NATO Not to Use Bulgarian Bases for Strikes on Libya

Bulgarian Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov, informs the country is prepared to send a frigate for three months to support military embargo on Libya by sea. Photo by BGNES

There is absolutely no need for NATO to use military bases in countries such as Bulgaria because they are too far away from Libya.

The comments were made by Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov, Saturday, regarding possible military operations of the Alliance in Libya.

Angelov says the military bases in Italy and Spain are more than sufficient for such operations and explains not only there is no strategic need to use local airports, but there have been no requests to Bulgaria for such use.

The Minister further points out Bulgaria cannot provide military aircraft as well since our planes are not compatible with the NATO ones.

"We are not ready to send servicemen either because here, again, no one has made such request. We are prepared to take part in humanitarian actions with sending medical teams on the borders with Egypt and Turkey," Angelov said.

The Minister, however, announced the country is prepared to send a frigate for three months to support military embargo by sea, but the decision is still to be debated and voted on by the cabinet.

Earlier Saturday, the Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Policy and Defense Committee, Dobroslav Dimitrov, stated Bulgaria must take part in a NATO mission in Libya should the Alliance make a decision to have such mission.

On Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Mladenov announced that Bulgaria cannot commit to taking part in UN-authorized direct military action against the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Late Thursday night the UN Security Council adopted by 10 votes in favor and five abstaining (Russia, China, Germany, India, and Brazil) a resolution co-sponsored by the USA, UK, France, and Lebanon providing for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya and for further sanctions against the Gaddafi regime.

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