European Wage Growth Slows at End of 2023: Bulgaria Outpaces EU Average
Data released by Eurostat reveals a notable deceleration in wage growth across the European Union (EU) and the eurozone during the final quarter of 2023
HOT: » Assessing the Legacy of Bulgaria's "Denkov" Cabinet: Achievements, Failures, and What Comes Next
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Bulgaria's NATO membership is not an obstacle to the country's relations with Russia and does not pose a threat to Moscow.
The former Prime Minister of Norway pointed to the development of his country's relations with Russia in an interview for Bulgarian National Television (BNT) on Friday.
According to him, the relationship with the then Soviet Union and later Russia improved after the accession of Norway to NATO, Oslo managing to maintain constructive dialogue and cooperation with Moscow.
The secretary general believed that there was no contradiction between strong defence, collective defence and political dialogue.
NATO and its allies need a strong defence and a predictable foreign policy, but at the same time it was important to maintain political dialogue and contacts with Russia.
In a similarly-worded statement in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Bulgaria's membership to NATO did not mean an end to its relationship with Moscow.
Stoltenberg also commented the function of the NATO Force Integaration Units (NFIUs), which were opened in Bulgaria and five other member countries on the Alliance's eastern flank on Thursday.
He assured that the coordination centre, will plan and help with the organisation of military drills and will assist in case there is need for the deployment of reinforcements.
According to him, everything NATO was doing was in the name of defence and in line with the international commitments on strengthening the safety of the allies, including Bulgaria.
As regards the cuts to the defence budget of some member countries, Stoltenberg said that Bulgaria reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Alliance during his visit to Sofia in January.
Stoltenberg also commented the threat arising from Islamic State (IS), noting the fundamentally altered security environment for NATO, especially for its members situated in the east and southeast of the Alliance.
Bulgaria was close to both the increasingly aggressive Russia, but was also not far away from all the violence occurring in Iraq and Syria and all the migrants fleeing the conflict areas.
This highlighted the necessity for the member countries to stay and work together, to defend and help each other.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
A comprehensive survey conducted by NATO has provided valuable insights into Bulgaria's perspectives on defense spending and collective defense obligations within the alliance
Bulgaria's defense expenditure for the year 2023 amounted to $1.9 billion (3.47 billion BGN), representing 1.87 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Defense Minister Todor Tagarev announced the successful dispatch of 100 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine
A potentially hazardous situation unfolded today near Varna's "Kabakum" beach as a floating mine was discovered in the sea, as reported by BNR
Bulgaria has experienced a staggering increase in arms imports, rising by 920% between 2019 and 2023 compared to the period of 2014 to 2018
A recent survey conducted by the World Association "Gallup International" sheds light on global attitudes towards fighting for one's country in the event of war
Norwegian Inspiration: Bulgaria's Move Towards Environmentally Friendly Prisons
Nexo Is Suing Bulgaria For Over $3 Billion