Bulgaria, Turkey Declare Desire for Military-Industrial Complex Ties

Defense Ministers of Turkey Vecdi Gonul (left) and Bulgaria Anyu Angelov (middle) in Ankara, January 13, 2011. Photo by Defense Ministry

Bulgaria's Defense Minister Gen. Anyu Angelov has met in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul reviewing the bilateral defense relations.

Angelov and Gonul have declared their satisfaction with the existing bilateral military cooperation, pointing out as successful the initiatives for exchanging land units for military drills, joint training of the special operation forces and peace-keeping forces, participation with battle ships and observers in international naval drills, and the exchange of military academy students and professors.

Bulgaria and Turkey are about to sign their annual Military Cooperation Plan for 2011 containing various joint projects, the Defense Ministry in Sofia announced.

The two defense ministers have emphasized the development of the bilateral cooperation in the field of the military-industrial complex; as part of his visit to Turkey, the Bulgarian Defense Minister will visit leading plants from the Turkish military-industrial complex.

"Bulgaria is satisfied with the open and pragmatic nature of the bilateral relations on all levels. These are supplemented by the intensive contacts through NATO and regional initiatives such as the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM) Process and BLACKSEAFOR," Angelov said in Ankara.

He has invited his Turkish counterpart to pay a visit to Bulgaria; in addition to talks with Gonul, Angelov is scheduled to meet in Turkey with Murad Bayar, deputy minister in charge of the military-industrial complex at the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, and with Nevzat Pakdil, deputy chair of the Turkish Parliament.

Earlier on Thursday, Bulgaria's Defense Minister laid a wreath at the mausoleum of the founder of the modern Turkish state Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

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