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Friday 19th of April 2024, 20:42 CET |
| Bulgaria launches first coast guard patrol boat upgraded to NATO standards |
July 10, 2002
Hoover's Online
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Posted by AD on April 18, 2024
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Burgas, 9 July: The flag of the first Bulgarian coast guard patrol boat, which has been fully equipped in accordance with NATO"s standards, was hoisted ceremoniously in the Atia naval base, on the southern Black Sea coast, on Tuesday [9 July].
The boat was bought from the German coast guards with money provided by the executive budget under an agreement between the interior ministries of Bulgaria and Germany.
Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov announced the name of the boat, which is Sozopol.
The tactical and technical parameters of the 200t boat allow its use for long years under extreme hydrometeorological conditions. Bulgaria"s old coast guard patrol boats, which have hulls made of aluminium alloy and can ride four-metre high waves, will be gradually decommissioned. They will be replaced by vessels corresponding to the European standards for guarding the sea borders.
Col Valeri Grigorov, Director of the National Police Service, said that next year another retrofitted boat will be supplied, and in 2004 the Bulgarian Border Police will receive four new boats.
"We have financial troubles at the moment, that is why we cannot do what we want and have a modern fleet of 20-23 brand new high-speed vessels," Petkanov said, adding that the Interior Ministry is doing its utmost to get support. A lot of talks have been held with the diplomatic missions of the European Union members states in Bulgaria which have already been providing pecuniary and technical assistance.
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Last week, the Bulgarian Border Police Service got 32 new off-road jeeps from the European Commission, as well as 150 pairs of night vision glasses.
Speaking at a news conference after the ceremony, Petkanov said that the main goal and strategy of the Interior Ministry is to provide the security of the Bulgarian sea border. "I think we have been doing it successfully," he said.
Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Gen Boyko Borisov said that the smuggling of several large shipments of narcotics intended for the domestic market had been prevented. At the moment, the most serious problems are related to the border passing along the Danube river since the Bulgarian border authorities cannot exercise control over international vessels... |
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