Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Bulgaria can play key political role in Euro-Atlantic integration of Western Balkans

published on 5/21/10 12:27 PM

Photo: BGNES

“My dream is to see all Balkan countries part of NATO and the European Union,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Sofia after a meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. During his first visit to Bulgaria after becoming Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Rasmussen met also Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov and Minister of Defense Anyu Angelov, as well as Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov. Three major topics concerning the future of the Alliance were discussed – the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, the mission in Afghanistan, and the planned NATO anti-missile shield, which will be a topic at the summit meeting in Lisbon in November. Mr. Rasmussen thanked Bulgaria for its participation in Afghanistan, as well as for its contribution to the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans.

This was NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Sofia. Here is what Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov said:

“Just 10-15 years ago horrible things used to happen on the Balkans – genocide, war, organized crime, Mr. Borissov pointed out. We should leave all these behind and become an island of stability. This can become true if the Balkans become part of NATO.”

One of the important topics discussed in Sofia was the support Bulgaria can offer through more trainers in Afghanistan, who will be part of the important NATO training mission aimed at Afghani army and police forces. 500 Bulgarian soldiers and 11 Bulgarian trainers are currently in Afghanistan. According to Mr. Rasmussen, increasing the capacity of the local forces is of crucial importance for Afghanistan’s future. Another topic in the discussions in Sofia was the planned anti-missile shield and the protection systems against new threats, such as cyber attacks. This will cost the 28 Member States a total of 900 million euro for the next 10 years. Locating parts of the missile defense system on Bulgarian territory was not discussed. PM Boyko Borissov has declared that Bulgaria will become a part of the anti-missile system if it becomes NATO’s doctrine, which is expected to be decided at the summit meeting in Lisbon in November.
“The new strategy of NATO envisages protection of the whole population of European and NATO countries, which equals nearly 900 million people,” Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov pointed out. All NATO countries will take part in the system. It is also aimed to attract Russia to participate in the shield. This way NATO will show that it is an organization that protects people in all European countries.”

English: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Tatyana Obretenova

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