed by the two senior officials reaffirms the good relations between the two countries in the field of defence and outlines the priority guidelines for development of the cooperation: military training and education and exchange of trainees and trainers; military-technical and military-economic cooperation and technology transfer; exchange of experience related to peacekeeping operations, counter terrorist activities, and training and preparation of Special Operations Forces, disasters and emergencies, and naval activities.

“The Memorandum provides a horizon for the even more practical and beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence, and will contribute to the enhancement of the long-lasting tradition of good relations between the two armies,” said Minister Anguelov with regard to the signature of the document. He dubbed the People’s Republic of China a key partner in Asia in the field of defence. On his part, Gen. Liang Guanglie expressed his satisfaction with the status of the bilateral relations, as well as with the intensive dialogue at the strategic, the political and the military levels. The two Ministers agreed that the existing forms of cooperation, such as dialogue, exchange of personnel in the field of military education and training, and goodwill delegations, should be consolidated and strengthened. The exchange of experience regarding actions in the event of disasters and emergencies, coping with non-traditional threats, and counter-terrorism were determined as priority areas.

Earlier today, Minister Anguelov visited the College of Defence Studies with the National Defence University, where Bulgarian military students are receiving their education by virtue of agreement between the two countries. He had a talk with Senior Colonel Guo, Deputy Principal of CDS NDU, and had a tour around the College facilities. “We will continue sending Bulgarian officers, as this practice contributes not only to the improvement of knowledge and skills, but also to the building of greater mutual trust,” said Minister Anguelov. Since 2003, twelve Bulgarian officers have received education at CDS NDU.

The official visit paid to the People’s Republic of China by Minister Anguelov and the delegation headed by him started from China’s ancient capital Xi’an. On the first day of his visit, Minister Anguelov had a talk with Major General Guo, Commander of the Shanxi Military Region. The two officials exchanged opinions on the status and prospects lying ahead of the Armed Forces of the two countries. Major General Guo familiarized Minister Anguelov with the main characteristics and the importance of the Shanxi Province and emphasized the good ties with Bulgaria. Minister Anguelov explained that it is a priority for both countries to preserve and uphold the good relations. He visited the Museum of History in Xi’an and the Terracotta Army exhibition.

“I greatly appreciate the participation of the Bulgarian Army in Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said General Håkan Syrén, Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union (EUMC), today, December 8th. General Syrén is in Bulgaria on a two-day visit on an invitation by General Simeon Simeonov.

The two high-ranking military officials discussed the Pooling and Sharing initiative and the key role it plays in the development of cutting-edge multinational capabilities of the EU aimed at crisis management, as well as the Bulgarian contribution to the initiative.

General Syrén was also brought up to date with the process of transformation going on in the Bulgarian Armed Forces and with the participation of Bulgarian contingents in EU-led missions and operations. Another issue that Chief of Defence General Simeon Simeonov and his guest discussed was the EU Strategic Framework on the Horn of Africa.

Later today General Syrén had a meeting with Deputy Defence Minister Valentin Radev. Deputy Minister Radev presented General Håkan Syrén with the Medal of Honour of the Ministry of Defence Saint George, 1st Class, for his contribution to the establishment and development of the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy.

Georgi Parvanov, President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, has awarded promotions to senior military ranks to Bulgarian Army Officers.
By virtue of Presidential Decree, the Head of State relieved Rear Admiral Plamen Manushev of duty as Navy Commander and appointed him Deputy Chief of Defence. The latter was awarded the senior officer rank of Vice Admiral. Commodore Rumen Nikolov was relieved of duty as Navy Deputy Commander. He was appointed Navy Commander and was awarded the senior officer rank of Rear Admiral. Captain (Navy) Mitko Petev was appointed Commander of Burgas Naval Base and was awarded the senior officer rank of Commodore. The Director of the Military Police Service Colonel Dancho Dyakov was awarded the senior officer rank of Brigadier General.

