The possibilities for establishment of US military bases in Bulgaria are still at a stage of preliminary inquiry according to Senator James Inhofe. The senator who leads a delegation to Sofia stressed in an interview for Radio Free Europe that he is not a diplomat but concentrates on military issues in his capacity of the second ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

"The main reason for me to be here is that you are our friends and you are on our side," Senator Inhofe said in Sofia. He pointed out his visit came as a sign of gratitude for the country's support of Washington's foreign policy.

He added that in spite of the intention to restructure the US military bases, it is not yet clear how this would happen. "We have not advanced very much on the relocation of bases to Eastern Europe," Inhofe explained.

However, he insisted he came to study opportunities for Washington to work together with the Bulgarian government in the field of defense.