There are companies that say they are already producing 155mm rounds. I do not know that there was a deal for direct sale by them to Ukraine. This may have happened through intermediaries.
This is how Defense Minister Todor Tagarev answered a question from an American journalist about whether the news that Bulgaria sold Ukraine 155 mm projectiles is true.
The Minister of War is currently on a visit to the US. Tonight, he answers questions during a panel discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council there.
We want to achieve NATO standards, Tagarev was categorical. He explained that the Bulgarian companies have already submitted projects to the European Commission for the modernization of their plants. Last year, a pan-European decision was made to increase the production of projectiles. Money for this can be requested by countries that have joined the European initiative for financial assistance to Ukraine. Bulgaria joined it at the end of 2023.
We are moving to the production of newer projectiles, but at the same time we continue to produce Soviet ones, in which there is great interest at the moment, said Tagarev.
Very few people know that Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine at the beginning of the war was very important for its survival, he added.
The agreement on clearing mines in the Black Sea between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey will be signed on Thursday in Istanbul, the minister also announced. The Bulgarian side will be represented by the Deputy Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov.
The three countries have agreed that patrolling in the Black Sea and mine clearance should be done on a rotational basis, Tagarev pointed out. He also insisted that for now the biggest threat from Russia in the Black Sea is against Ukraine and that Russian ships prevent the export of goods and grain from there.
The soil for Russian propaganda in our country is very fertile, the minister was categorical. This was due to the fact that generations of Bulgarians have been taught that we should be grateful to Russia for everything it has done for us. However, history showed that she pursued her interest, and quite often we found ourselves on opposite sides.
Bulgaria is working diligently against Russian propaganda, Tagarev assured. He also explained that the position of the Bulgarian government regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine is clear. However, it does not find support in the face of the opposition. “We have a very noisy opposition that almost every other day calls for my resignation,” commented the minister.
Bulgaria will soon conclude a deal for the acquisition of three-coordinate radars, Tagarev also said. He emphasized that there are three main projects for our country – the acquisition of all 16 F-16 fighters, the two battleships and Stryker machines. All these projects have already been approved by the parliament and are yet to be implemented.
Schengen is not a matter of security, but of economic development, the minister also commented. He explained that it is difficult to predict when we might get access to the Schengen area by land as well, but we expect it to happen soon.
In terms of defense, we work perfectly with North Macedonia, he said when asked about our current relations with Skopje. But he reminded that at the political level, Bulgaria expects the RSM to fulfill the commitments entered into with the French agreement, so that Sofia can give the green light for its membership in the EU.
2024-01-10 21:29:00
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