Bulgaria's Defense Minister Refutes President on Libya Frigate

Bulgaria's Defense Minister Anyu Angelov was not obliged to tell the country's President Georgi Parvanov about the prepared participation of the "Drazki" frigate in the military operation in Libya.

On Monday, Parvanov announced he learned from the media about the cabinet's decision to send the "Drazki" frigate to take part in the NATO military operation in Libya. The Commander in Chief noted he was not against the decision, but this has not been the first case when he had been undermined.

"I did not consider it necessary to inform him," Angelov said Friday."Since I am certain that the President knew that such decision is under preparation, he could have called me to explain him. Sadly, he did not," the Minister added.

The frigate "Drazki" (i.e. "Daring") is expected to join the operation on April 15 and will be manned by 160-member crew. The Bulgarian Navy has already started to prepare it for the NATO naval mission off the Libyan coast.

The government approved sending the frigate for three months to the Mediterranean Sea to take part in the operation, but it will not stay there during the whole period. The length of stay of each ship in the Mediterranean is one month in general before rotation is done.

The cost of Bulgaria's participation in the NATO weapons embargo operation in Libya can tower to BGN 4.5 M, according to the Defense Minister.

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