Vice-Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev Commander-in-Chief, Bulgarian Navy

摘要

The arrival in the Black Sea port of Burgas on 7 September of Gordi (ex-BNS Westdiep), the second of three Wielingen-class frigates acquired from the Belgian Navy, was the latest milestone in Bulgaria's fleet modernisation programme. The two final units of the transfer package - the frigate Verni (ex-BNS Wielingen) and the minehunter Tsibar (ex-BNS Myoso-tis) - are scheduled to be handed over on 9 February 2009. Vice-Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, who has led the Bulgarian Navy since May 2004, says the procurement of the frigates and the Tripartite-class minehunter is "a huge step forward" that will allow the service to take part "in the full spectrum of NATO and EU missions and tasks". Since Bulgaria joined the two organisations, the country's national and international commitments have increased considerably, the admiral points out. "Over the past few years we proved our role as a reliable partner through participation in several multinational exercises and operations within NATO, the EU and the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group [BLACKSEAFOR]," he states.