H.E. James Warlick, Ambassador of the USA to Bulgaria, awarded today, September 4th, Colonel Yavor Mateev, Chief of the Joint Facilities Department of the Ministry of Defence, with a U.S. Department of State Tribute of Appreciation Certificate.

The recognition is presented for the contribution Colonel Yavor Mateev has made in furthering the bilateral military relationship between the U.S. and Bulgaria.

“During my time as Ambassador, I saw military-to-military exercises double in number and a large increase in our joint training, due in no small part to the efforts of Colonel Mateev and his colleagues at the Joint Facilities Department. As Co-chairman of the Executive Committee under the U.S. - Bulgarian Joint Commission, Colonel Mateev has been an outstanding advocate of the bilateral military relationship between Bulgaria and the United States. I am so pleased today to be able to recognize Colonel Mateev for all of his hard work and dedication; he is a true friend of the United States,” said Ambassador Warlick.

“Bulgaria’s participation in NATO and EU missions, Bulgaria’s commitment to preserving stability in the Balkans, and the encouragement the country has given Middle Eastern nations in their transition to democracy, have further bonded our two countries together as allies and friends,” added Ambassador Warlick.
The award ceremony was attended by Mrs. Avgustina Tzvetkova, Deputy Minister of Defence.

“Our programme in the area of defence has proposed definitive measures which have no alternative and will put an end of the profound reforms of the Armed Forces creating environment for their future evolutionary development,” stated Minister of Defence Anu Anguelov during the opening of Academic Year 2012-2013 at “G.S.Rakovski” National Military Academy.

Mrs. Margarita Popova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, emphasized in her address that the Military Academy has been one of the symbols of the Bulgarian troops and the Bulgarian state system in the recent 100 years and added: “I believe here are the future leaders of Bulgaria who will preserve the glorious traditions of their forefathers in a different world.”

Minister of Defence Anu Anguelov delivered the first lecture devoted to “The Defence Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria: Achievements, Challenges, Perspectives”. In it he analyzed the accomplishments in the area of defence during the past three years and pointed out that the most important achievements are the stabilization of the defence system, the developed new national strategic documents, the fight against corruption and the reforms undertaken at tactical and strategic level. “In view of the fact that the military are permanently at call of duty for the Bulgarian citizens and institutions not only to defend the country but to contribute to crises, disasters and emergency relief service and assistance and humanitarian response, we will aspire at promotion of service members’ social status,” further elaborated Minister Anguelov and added that within the budget bounds of possibility, ways of remunerations rise, conditions of work, building and housing stock improvement will be sought.

Minister Anguelov announced that serious obstacles to the implementation of the policy of the MoD Leadership are the need of accelerated disposal of released obsolete real estates and the provision of quality material subsistence.
“Presently we are facing the most important and at the same time the most difficult task which will define the conclusive success of the reforms – the started on July 1st reorganization of the tactical units,” stated Minister Anguelov and underlined that the application of capabilities based planning approach relevant to the package of plausible and most probable threat scenarios is being applied in the development of the Armed Forces. “That is why our priority is the build-up of the Single Set of Forces which could effectively perform the assigned missions and tasks.” Minister Anguelov presented the main reforms to follow in the Armed Forces Services and the structures directly subordinated to the Ministry of Defence.

“The forthcoming months are of vital importance for us in terms of the achievement of the goals set out in the Armed Forces Development Plan. The structures of the Unified Operational Command and Control (C2) level are to achieve full operational capability this year,” said Minister Anguelov and added that another key task is the certification of the first and the formation of the next Battalion Battle Group.
In his lecture, Minister Anguelov accentuated on the importance of military education to the defence and security system. “The general framework to catalyze quality changes directed at the implementation of the main priorities of the Ministry of Defence: military education reflecting contemporary realities, leadership model of training, high competitiveness, has been set out.”

General Simeon Simeonov, Chief of Defence, presented first academic lecture devoted to “Actual Aspects of the Build-up and Development of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria”.

“The tasks of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces can only be implemented by service members who have skills and competences relevant to the dynamically changing security environment,” stated General Simeonov, Chief of Defence. He pointed out that the acquisition of such skills and abilities does not just happen by itself; these efforts require good organization and goal orientation, it calls for improvement of the military educational system.

General Simeonov expressed the view that in order to deliver up-to-date lectures, it would be appropriate, before approving and endorsing teaching and learning materials, the same to be coordinated with the Ministry of Defence Directorates, the Armed Forces and the structures subordinated to the Minister of Defence whose activities they reflect.

“The implementation of this requirement will result in double positive effect: for the users who will become aware of the latest theoretical innovations, and for the academic body who will have feedback on the applicability of the theory taught,” said General Simeonov. In his opinion, all this will promote the quality of education and will ensure better correspondence with the real needs of the troops which in turn will help avoid the discrepancies between theory and the actual activities of the service members.

The event was also attended my Mrs. Avgustina Tzvetkova, Deputy Minister of Defence, Major-General Yordan Yordanov, Deputy Chief of Defence, Rear Admiral Valentin Gagashev, Deputy Commander Joint Force Command, Major-General Stefan Vasilev, Commander Army, Major-General Konstantin Popov, Commander Air Force, Commodore Georgi Motev, Deputy Commander Navy, Mr. Veselin Ivanov, Director of “Military Information” Service, Brigadier General Dancho Dyakov, Director of “Military Police” Service, representatives of military-patriotic organizations and guests.

Yesterday, August 29, 2012, Chief of Defence General Simeon Simeonov had a meeting with General Mikhail Kostarakos, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, in the framework of his visit to the Hellenic Republic.

During the meeting were discussed issues of mutual interest.

In the course of his stay in Greece, General Simeonov visited the Headquarters of NATO Deployable Corps – Greece (HQ NDC-GR) in Thessaloniki and 71st Airborne Brigade.

Today, August 28th, Minister of Defence Anu Anguelov met in the Ministry of Defence Mr. Moshe Ya’alon, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs of the State of Israel. They discussed the bilateral relationships in the area of security and defence and talked about the further opportunities for their development on the basis of the signed at the beginning of this year “Agreement on Military Cooperation for the Conduct of Military Training and Exercises”.

Minister Anguelov once again offered his condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Burgas. “No one is insured against terroristic attacks,” said Minister Anguelov and explained that Bulgaria contributes to international community’s fight against terrorism with her participation in the operation in Afghanistan and previously – in Iraq. “Thus we pursue in giving adequate response to threats beyond the borders of our country and express our appreciation of the common values and goals,” added Minister Anguelov.

For his part, Vice Premier Mr. Moshe Ya’alon expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the Bulgarian Authorities in regard of the tragic attack and underlined the strong ties between the two states and the two governments which will hold Joint Consultations in September.

Later today Minister Anguelov will attend the terrorist attack at “Sarafovo” Airport victims commemoration ceremony in the Central Sofia Synagogue.

Today, August 28th, General Simeon Simeonov, Chief of Defence, met Colonel Adam Zugaj, recently appointed Defence Attache of the Republic of Poland.

During the talks, bilateral military cooperation was discussed and both parties expressed their satisfaction with the good relationships between the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Poland.

General Simeonov thanked Colonel Sławomir Wicha, former Defence Attache of the Republic of Poland, for his active contribution and expressed his belief that the good joint work between the two countries will continue in the future.

Colonel Zugaj also met representatives of the Army and the Air Force.