Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
SOFIA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria will continue its military presence
in Iraq and play a bigger role in the reconstruction effort, said Bulgarian
Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov on Sunday.
The defense minister said to the media in Borovets, a city 70 km from
capital Sofia, that the decision was made because Bulgaria has worked
actively for Iraq's reconstruction and sacrificed heavily for that goal.
Bulgaria's presence in Iraq bears great political significance, he added.
He also said that 400 Bulgarian soldiers deployed in Iraq's southern
region of Divaniyah will begin their withdrawal in three batches on Dec.
15, and try their best to finish the withdrawal by the end of this month in
accordance with Bulgaria's parliament decision in May.
Bliznakov emphasized that the Bulgarian government is now discussing
ways to maintain the country's presence in Iraq after the December pullout
and there is no dispute over the issue within the government.
Bulgarian Defense Ministry hopes the parliament would pass a resolution
to send about 120 soldiers to guard Ashraf refugee camp in the war-battered
Iraq.
The Bulgarian parliament decided to send troops to Iraq in May 2003 and
13 Bulgarian soldiers have died in Iraq in the past two years. Enditem
in Iraq and play a bigger role in the reconstruction effort, said Bulgarian
Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov on Sunday.
The defense minister said to the media in Borovets, a city 70 km from
capital Sofia, that the decision was made because Bulgaria has worked
actively for Iraq's reconstruction and sacrificed heavily for that goal.
Bulgaria's presence in Iraq bears great political significance, he added.
He also said that 400 Bulgarian soldiers deployed in Iraq's southern
region of Divaniyah will begin their withdrawal in three batches on Dec.
15, and try their best to finish the withdrawal by the end of this month in
accordance with Bulgaria's parliament decision in May.
Bliznakov emphasized that the Bulgarian government is now discussing
ways to maintain the country's presence in Iraq after the December pullout
and there is no dispute over the issue within the government.
Bulgarian Defense Ministry hopes the parliament would pass a resolution
to send about 120 soldiers to guard Ashraf refugee camp in the war-battered
Iraq.
The Bulgarian parliament decided to send troops to Iraq in May 2003 and
13 Bulgarian soldiers have died in Iraq in the past two years. Enditem