Bulgaria to join operations against Gaddafi

“Bulgaria will send 160 soldiers on board the Drazki frigate to join the allied military operations against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Two medical squads will also assist the international coalition”, Defence Minister Anyu Angelov announced yesterday to the media, reporting on the ongoing conference in Sofia entitled: “Intelligent Defence: The National Defence Policy and Investments in the Defence Sector in the Second Decade of the 21st Century. The forum was dedicated to the seventh anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to NATO. The Defence Minister added that he was expecting the Government to take a decision on Bulgaria’s involvement in the operation for the arms embargo enforcement against Libya, said Angelov.

The Defence Minister explained that he had already issued an order to prepare the frigate. According to him, Drazki will be sent only on condition that she is absolutely ready to participate in such a mission. This is expected to happen by April 15 at the earliest. “Bulgaria’s naval forces are working arduously in order to finish their preparations within 15 or 20 days,” added Anyu Angelov. The cost of the frigate’s participation in an operation of this kind is estimated at some BGN 1.5 mln a month. The Defence Minister stressed that no additional budget financing would be demanded since the ministry had at its disposal reserves for such contingency operations.

“This is an economic blockade. Our soldiers will not enter into direct military action unless for self-defence. Therefore, there will be “seals” (special naval units) on board, as well as military police and equipment for checking of ships’ cargo, documents, etc.,” explained Anyu Angelov.

All Bulgarian soldiers taking part in the mission off the coast of Libya will get 50% higher salaries and per diem money, equal to that paid to our soldiers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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