Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova stated that the possible deployment of WE oil tanker aircraft at Bezmer Air Base would not mean Bulgaria involved in military operations linked to the conflict in Iran. She commented on this issue during a visit to the Graf Ignatievo airbase, where she inspected the related preparations. Bulgariathe new F-16 fighter jets from .
Yotova stressed that any decision regarding the presence of foreign military personnel aircraft and personnel on Bulgarian territory must be approved by the National Assembly, as required by law. She said the government was currently following the necessary procedure by submitting the matter to Parliament.
“This must necessarily go through a decision of the National Assembly, because it is the law. The government is currently implementing the law,said the president.
She compared the current situation with the previous deployment of American tankers aircraft at Sofia airport, saying authorities had handled the issue differently in the past. According to her, when she became president, she was not informed by the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Defense or the Ministry of Defense that the aircraft had arrived.
Yotova also noted that the previous government had not made the official request public, leaving unclear the commitments expected from it. Bulgaria and what conditions had been set.
“In the previous government, the note was never made public, so that we could see what the commitments were and what the demands were on the Bulgarian state.she said.
The president stressed that this time the process was more transparent, saying that she had been informed of the contents of the WE request before it is formally received and the government intends to submit the matter to Parliament. She added that the relevant parliamentary committee should also discuss the issue.
Concerning fears that the deployment could link Bulgaria that WE military actions in the Middle East, Yotova says the expected aircraft would not conduct operations in Bulgarian airspace.
“Personally, I hope that there will be a ceasefire soon and that hostilities will not spread. From what I understand, there will again be tanker aircraft that will not perform any action in Bulgarian airspace,she said.
The president added that the details of the request should be examined carefully before drawing any conclusions.
“Let’s see exactly what the claims are outside of the context of the note,” Yotova declared.
During his visit to Graf Ignatievo, Yotova also spoke of the need to strengthen BulgariaShe said the country needed new air capabilities aircraft and better conditions for military personnel working on the base.
The president said she hoped the funding for the development of the air base would be included in the state’s next regular budget for 2027.
“This is a part of the elite of the Bulgarian army and people on whom our security largely depends, in connection with the conflicts which literally surround We from everywhere” Yotova said.
She added that decisions regarding additional measures aircraft acquisitions must be based on military expertise and Bulgariafinancial capacities of the country, expressing the hope that solutions would be found quickly.
At the same time, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) opposed the government’s proposal to allow the presence of WE military aircraft and staff in Bulgariaarguing that such a move could involve the country in a foreign military conflict.
In a position sent to the media, the party called on lawmakers to reject the draft resolution submitted by the Council of Ministers to the National Assembly.
The BSP stated that it consistently opposed the use of force as a means of resolving international disputes and maintained that conflicts should be resolved through diplomacy and international organizations.
“The Bulgarian Socialist Party consistently opposes war as a means of resolving international conflicts. Our principle is that the use of force outside the framework of international law cannot and must under no circumstances be supported,“, declared the party.
According to the BSP, BulgariaThe country’s main priority should be to avoid involvement in military conflicts and prevent the country from becoming a potential target for military action.
“It is of paramount importance for We that Bulgaria is not involved in any form in wars and that there is no risk that our country will be considered the object of military action,said the party.
The question of whether to allow up to eight WE oil tanker aircraftU.S. military personnel and associated equipment to operate from Bezmer Air Base are expected to be considered by the National Assembly, with the defense committee expected to consider the proposal before lawmakers make a final decision.
Source: Novinite
