Sat, May 26 2012
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov.
Photo: Krassimir Yuskesseliev
Russia has consistently argued that proposed US missile defence system in Europe is aimed at them - a view rejected by the US.
US troops and Patriot missile batteries will be stationed in northern town of Morag, 64 kilometers from Russian border.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and other ministers have reiterated the country’s willingness to be involved in the European missile shield, while Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen repeats his hope that Russia could be involved.
EU ‘gravely concerned’ about Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programmes, foreign policy chief Ashton says, while the US and Iran hit out at each other.
Energy issues, Middle East, anti-Semitism in Europe and the expansion of the United States visa waiver programme to include Bulgaria all have been part of the agenda during Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov’s visit to the US.
Eggs thrown and MPs brawl in Kyiv over deal to extend the Russian naval base agreement for a further 25 years; the deal, also approved by Russian MPs, while Bulgarian and Romanian diplomats reportedly are concerned by the agreement.
Bulgaria should be ‘pro-active’ in the development of a European missile defence shield, Borissov says after meeting US president Barack Obama. A defensive system is needed because of the threat from Iran, Borissov says.
At the annual Brussels Forum, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov says that building a missile defence shield covering all European countries could rebuild people’s confidence in Nato.
Obama, Medvedev set April 8 signing in Prague for new strategic arms pact.
On February 18 2010, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Andrei Nesterenko had said that Moscow was "confused" by what he described as contradictions in Bulgaria’s statements about the missile shield issue.
The funding is provided under the foreign military sales programme of the US army's Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.
The UK nationals were arrested after throwing beer bottles at people after being refused entry to a restaurant that had closed for the night.
Restoration and development projects include Madara Horseman, Arbanassi fortress, Magura cave.
Simeon Saxe-Coburg and his spouse Margarita opened a new heating and insulation system at the Tsar Ferdinand Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases in Iskrets, a project implemented thanks to the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Sofia and the Nando Peretti Foundation.
According to the law's provisions, the commission will have the power to investigate individuals without prior notification and would not require a criminal conviction in order to launch an investigation.
Anonymous Peggy Tue, Jun 15 2010 03:26 CET
"Christian State"... Just how dumb do you think we are?
The US created two Muslim states by killing Christians in my beighborhood, Bosnia and Kosovo
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The only Christians the US were killing are the Serbs and you seem upset about that so I am not patronizing you. I am merely repeating your words.
So either the Serbs were defending themselves or they deserved what they got as you put it. You seem [...]
Read the full comment to be contradicting yourself here and you ARE anti Serbs. It's so obvious by the way you keep knocking Serbs at every opportunity. At least be honest about that.
No Peggy,
all I am sayng is that the US couldn't care less and as far as they are consern Christian Orthodox is marginally Christian so I don't like being patronized.
The Serbs with thier early 20th century actions brought it on themselves.
I am not anti Serb I know you don't believe me.
"Christian State"... Just how dumb do you think we are?
The US created two Muslim states by killing Christians in my beighborhood, Bosnia and Kosovo, and is still giving support to Muslim terrorists in Russia that is calling "rebels".
This is ALL ABOUT OIL and money snd it stinks!
One day we'll kick you out!
========================
I agree, but this sounds to me like you are saying that Serbs were right in defending themselves against Islam.
I could be wrong though as I know [...]
Read the full comment that you are very anti Serb.
US financed and trained GERB personnel doing things for the Pentagon- well that's a suprise isn't it children?
"Central Asia is not just critical for U.S. and Russia but also China."
Yeah but where is Central Asia where is the US? Central Asia is Russia's back yard. The US is the aggressor here.
Arming the ex-republics and compelling them to destabilize the region, as it was the case with Georgia, siding with Muslim militants in Russia and the Balkans, essentially supporting terrorism, is a very dangerous game that will lead to major disasters in the future. The US is notorious for short sighted policies and this is why I consider the US [...]
Read the full comment the single biggest threat to peace and stability in the world.
As an amateur historian, I see a familiar pattern that will lead us all to hell, if the US does not back down and mind their own business. Take care of the corruption on Wall Street that almost brought about the biggest catastrophe since the Great Depression.. oil will flow, fear not!
You may not make ALL the profits from it, but oil you will have - the Russians are no fools, they want to sell the oil too, you know... If the US would only focus on making car that we would drive, instead of starting wars for the petrol we put in them only...
Well, I would say that of course it's about oil, but also about influence. Everyone is reliant on oil in some way or another, whether they like it or not. Everyone complains about big oil, but people love their cars and cheap foreign imports.
Russia's renewed interest in it's near abroad had also coincided nicely with the rise of oil prices. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the newly established Russian Federation was forced to turn inward due to enormous domestic problems (many of which it still faces), so many countries in the near abroad [...]
