"The Bulgarian army is currently 5,600 soldiers short. One of the reasons is the low starting salary of 608 Leva a month," said Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov. In his words the most serious problem is that around 30-40 percent of the people applying for professional soldiers are unfit for reasons of health or education.
He added that before a conscription army can be reinstated, for which he says he will be supported by GERB party, the number of military education classes at school must be increased and voluntary service introduced.
Karakachanov says further that the EU is not ready to set up a single defence structure, an idea Bulgaria supports:
"Bulgaria is in favour of the formation of such a defence structure but that is a process. Seeing as we have NATO, this compatibility must be looked into, how a European defence will fit into the picture. There are European countries which are not members of NATO. There are European countries which are more skeptical, others are more enthusiastic like France and Germany."
The summer tourist season in Bulgarian seaside resorts will officially open on May 31 in Pomorie, Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh said in Burgas. “We are highly prepared to welcome it,” he added. The minister also..
There is no information about Bulgarian citizens injured in the Myanmar earthquake, which caused the collapse of a skyscraper in the Thai capital Bangkok, our Foreign Ministry reports. The Bulgarian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, is monitoring the..
On Monday, the cloudiness will be mostly significant with short-term rain showers and light wind. The minimum temperatures will be between 6°C and 11°C, in Sofia – around 6°C, and the maximum - between 11°C and 16°C, in Sofia – around 11°C. In..
The 30th of March is the opening day of the summer season at Burgas Airport. The coastal airport will offer tourists more flights and new destinations -..
The outrage and public discontent caused by the shocking revelations of brutal animal abuse and killings in Pernik continue . On this occasion, protests..
At the beginning of the Iftar solemn dinner, which was held in honor of the ambassadors of Arab countries accredited in Sofia, Minister of Foreign Affairs..
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