PM Borissov, DM Karakachanov: There are no foreign navy ships in the Black Sea

Boyko Borissov expresses his concern about the risk of possible increase of military force in the region. He poutlined two main reasons: it might badly influence tourism and might hamper future energy projects.

Boyko Borissov – Prime Minister of Bulgaria:
“The entering of military ships /of third parties/ and the availability of the strong Russian fleet on the other side would inevitably lead to great crisis. As far as I know the best sea resorts of the Black sea region are Bulgaria’s ones. This will have harmful impact on us. I shall make all necessary efforts and hope that common sense would prevail.”

Borissov confirmed earlier statement by Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov that there were yet no official request for the entrance of foreign ships into the Black Sea. Minister Karakachanov spoke to the press on the latest amendment of the Act on Foreign Troops’ Passing through and Presence on the Territory of Bulgaria which was approved early Friday. He said there was no information about possible foreign navy force deployment into the Black Sea. The Defence Minister pointed out that the presence of non-Blacksea countries in this area is regulated by the Montreux Convention which means they could remain in the region for 21 days at the most.

"At the moment there are still some NATO naval vessels in the Black sea because they took part in the maritime exercise which ended late November", Defence Chif General Andrey Botsev explained.