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"I will recommend that such military aid be given to Ukraine that the capabilities of the Bulgarian Army are not reduced."

This was stated by the Minister of Defense Dimitar Stoyanov

Dimitar Stoyanov was born on October 28, 1968 in Svilengrad.

In 1986, he finished in front of journalists after the meeting of the Defense Committee today, November 2, in response to a question about what our country could send to Ukraine if the decision to provide weapons was adopted by the National Assembly.

He explained that the necessary stock of equipment must be maintained for the military formations in peacetime and in wartime.

"Our norms will be respected.

What is necessary for the Bulgarian army, it will have, so that we guarantee its constitutional obligations under Art.

9. We must be very careful in providing specific equipment so as not to lose capabilities"

, the Minister of Defense was categorical.

According to him, the replacement equipment cannot be provided in a short period of time. 

The Foreign Policy and Defense Committees have decided: We are giving military aid to Ukraine

"We would hardly provide the heavy weaponry requested by Ukraine for the simple reason that we would lose specific capabilities that could not be so quickly restored.

Let's not forget that Bulgaria is a border country with the conflict and at some point we may find ourselves in a rather difficult situation"

, stressed Minister Stoyanov.

He also said that if a decision is made to provide weapons by the people's representatives, it will not specify what type of weaponry it will be.

"They will make a political decision, I expect the expert to be assigned to us with this analysis, which I mentioned in the report to the commission

.

Analysis is the essence of all weaponry.

If someone expects us to give away our anti-aircraft missile systems, I'm sorry, but it can't happen"

, said the Minister of Defense.

"The Defense Committee has approved the investment expenditure project for the acquisition of the second eight F-16 Block 70, so we are moving forward with the project to develop the capabilities of the Air Force.

The costs for the implementation of the project are spread over 10 years, and this year they are in the amount of 30 million, for the next year they are about 36 million, and so on until 2031," announced Minister Dimitar Stoyanov.

Dimitar Stoyanov was born on October 28, 1968 in Svilengrad.

In 1986, he graduated.

He pointed out that with the second contract, in addition to the planes, we will also acquire air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons.

"Unlike the first contract, in which only air-to-air weapons are included and not for all aircraft, with the second contract these capabilities are also acquired.

This is the reason why the price of the second contract seems higher, but in reality it is comparable to the first contract", explained the Minister of Defense. 

The Defense Committee has approved the acquisition of eight more F-16s

"The deadlines for approval by the National Assembly of the international agreement are very tight, I hope we will succeed by December 15.

The probability that we will be delayed after this date is not small, but if this happens, the new offer that we will receive will certainly be at a higher price," Minister Stoyanov was emphatic.

In response to a journalist's question, Minister Stoyanov recalled

that Poland's offer for the purchase of two new engines for the MiG-29 aircraft is expected to be received this week.

He added that the Ministry of Defense is ready and has requested that our experts be sent to inspect the engines.

Dimitar Stoyanov

Ukraine

military aid