Bulgaria's recently appointed Defense Minister Nikolay Tsonev greeted Monday the Bulgarian troops currently on missions abroad through a video connection on the eve of May 6, St. George's Day and Day of the Army.

The Head of the Bulgarian General Staff Gen. Zlatan Stoykov joined the Defense Minister in the video conference.

The senior representative of the Bulgarian contingent in Kosovo, Lieutenant-Cornel Dimitar Vulchev reported that the troops there were still finding mines, grenades, and other types of weapons at the Kosovo residents, but that the level of the threat for the Bulgarian soldiers there was assessed as low.

Lieutenant-Cornel Rusi Rusev, who is in charge of the Bulgarian unit in Iraq, reported that the 155-strong unit was successfully guarding the Ashraf Camp for Iranian refugees, and participating in Coalition operations.

Rusev pointed out the Bulgarian soldiers mastered the use of US military equipment, and that 80 of them have been awarded by the US command.

Cornel Valentin Burov from the Bulgarian contingent in Afghanistan announced during the video conference that the Bulgarian medical unit in the capital Kabul was the busiest as it was proving various medical services to local people.

The situation of the Bulgarian contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina remained the most peaceful compared to the other three spots where Bulgarian units participate in international missions.

Currently Bulgaria has 155 military personnel in Iraq, 400 in Afghanistan, and 38 in Kosovo.

The video conference connection with Bulgarian missions abroad at the eve of the Army Day (May 6) has become traditional in the recent years.

Later on Monday afternoon, the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov officially presented the recently promoted high-ranking army officers with their new epaulets.

A number of concerts of Bulgarian Army orchestras and other cultural events dedicated to May 6 are scheduled to take place all over the country.

A large part of downtown Sofia is with limited access between 2pm and 10pm for a second day in a row because of the drills for the May 6 Military Parade.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!