Bulgaria Ex PM: Cabinet Never Discussed US Defense Shield

Defense | February 16, 2010, Tuesday // 18:46|  views

Bulgaria's former Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Party, Sergey Stanishev, stated that the deployment of the US missile shield in Bulgaria is a potential risk. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's former Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Party (BSP), Sergey Stanishev, declared his cabinet never held any talks about Bulgaria adopting elements of the planned US missile defense shield.

According to Stanishev, hints and understatements when this topic is concerned are unacceptable and similar negotiations cannot and should not be carried out without the knowledge of the President, the Consulting Council on National Security, and the Parliament.

The ex PM announced that on the insistence of the opposition left-wing, the Parliamentary Defense Committee will hold Wednesday a hearing with the Defense and Foreign Ministers. They will have to explain exactly what is going on with the US shield.

Stanishev further stated that it is unclear if the shield is a bi-lateral initiative of the US and Bulgaria or it is a NATO policy, adding there are potential risks for the country from adopting the defense shield.

Earlier Tuesday, the US Ambassador to Bulgaria, James Warlick, explained the only discussions between the US and Bulgaria on the missile defense shield were held informally within NATO.

Warlick said last week that Bulgaria and the US were at the stage of unofficial talks over the possibility of Bulgaria joining the US missile defense in Europe.

Ellen Tauscher, the US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, also stated earlier Tuesday that the US has not requested Bulgaria to adopt elements of the planned US missile defense shield but that the option is still open.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: Sergey Stanishev, James Warlick, missile defense shield, missile defense

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search