Sofia, January 26 (BTA) - After Wednesday's Government meeting, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said the Council of Ministers had decided to prioritize the Bulgarian strategy completely towards a deescalation of the tensions between NATO and the Russian Federation, as well as towards tapping absolutely every opportunity for a diplomatic solution to this conflict. The Cabinet heard the Defence Minister's report on the NATO-Russia situation.

"Our defence strategy will focus and will be based on the Bulgarian Armed Forces. They will play the leading role, meaning Bulgarian troops, Bulgarian command and real Bulgarian military leadership. Regrettably, Bulgaria's Armed Forces have not been financed sufficiently and adequately over the years. At present there are distinct shortfalls," said Petkov. He stressed that dealing with them will be one of the Government's priorities.

The Prime Minister also said: "There is more to it than just buying materiel, which is selected unsystematically; we should focus specifically on the Bulgarian shortfalls, so as to get the Armed Forces in their rightful place. From now on, Bulgaria should not be just a consumer of security, it should be a constructive partner within NATO.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the Council of Ministers Wednesday, Defence Minister Stefan Yanev said that "in connection with Bulgaria's position about building elements of NATO joint collective defence, we discussed and made a decision that together with the diplomatic efforts, Bulgaria is to take its own step towards developing its own defence potential".

Yanev said that the development of the own defence potential should be in the direction of preparing for what is referred to as "a battalion combat unit" of Bulgarian troops under Bulgarian command using the national command chain. The Defence Minister said that this will also be Bulgaria's position within the measures discussed in NATO.

Yanev said that "in search of a demonstration of a deterrence potential, which Bulgaria is to be ready to commit to within NATO, we in reality seek to develop our own defence potential and to develop the Bulgarian armed forces". He added that opportunities will be sought to compensate on a priority basis these deficits, that have emerged throughout the year, as part of Bulgaria's modernization and rearmament plans.

After the Government meeting, the Prime Minister and Cabinet members went to Parliament for a hearing on the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the tension between NATO and Russia. It was held on a motion by GERB-UDF. At a closed-door hearing, the MPs also heard security service officials.

Here is what else the Prime Minister and the ministers of defence and foreign affairs said during the hearing:

Yanev told the MPs that NATO is discussing measures similar to the enhanced forward presence in the Baltic countries and Poland and for such type of measures to be applied in the countries on the southeastern flank: Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. The measures include deployment of a land forces element, or a combat group, he said.

The Government decision says that this battalion group will be national - Bulgaria will be the framework country and the host country - and there will be an opportunity for other countries to participate if there is a capacity shortfall in Bulgaria, Yanev explained.

Petkov said that in a possible conflict, the main risks for Bulgaria will be in the area of energy. He said he would provide more details on the topic during a closed-door part of the hearing.

Responding to a question by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the Prime Minister said that Bulgaria has clear plans to protect the population in the event of possible sanctions affecting the supplies of natural gas to this country.

He reiterated the Government position which says that Bulgaria's main priority is de-escalation of tension by all diplomatic means. "I have talked with Bulgaria's partners in the EU and NATO and in each conversation I stressed the importance of using all diplomatic means to reduce the tension and to avert a military conflict," Petkov said.

Asked by Vazrazhdane party leader Kostadin Kostadinov whether he thinks Russia is a national security threat to Bulgaria, Petkov said that this country is a constructive partner in the alliances in which it participates. "It is not normal to say that Bulgaria does not care about the international law and that someone far away violates it. We all have a responsibility to make sure this international law is complied with. When there are 100,000 troops deployed in one location, this costs a lot of resources," Petkov said, adding that the tension and escalation are a fact and Bulgaria cannot ignore this.

Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska, just like the Prime Minister, told the MPs that Bulgaria prioritizes the diplomatic efforts towards deescalation. The US-Russia dialogue and the NATO-Russia meetings on January 12 and within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on January 13 were steps in the right direction. Moscow's attempt to negotiate new security borders with NATO and the US aims to divide the Allies and revive the Cold-War spheres of influence, she said.

The Bulgarian position is based on the national legislation while taking account of the national and the Allies' interests. "Whatever additional measures are taken, including military, it should be clear that they are defensive and do not seek escalation," said the Foreign Minister.

She added that the Russian side has taken no steps towards deescalation. "Quite the contrary: the latest Russian actions and rhetoric lead to a higher risk of Russian military intervention. These developments indicate serious risks and challenges for security on the NATO eastern flank and Bulgaria in particular, which calls for comprehensive measures to guarantee the security of this country".

Evacuation plans

The government has a plan to pull the Bulgarian diplomats out of Ukraine and will go ahead with it as soon as it sees that the risk is increasing, the Prime Minister told a news briefing after the parliamentary hearing. Aircraft has been prepared to be sent, if necessary. He said, though, that the assessment of the security services is "that there is nothing to worry about" in the coming days and weeks.

Foreign Minister Genchovska said during the hearing that the Bulgarian Ambassador in Kiev was instructed a week ago to prepare and update the evacuation plans. So far, no embassy staffer or Bulgarian national or business representative has asked to be evacuated. She said that while the embassies or the US and the UK have started withdrawing their staff and their families, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borell, has said that it is unnecessary for the EU member states to pull out from Ukraine at this stage.

The Foreign Ministry and the Defence Ministry are making arrangements for possible use of military aircraft for the evacuation of Bulgarian citizens in the event of any problems with the civilian airlines.

Genchovska catalogued other risks for Bulgaria: hybrid and asymmetric threats, risks for individuals, media organizations, NGOs and political entities. She said that "cyber attacks are possible, including hybrid attacks from Russia with regard to the decision-making process of the NATO and EU members".

Representatives of parliamentary groups reacted after Prime Minister Petkov, Defence Minister Yanev and Foreign Minister Genchovska were heard in Parliament. 

Nastimir Ananiev of Continue the Change said that it is crucifal for everyone to be on the same page, so as to avoid the possibility for interpretations.

Radomir Cholakov of GERB-UDF commented that the Government's policy is obviously to take a placid stance. "I don't see the leadership, the specifics, and I have the feeling we're ducking and waiting for the storm to pass," he said.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Mustafa Karadayi said that Bulgaria must firmly state that it is a reliable partner in the alliances it is part of. "We are against the redrawing of borders in the 21st century, even more through military conflicts," he said.

The Government demonstrated an instict and a reflex and managed to come out with clear messages, said Democratic Bulgaria leader Hristo Ivanov.

Alexander Alexandrov of the There Is Such a People party described the Government's position and actions as appropriate and balanced in view of the situation.

Vuzrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that the big question is whether Russia is a threat to Bulgaria. "I did not hear the answer to this, [but only] heard that Bulgaria is a sovereign nation," he said, adding that this country is not acting like such at this moment. DS/DD, ZH, LN

Source: Sofia