The Atlantic Council of Bulgaria is demanding the dismissal of the newly appointed air force commander.

In a declaration posted on Facebook the Council is accusing Major-General Dimitar Petrov of sabotaging the acquisition of the new F-16 squadron. “Major-General Petrov must resign because he crossed the thin red line separating the army officer from politics,” Momchil Doychev, co-chair of the Atlantic Council said fort the BNR.

The declaration comes in response to Major-General Dimitar Petrov’s words that “the intention to purchase another 8 new F-16 fighter aircraft should be well thought out.”

With regard to the shortage of pilots for the F-16 combat aircraft, Doychev stated that 12 pilots are currently being trained in USA by contract, and that when they return to Bulgaria they will be able to train another 12. As to the financial side of the acquisition of another 8 aircraft he stressed that they will not be paid for now but “in the distant future.”