Bulgaria's Nationalists Prepping "Surprize" for Rice

Politics | April 5, 2006, Wednesday // 00:00

Bulgarian nationalistic fraction Ataka (Attack) are preparing a surprise welcome for US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who is to visit Sofia on April 27, media reported.

During her visit in Bulgaria Rice is expected to sign the agreement for deployment of US military bases in Bulgaria. Ataka have starting preparing to greet Rice with a protest meeting well in advance, county council chairman Todor Hristev hints.

The nationalists have even cancelled their upcoming protests in Plovdiv that was to oppose the military bases. Ataka members from Plovdiv did not to scatter their forces, because they were in the very core of the "surprise," for Rice Hristev said.

Ataka have been one of the most outspoken critics of the deployment of US militaries from the very beginning and are even more eager in their protests now that the talks have been finalized. The party insists that Bulgaria holds a referendum on the topic and they have already launched a sign-up campaign against the government's agreement with the US.

The US will be able to use three Bulgarian military bases - the Novo Selo range and the Bezmer both near Bulgaria's border with Turkey, and the Graf Ignatievo airfield in central Bulgaria. US forces will also use a storage facility near Bulgaria's port of Burgas.

The bases will be used for the training of 2000 to 3000 US soldiers

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