Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said on February 12 2010 that the country had not been involved in negotiations concerning the deployment of US missile defence shield system elements, but said that the issue would be discussed in the future.
„My opinion is that we have to show solidarity. When you are a member of Nato, you have to work towards the collective security,” Borissov said.
Any decision on whether Bulgaria would host missile defence shield elements would be influenced by the European Commission and Bulgarian Parliament, he said.
Borissov’s statement comes after newly-appointed US ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick said that Bulgaria could play a role in the future missile defence shield plans.
Speaking at his first public lecture in Bulgaria earlier on February 12, Warlick said that the issue was still at the stage where Washington was sounding opinions, rather than outright negotiations. No official invitation to discuss the issue had been sent to authorities in Sofia, Warlick said.
Neighbouring Romania has already agreed to take part in US president Barack Obama’s revised plan for a missile defence shield system. On February 4, Romanian president Traian Basescu said that official negotiations would start in the near future, but that the preliminary plans called for the installation of terrestrial interceptors on Romanian territory by 2015.
In September 2009, Obama scrapped a Bush-era missile shield plan for Europe in favour of a revised scheme presented as mobile, flexible and intended as a defence against Iranian missiles. The Bush-era scheme was seen by Moscow as directed against Russia.
Read the article on Sofia Echo
Bulgaria to entertain talks on hosting US missile defence shield
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said on February 12 2010 that the country had not been involved in negotiations concerning the deployment of US missile defence shield system elements, but said that the issue would be discussed in the future.
„My opinion is that we have to show solidarity. When you are a member of Nato, you have to work towards the collective security,” Borissov said.
Any decision on whether Bulgaria would host missile defence shield elements would be influenced by the European Commission and Bulgarian Parliament, he said.
Borissov’s statement comes after newly-appointed US ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick said that Bulgaria could play a role in the future missile defence shield plans.
Speaking at his first public lecture in Bulgaria earlier on February 12, Warlick said that the issue was still at the stage where Washington was sounding opinions, rather than outright negotiations. No official invitation to discuss the issue had been sent to authorities in Sofia, Warlick said.
Neighbouring Romania has already agreed to take part in US president Barack Obama’s revised plan for a missile defence shield system. On February 4, Romanian president Traian Basescu said that official negotiations would start in the near future, but that the preliminary plans called for the installation of terrestrial interceptors on Romanian territory by 2015.
In September 2009, Obama scrapped a Bush-era missile shield plan for Europe in favour of a revised scheme presented as mobile, flexible and intended as a defence against Iranian missiles. The Bush-era scheme was seen by Moscow as directed against Russia.
Read the article on Sofia Echo
