Nothing was done and we are welcoming a new summer with devastating fires, this was stated by President Rumen Radev, quoted by Dariknews.bg.
"Exactly 1 year ago I called on the National Assembly to reconsider its decision and the funds for the development of firefighting aviation to be directed not to the Ministry of Interior, but to the Air Force. Unfortunately, nothing was done and we are welcoming a new summer with devastating fires. The rulers must finally make a decision - whether to start from scratch in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and build capabilities there, which will be slower, more expensive and more dangerous, or to further develop the existing capabilities in our Air Force, which is much faster, much more effective, cheaper and safer. A year later, I am again calling for the second option", Radev pointed out.
In his words, equipment is purchased, but personnel and organization are created very slowly, and they are available in the Air Force.
Regarding the comment by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov that new equipment in firefighting will have to wait at least 3 years, the head of state was categorical: "There is already a concept 1 year ago, which the presidency sent to the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly with detailed calculations. There is a whole complex of approaches very clearly described. One is this. Of course, there is a wait for any equipment, and for specialized firefighting equipment there is a wait twice as long. But I want to ask, should we buy new helicopters? Of course, that is good, but we will have the capabilities at least in 5-6 years. Or restore the airworthiness of the current ones, because we have 12 "Cougar" and 5 Mi-17s in airworthiness. It is much cheaper and faster to restore the airworthiness of the existing ones. " And he repeated once again: "I have never been against purchasing equipment, I have been for purchasing equipment not in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but in the Air Force, where there is an established organization and crew. It is extremely dishonest to abuse these words. "
According to him, when the state fails to guarantee the life and health of its citizens, in preserving the integrity of their home, property and livelihood, trust in this authority erodes.
President Radev called for increased public control of the funds spent on army modernization.