Bulgaria’s new Foreign Minister and ex Defense Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, has denied the claims that the Taliban targeted him during his recent visit to Afghanistan.

Mladenov was in the ISAF Air Base at Kandahar last week when four Bulgarian rangers were injured in a Taliban rocket attack.

He told the Nova TV that the most seriously injured ranger, Alexander Alexandrov, was still in a critical condition, whereas the others were recovering.

“It makes no sense to try to target me, they shoot randomly. This increased Taliban activity was because of the Afghanistan conference in London… It is impossible to say when the NATO forces will be able to withdraw. I can’t say that I am optimist about the situation in this country which is facing a permanent civil war,” the Foreign Minister said.

Mladenov said that the participation of Bulgaria in foreign military missions, including the one in Afghanistan, cost about BGN 90 M for 2010.

“Let’s all consider the fact that if we don’t manage to take control of the situation in Afghanistan politically and militarily, many problems can reach Southeastern Europe very easily. That is why the problem in Afghanistan must be resolved,” he explained.

He confirmed that Bulgaria’s contingent in Afghanistan would be increased by 30 soldiers at the end of 2010, thus reaching 600. Bulgaria is going to participate with up 5 officers in the EU police training mission.

Mladenov stated that all evidence of violations committed by the previous teams of the Defense Ministry had been sent to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Mladenov, who switched from being a Defense Minister to Foreign Minister during his Afghanistan trip, taking over from Rumiana Jeleva, said Bulgaria was going to consider the losses it generated from the border blockade by protesting Greek farmers, and to seek an according compensation from Greece through EU mechanisms. In his words, Bulgaria has fair chances of getting compensated.

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