End of mission in Iraq for Bulgarian soldiers

(BRUSSELS2) All the soldiers of the Bulgarian contingent in Iraq will return to Bulgaria between December 15 and 20, according to Defense Minister Nikolai Tsonev.

Cost: 80 million euros. This return will mark the end of the Bulgarian mission in Iraq, as there is no new political decision to send a new contingent. The five years of presence in Iraq have cost the Bulgarian taxpayer "more than 155 million leva" (about 80 million euros), according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kalfin, "the transport and logistics costs having been ensured by the budget of the multinational forces”.

Reinforcements in Afghanistan? The end of the mission in Iraq will save between 10 and 12 million leva (about 5-6 million euros), explained General Galimir Pehlivanov, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian army, to our colleagues from Sega. This will make it possible to increase Bulgarian troops in other theatres, such as in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Currently, the Bulgarian contingent in Kabul is made up of 200 people, and 220 Bulgarian soldiers provide protection for the inner part of Kandahar airport. In Kosovo, Bulgaria is present with a company. The decision must be taken by the Government, which would then table it for approval in Parliament, explained General Pehlivanov. Bulgaria has earmarked 91 million Leva this year for missions abroad (about 46 million euros). And the budget for next year should not be lower.