9811 | 31 July 2025 | 15:17

Zapryanov also pointed out that the propaganda aims to create a sense among the population that NATO's decisions in The Hague are meaningless, as well as to sow division among people, leading to erosion of trust in NATO and the EU

 With 2% of GDP for defense, we cannot create 30% higher defense capabilities, said Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov at the Central Military Club, where he participated in the conference "NATO after The Hague '25: The Bulgarian Dimension 2025 - 2035".

 In order to have greater defense capabilities, there should be greater investments, Minister Zapryanov stressed at the forum organized by the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria with the support of the Union of Reserve Officers "Atlantic" (SORA).
 

 Security is prosperity, the defense minister said, as reported by BTA.

 According to him, an important part of security is the fight against propaganda. Atanas Zapryanov referred to a report which states that the activity of websites and pages related to Russia has increased 12 times. According to the Minister of Defense, Bulgaria is one of the most attacked countries from the perspective of Russian propaganda.
 
 Atanas Zapryanov also mentioned that the propaganda aims to create a sense among the population that NATO's decisions in The Hague are senseless, as well as to sow division among people, leading to erosion of trust in NATO and the EU.

 Speaking to forum participants, Zapryanov also noted that to solve the tasks of rearmament, our country can take advantage of the European Union's SAFE instrument.

 The Minister of Defense also highlighted that at the NATO meeting in The Hague, the organization's commitment to the clauses of the North Atlantic Treaty was confirmed, and more than 20 classified documents related to containment and defense were discussed.
 

 The Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov categorically rejected some statements that small countries have not contributed to the decisions made, he said. Minister Zapryanov continued the topic of army rearmament and preparedness during the ceremony for the graduation of officers from the military academy.

 "I am particularly pleased with the high success of our Military Academy's class. It is a testament to your responsibility to prepare, make the most of your time at the military educational institution, and acquire the necessary knowledge that you will then apply in the Armed Forces," Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov addressed the graduates of the "G.S. Rakovski" Military Academy with these words. Celebrated the graduation ceremony of the officers from the "Slivnitsko-Dragomanski" class today, July 31st.

 The ritual was attended by the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Krasimir Kanev, Chairman of the Parliamentary Defense Committee Hristo Gadzhev, senior officers from the Bulgarian Army, and the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia, Agneza Rusi Popovska.

 "Unity in the chain of command, training of all personnel from tactical to strategic level is extremely important and that is why our educational system is truly harmonized and coordinated, so that there are no vacancies in the ranks of our commanders," emphasized Defense Minister Zapryanov in his speech.

 "The illusion from the beginning of the 21st century that the military instrument has lost its purpose in politics and humanitarian aspects will dominate, is now in the past. All policies are either policies of force or peace through force. That is why the creation of the necessary defensive capabilities of our armed forces, capable of fulfilling their constitutional obligations, is a top priority for the government," emphasized the Minister of Defence.

 He highlighted the processes of modernization in the Bulgarian Army and the efforts made in this direction by the Ministry of Defence.

 In front of the media, the Minister also commented on the topic of using military equipment in firefighting.

 The defense minister Atanas Zapryanov stated to journalists that by September this question should be clarified, commenting on the structural separation of the firefighting aviation that our country will establish.

 Minister Zapryanov commented on whether the future air unit for fire suppression should be under the Air Force or the Ministry of the Interior.

 It's all a matter of analysis. We should not rush to reject one or the other decision, the minister said. The Prime Minister has set a task on this topic. At the moment, this concept that we have, together with the Ministry of the Interior and our colleagues from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, we will work on its finalization.

 We will have to send a specific proposal to parliament, Zapryanov pointed out. He emphasized that when making decisions, issues such as support, infrastructure, training of the flight crew, and others must be taken into account.

 According to the Minister of Defense, the most appropriate and effective solution should be sought. When asked by a journalist about being included in Russia's list of "Russophobes," Atanas Zapryanov answered:

 "That's Moscow's job, I don't know what that list is." If defending international law and condemning violations of the UN Charter and waging aggressive wars is considered Russophobia, I don't believe that the 143 countries that condemned Russian aggression at the UN General Assembly are Russophobes. Let's separate our attitude towards the Russian people and the Russian state from the current leadership of Russia, commented Zapryanov