Bulgaria's Interim DefMin: No Jolts to Be Allowed in Intelligence

Defense | August 22, 2014, Friday // 10:56|  views

Caretaker Defense Minister Velizar Shalamanov. Photo by BGNES

Caretaker Defense Minister Velizar Shalamanov asserted Friday his institution would not allow any shocks in the intelligence services.

Speaking in the Bulgarian National Radio's morning broadcast, Shalamanov commented on reports that Veselin Ivanov, Director of the Defense Information Service, would be dismissed by the interim minister.

"It is far more important to me that the service should work in an effective way alongside partner services due to the complex security environment around Ukraine, the Black Sea region, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan. Services should therefore be well-functioning, including in finding external factors that have likely influenced the crisis with [Corporate Commercial Bank, also known as] KTB. With all this in sight, there will be no jolts within the services."

Stressing Ivanov was currently on a leave, the Defense Minister stopped short of explicitly pointing out whether or not he would take the step

Shalamanov added that the Bulgaria-NATO 2020 strategy was to be prepared in the short term.

He added it should be focused on capabilities and a clear financial framework to reach them.

The minister stressed the importance of the way funding is managed, "the way support from NATO [and] the EU and the allies' solidarity should be increased so that we attain these capabilities."

It is also significant "how the modernization will be carried out through an effective portfolio of multi-year programs".

Shalamanov also admitted there was a problem with Bulgaria's NATO membership dues worth BGN 15 M.

He explained the issue arose following a BGN 100 M cut of the Defense Ministry's budget, "even though it is well below the 2% [of GDP] required for an effective alliance membership."

In his words, the dues are to be paid by installments until the end of the year.

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Tags: Velizar Shalamanov, Veselin Ivanov, Defense Information Service, Bulgaria-NATO 2020, Ukraine, Black Sea, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, KTB

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