site.btaBulgaria Has Not Requested Stronger NATO Presence on its Territory - Foreign Minister Genchovska

At this stage, Bulgaria has not asked for stronger NATO presence on its territory, Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska said in Brussels on Friday. She took part in an extraordinary meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, dedicated to the war in Ukraine. 

NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Tod Wolters is yet to present measures in this direction, she added. Genchovska clarified that before any action on this issue, a discussion and decision of the Council of Ministers is envisaged.

Genchovska said the attack against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is inadmissible. According to her, no concrete solutions were arrived at during Friday's meeting, but the message must be very strong - that NATO countries are with Ukraine and will support it at any cost.

She pointed out that an extraordinary meeting of NATO's Ministers of Defence is scheduled for March 16, and then further steps can be expected. The purpose of the meeting on Friday was to give a clear sign to Russia that it must stop its actions in Ukraine, Genchovska added.

Bulgaria is part of the Alliance and fully supports efforts to keep the conflict from escalating. The most important thing at this stage is the humanitarian aid that all member states provide, Genchovska said.

NATO is not a part of this conflict but it can do a lot to keep the conflict within Ukraine's borders, she added. Genchovska noted that Bulgaria supports and is part of security efforts in Moldova and Georgia. She deemed important the expressed support for Euro-Atlantic integration not only for Ukraine but also for Moldova and Georgia.

RY/YV