Nikolay Nenchev

Yordan Bakalov, a former interim Interior Minister, is Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's proposal to take over the Defense Information Service, media sources say.

Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev dismissed the Director of Defence Information Service Veselin Ivanov on Monday.

Nenchev justified his decision with the inability to reach consensus with Ivanov on the functioning of the service, especially its cadre development.

Trade union representatives at Ruse-based arms and ammunition manufacturer Dunarit will meet with Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski on Monday to discuss the suspension of the license of the company.

Repair works on the MiG fighter jets that are currently part of Bulgaria's aircraft fleet are quite expensive to repair, Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev asserted Friday answering to a question in Parliament.

Bulgarian trade unions have opposed a decision of the Interministerial Council on Defense Industry and Security of Supply at the Council of Ministers to terminate the license of Dunarit AD Ruse for the import, export, and transfer of arms.

Ruse-based Dunarit AD is a major manufacturer of military and machine- engineering products.

Azerbaijan's President Alham Aliyev is on a visit to Sofia along with ministers of foreign affairs, transport economy, energy and communication.

Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said his institution will be forced to lay off 4600 military and civilian officers due to budget restrictions.

"[This is] something I wouldn't even wish to think about," the Bulgarian National Radio quotes him as saying.

Nenchev has called for an urgent update of the expenditure, especially in personnel costs.

Since the beginning of the year, 7306 Bulgarians, who are part of the military reserve force, have been summoned to appear at their local military districts.

This became clear from the response of Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev to a question posed to him by a MP, BGNES news agency reports.

Poland is ready to provide servicing for Bulgaria's Russian-made MiG-29 fighter aircraft, Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev is due to hold talks with Poland's Deputy PM and Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak on Monday, February 16.