In the coming year Bulgaria planned to send between 650 and 800 troops abroad, Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov said.
Bliznakov attended a press conference after his return from Iraq on December 4, Focus news agency reported. He met Bulgarian soldiers responsible for the security of Ashraf refugee camp.
The number of Bulgarian troops taking part in foreign peacekeeping missions should reach 1600 people, said Bliznakov.
Before Bulgarian soldiers returned from Afghanistan, the country had 550 people taking part in military operations abroad, Focus reported.
A decision on the sending of more troops to Iraq would be taken after March 2007, when soldiers would return from Ashraf, said Bliznakov.
Army Chief of General Staff Zlatan Stoikov said that the profesionalisation of the Bulgarian army was going according to plans. Nearly 4100 people have to be employed by the end of 2007, said he.
The selection of soldiers for the marine forces was completed. In the Air Forces and infantry the procedure should end in June and December 2007 respectively, said Stoikov.
