The German Ambassador to Bulgaria, Irene Maria Plank, announced specifically for NOVA that the construction of Rheinmetall's ammunition and gunpowder plants is going according to plan and the first of them should be opened this year. She emphasized that the project is joint, which creates jobs and added value in the country, and from the point of view of the partnership between Bulgaria and Germany, the important criterion is the final result, not whose merit it is.
“It is important that the cooperation is implemented and the plants are operational - this is a classic situation in which everyone wins“, Plank said on the air of “Wake up”. She specified that the project has the full support of the caretaker government and is expected to strengthen Bulgaria's position as a reliable partner in the defense industry.
The ambassador also discussed the demographic and economic ties between the two countries. According to her, many Bulgarians are returning from Germany because the Bulgarian economy is developing, incomes are growing, and German investors continue to create opportunities for professional development. “It is great to work with people who know both countries and speak German, but are Bulgarian“, she added.
In the context of international security, Planck stated that Bulgaria has sufficiently good defense capabilities and benefits from the support of NATO partners. She expressed confidence in the caretaker government's pro-European orientation and support for transparent elections and a functioning judicial system.
In addition to economic and political issues, the ambassador also shared his impressions of Bulgarian culture. She studied Bulgarian and learned to dance horo, and was most impressed by the depth of Bulgarian history and civilization - from Khan Krum and Tsar Simeon to the Cyrillic alphabet and folk traditions. "I want to understand and enjoy all this not only as an observer," said Plank.