The Minister of Defense: This week the National Assembly will decide on the increase in the salaries of military personnel

This week, a very important decision will be taken by the National Assembly, related to the increase of about 30% in the salaries of military personnel from January 1, 2025. This was commented by the Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov during the second conference on security in the Black Sea in within the framework of the International Crimean Platform in Sofia.

This year, Bulgaria's defense budget is 2.05% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and next year, perhaps, the budget will reach 2.5% of GDP, Zapryanov also said. One of the army modernization projects is related to two new multipurpose ships of the Bulgarian Navy. The first ship should be ready in 2025, and the other by the end of 2026, explained the acting minister.

The Black Sea is a sea of connection between East and West, Asia and Europe, and free navigation is important for economic growth. The Black Sea is part of Russia's strategic goals, said Atanas Zapryanov. According to him, Russia has dominated the Black Sea for many years. Regarding the mines that are being discovered in the Black Sea, he pointed out that no one knows whether they were deliberately sent or some kind of malfunction.

Zapryanov also noted the establishment of the Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the Black Sea (MSM Black Sea) between Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania. The Turkish Parliament has ratified the memorandum for the creation of the group. According to Zapryanov, the ratification means that the naval group for combating mines between Bulgaria and Romania has a green light and Bulgaria can begin to implement the practical implementation of this agreement.

Delegations from 42 countries and 8 international organizations are participating in the Second Conference on Security in the Black Sea this year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.