site.btaDefence Minister Nenchev: Cuts in Administration Are Quite Likely

Defence Minister Nenchev: Cuts in Administration Are Quite Likely


Bourgas, on the Black Sea, December 20 (BTA) - Defence Minister
Nikolay Nenchev told a news conference on Saturday that cuts in
the armed forces' administration were quite likely.

Nenchev, who co-chairs the Reformist Bloc, added that he did not
consider combat personnel cuts necessary. "We even have an
agreement to that effect with GERB and other parties which
support us," he said. The strength of the armed forces should
remain unchanged, according to him.

Nenchev said that forthcoming cuts in the administration would
be based on analysis.

Commenting on defence spending, he said he hoped the
appropriation would be updated. He recalled that it was decided
at the Wales NATO Summit in September to gradually increase the
defence spending of the NATO Member States until it reaches 2
per cent of GDP by 2020. "The Bulgarian President signed this
decision and from now on I would have a hard time explaining to
my colleagues why Bulgaria is failing to act on its
commitments," he said.

Commenting on Friday's explosion at the Balista fireworks
factory in Muglizh (Central Bulgaria), in which one worker was
killed and four were injured, Nenchev said that military
warehouses also held superfluous ammunition, which he described
as "a time bomb", for which the Ministry is seeking quick
utilization.