"I am in Bulgaria to show that NATO is as committed to Bulgaria as Bulgaria is to NATO," the alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with a local daily ahead of his Thursday visit.

Stoltenberg, who has been at the helm of NATO since last year, has told Trud newspaper that Bulgaria "is a faithful ally" and has thanked Sofia for their contribution to the alliance's missions and drills. He has cited Bulgarian troops' participation in a mission providing training and assistance to Afghan security forces and Sofia's move to give vessels for NATO patrols in the Black Sea basin.

He has reiterated that key security challenges at NATO's eastern flank will top the agenda of discussions with President Rosen Plevneliev, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and ministers of foreign affairs and defense, all of whom he is to meet during his visit.

Asked whether Bulgaria could count on NATO to help guard the border with Turkey to stem the influx of jihadis from Syria and Iraq returning to Bulgaria, Stoltenberg has answered by reminding NATO's move to enhance contribution among members in terms of information exchange, including in that with non-NATO countries.

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