The participation Bulgaria’s frigate “Drazki” (Intrepid) in operations against Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden would be of great help to the NATO mission in the area.

The statement was made Saturday by Rear Admiral Hank Ort, Chief of Staff of the Allied Maritime Component Command in Northwood, who spoke in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio BNR.

“In this particular operation the contribution of even one military unit becomes crucial. The number of the units is very important. It is simple mathematics. We divide the area in patrol zones and if we have more vessels, we would be more effective. So we would salute a Bulgarian decision to send the frigate,” Rear Admiral Ort says.

On January 4, Rear Admiral Plamen Manushev, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Navy, said that “Intrepid” could be sent to the Gulf to help counteract Somali pirates there. His statement came days after two UK ships – St. James Park and Asian Glory – were hijacked by Somali pirates with a total of 13 Bulgarian sailors on board.

Two days later, however, Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Nikolay Mladenov stated that the frigate will not be sent to the Gulf of Aden to participate in operations against Somali pirates due to lack of money.

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