The new Bulgarian President Parvanov estimated highly the reform in the Bulgarian army, adding that many more efforts have to be focused in that direction, it emerged after the first meeting of Parvanov as Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Army with Defense Minister Svinarov and the leadership of the Higher Staff of the Bulgarian Army. Defense Minister Svinarov formally presented his team and high-ranking members of the General Staff of the Army to the new head of state. In a brief speech, Svinarov wished that the president be never forced to exercise his powers at times of war. Parvanov said that the year 2002 is strategic for Bulgaria’s joining NATO. The President stated that he is concerned about the bad discipline in the army as well as about the increased number of death cases among the soldiers. Parvanov criticized the military budget, saying that it is very low compared to the budgets of the neighboring countries as well as the EU member states. 30% of the Bulgarian armed forces are efficient, tendency for increase of that percentage exists, General Miho Mihov, Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Army announced while presenting analysis on the readiness and discipline of the army. Besides President Parvanov, Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg, Defense Minister Nikolay Svinarov and the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, Defense and Security, Stanimir Ilchev attended the presentation.