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Friday 19th of April 2024, 11:44 CET |
| Residents of Black Sea village protest US base |
March 11, 2003
Associated Press
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Posted by HW on April 19, 2024
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Petition against US base
Residents of a Bulgarian village at the Black Sea have gathered 533 signatures protesting the location of a temporary U.S. military base in their area.
Protest organizers sent the petition, which urges authorities to remove the base from an area near the village of Sarafovo, 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Sofia, to parliament and Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski.
Fear for attacks
Residents said they feared their area could be targeted by international terrorists and said they plan to hold an outdoor meeting to pray for peace on Saturday.
Bulgaria is among the east and central European states that back the United States in its drive for a military attack against Iraq.
6 planes so far
Parliament has voted to allow the United States to station up to 18 refueling aircraft and 400 soldiers in Sarafovo. So far, six refueling aircraft KC-10A Extender and two Black Hawk helicopters have arrived.
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Long runway and clear view
U.S. refueling planes were stationed in Sarafovo during the allied campaign in Afghanistan. The airport is known for having one of the longest runways on the Balkans and most clear days per year.
Sarafovo: fuel and tourists
Sarafovo is close to the key Black Sea port of Burgas and the country"s main Lukoil-Neftochim refinery, which can produce fuels matching NATO standards.
Sarafovo is also one of the main arrival points for vacationers on Bulgaria"s Black Sea coast. |
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