President Georgi Parvanov bestowed the Medal for Military Service First Class on Vice Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev. The insignia of honour was awarded for excellent long service, contribution to the development and strengthening of the Bulgarian Army and meritorious service to the country’s defence. Vice Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev expressed his gratitude for the high recognition he received for his 35-year-long military service. He showed hope that the institutions will do what it takes to develop and strengthen Bulgaria’s defence capability in the hard times we live in.
On behalf of the officers awarded senior military ranks, Vice Admiral Plamen Manushev asserted that the Bulgarian commanding officers were grateful for the trust thus placed in them and took this to be an act of recognition for the hard work and effort of the thousands of Bulgarian men and women, wearing the seaman’s and the military policeman’s uniform. Vice Admiral Manushev also said that in spite of the hard times and budget constraints, Bulgarian officers will do what it takes to sharpen the defence capabilities of the country, to strengthen the cooperation with our NATO partners, and to raise the authority of the Bulgarian Army.

The official ceremony was also attended by Defence Minister Anu Anguelov, Deputy Defence Minister Valentin Radev, Defence Chief General Simeon Simeonov, Permanent Undersecretary of Defence Nikolay Milkov, Deputy Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Yordan Yordanov, Joint Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Atanas Samandov, Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Konstantin Popov, Land Forces Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Andrey Botsev, and friends and relations of the newly promoted senior officers.

“The strength of the Bulgarian contingent in Afghanistan will be reduced by three quarters by the end of 2014,” announced Defence Minister Anu Anguelov in connection with the Strategy for the Transformation of the Participation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Operation of NATO-Led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was adopted earlier today by the Council of Ministers.

Minister Anguelov explained for the journalists that the implementation of the Strategy will be carried out in two phases.

The first phase, covering the period up to 2014, envisages reducing the participation of Bulgarian servicemen in three stages: by the end of 2012, the participation of the two Bulgarian medical teams in the Herat Hospital will be discontinued; in the beginning of 2013, the company guarding Kabul Airport will be withdrawn; and by the end of 2014, the company guarding Kandahar Airport will also be withdrawn.

The second phase, covering the period starting from 2014, envisages participation in the process of education and training of the Afghan National Security Forces through the Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (OMLTs).

“We do not envisage deploying a battalion group to Afghanistan,” Minister Anguelov pointed out in reply to a journalist’s question, and clarified that the certification of the first out of a total of six battalion battle groups, which is to take place by the end of 2012, will mark the end of the first phase of the modernization of the Land Forces, in accordance with the Investment Plan up to 2020.

Minister Anguelov also made it known that today the Council of Minister adopted the draft Law on the Reserve of the Armed Forces, which regulates the activities of the reserve, as well as the activities regarding the training of the Bulgarian citizens aimed at protecting the fatherland. The recruitment of reservists will begin gradually in 2012, with a starting number of 300-350 men and women. They will compensate for the military personnel discharged due to the restructuring of a number of military units, which is scheduled for next year. The system of the reserve thus proposed will ensure availability of quality resource for the military formations in peace- and war-time, and will allow for the maintenance of capabilities of our Armed Forces that are adequate to the threats in the context of limited funds.

In answer to a journalist’s question on the idea of military personnel paying up their medical insurance and social security on their own, Minister Anguelov said he was ready and willing to seek a solution, which will be arrived at by the working group appointed.

“We will provide the financial information as needed, with regard to what it will cost us if the military become responsible for the part of medical insurance and social security so far covered by the state. We will be very careful with compensations. Such a step may be taken, with the prospect of it remaining in effect for many years to come, but in return we will have to award a one-time salary increase in order to offset the resulting decrease in payment,” Minister Anguelov said. He added that his view was consistent with the proposals put forward by the Employers’ Association and with the opinions voiced so far by some of his colleagues in the Cabinet.

Minister Anguelov also reminded that currently the amount of medical insurance and social security of the Ministry of Defence’s military personnel and civil servants is included in the Wages Fund of the MoD and is approximately 40 million leva.