Bulgaria wants to reduce arms dependence on Russia: president

After talks with visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said Thursday his country wanted to reduce its arms dependence on Russia and increase interoperability with the alliance.

"It is obvious that Bulgaria needs to reduce dependence on a single supplier of weapons technology, and enhance the compatibility of its army with the armies of our allies in NATO," Plevneliev said at a joint press conference.

"This is a priority of the government, parliament, and the president in Bulgaria," said Plevneliev, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the country's armed forces.

Bulgaria, a NATO member since 2004 after it left the Warsaw Treaty, still heavily relies on Soviet-made weapons but wants to modernize its army and make it compatible with its partners.

However, the country currently relies on the support of its partners for rearmament and technological modernization of its armed forces, Plevneliev said.

Meanwhile, the changed security environment in the Black Sea region required holding more and larger-scale military exercises and drills, Plevneliev added.

Despite this, Stoltenberg said Bulgaria was a valuable ally whose "strong commitment" in Afghanistan was particularly appreciated.

"You contribute to our mission in Kosovo, you have provided naval vessels to NATO patrols in the Black Sea to bolster our collective security, and you play an active role in keeping the region stable," he said. Endit