Read the full comment turned to the West for assistance it could no longer get from Russia. Now, thanks to increased oil prices over the last several years, Russia is wanting to re-establish itself in the region. Due to this, U.S./Russian relations have taken a downward turn, sometimes reminiscent of the Cold War.
Regarding Russia's protest of any defense shield that may be implemented (if ever, whether by the U.S. or EU), it's falling back on an old tactic, which is to pressure Europe.
While I can agree that the U.S. does many things it maybe always shouldn't. I don't think Russia is an innocent bystander in global politics either, nor is it always simply reacting to whatever the U.S. is doing. It has it's own agenda and also acts accordingly. Central Asia is not just critical for U.S. and Russia but also China.
"EU and US investments need to be protected.
US investments in BG are insignificant, relatively, and consist mostly of military installations, and the CIA center they call "Embassy".
Italy and Korea are much, much bigger investors in BG and to imagine that the EU needs the US to come and protect BG - truly ridiculous. As far as Russia losing a satellite - we haven't been that for 20 years - as you pointed out - NATO, EU - hardly a Russian satellite.
The Russians are right to [...]
Read the full comment be very worried about those missiles. They are meant as a part of the American military encirclement they are finding themselves under, due to big oil geopolitics. The US is the biggest danger to peace, as they've proven, time after time since WWII. The world is gradually waking up to that.
"Christian State"... Just how dumb do you think we are?
The US created two Muslim states by killing Christians in my beighborhood, Bosnia and Kosovo, and is still giving support to Muslim terrorists in Russia that is calling "rebels".
This is ALL ABOUT OIL and money snd it stinks!
One day we'll kick you out!
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
"to clarify:"
Who are you to clarify anything? The Anonymous encyclopedia?
Or the Political analysts anonymous?
Get serious
Bulgaria needs to participate in the missile defense shield.
Simple as that.
It needs, it has to, it must be in.
Covered, fully, unabridged and unconditionally.
EU and US investments need to be protected.
I don't know how it is possible for ppl like Valery here to live with this state of mind.
BG is the first line of fire from Iran - first both Christian state and EU and NATO member.
It is clear that Russia doesn't want it's satellite stolen form it.
[...]
Read the full comment You can see for yourselves from the 4 comments of Valery here, apart from the usual silence on more mundate BG news.
Keem dreamin Val.
BG will have PRO, with or without the sanction of you faterhland.
Get it. The sooner, the better.
to clarify:
It's mainly about Russia and intimidation generally.
No one seriously thinks that the Russians will attack or that the Iranians will be dumb enough to send a missile to Israel. Missiles tend to have a return address...
Oh there is no difference between W and Obama and that's because they are working for the same people. That's why I keep saying that there is no difference between BG and the US in the corruption front, except the style. A regular mutra wouldn't have the intelligence and the cunning to present his skim as the victim's idea.
No I do not think that Iran has any intend or interest in attacking BG. The Iranians are not stupid, they can differentiate between the Belgians and the Bulgarians. The only country they are interested in threatening [...]
Read the full comment (very different from actually attacking) is Israel - hence American "concern" for BG, Clinton's tantrums about settlements notwithstanding....
This is about intimidating Russia - make no mistake about it..
Valeri, do you think that perhaps even though BG has no problem with Iran, that Iran (or another Middle Eastern country) might someday have a problem with BG solely because BG is allied with the West via the EU and NATO? Currently, several northern EU countries are struggling with their Muslim populations and enacting/proposing legislation to curtail their religious practices that this won't also become more problematic down the road? It's not for me to say whether it's right or wrong for these countries to enact their own laws, this is their business. Europe has a much more intimate historical [...]
Read the full comment connection with the Middle East (read Anthony Pagden's book if you're remotely interested, it was quite good...called "Worlds at War").
I'm still contending this shield doesn't work anyway. :)
For all the complaining everyone did about Bush, I'm not seeing much difference in anything that this fool "president" of ours is doing. And, they gave him a Nobel Prize for it!
" Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vessela Tcherneva said that when the parameters of the missile defence shield became clear, Bulgaria would ask to be part of the system."
The cynicism of that statement would make Machiavelli blush...
Yeah we begged to be protected from those Iranians...
I know my share of thick necks, I can tell you that there's no difference.
Obama made Boyko an offer he couldn't refuse and Boyko is presenting it as his idea.
All the mutras he knows in BG could not prepare [...]
Read the full comment Boyko for the Americans....
It's a deal Dianne, get that through your thick British skull.
It's being payed for...
Well, thats why the EU, Nato and the US allowed Bulgaria to join the EU isn't it, payback time.