RuseHorse.com

The US government is going to invest over USD 90 M in the next two to three years in facilities and equipment for joint use on Bulgaria's territory, according to US Deputy Chief of Mission in Sofia Alexander Karagiannis. Karagiannis was among the official guests of the joint military drills of the Bulgarian and the US armies that were presented Wednesday at the Novo Selo Training Area in southeast Bulgaria. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and the Commander of the US Army in Europe General Carter Ham, were also present during the demonstrations of tactical military operations. Currently, there is a temporary military camp at the Novo Selo Training Area, where over USD 6,5 M have already been invested. Over USD 62 M are going to be invested in the training area's permanent facilities and equipment in the next two years, when the construction is expected to be completed, according to Karagiannis. "These facilities will be permanent, but we will not have a permanent dislocation of US armed forces. They will be located in Novo Selo temporarily, using the rotational schedule, and in full concordance and with the agreement of the Bulgaria Military leadership and will participate in joint military drills and other activities," Karagiannis stated in Novo Selo on Wednesday. The Bulgarian Panther 2008, which started on September 1, is aimed at increasing the compatibility between the two armies necessitated by the joint missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The drills will end on October 30. A total of 1200 soldiers are taking part in the drills including 300 from the Bulgarian party and 900 from the US joint operations forces in Europe. Bulgarian President Parvanov gave high marks of the initiative as a positive military collaboration. Visits of US military ships are expected in November at the Bulgarian ports of Varna and Burgas. The drill of the US and Bulgarian Air Forces is also scheduled for November.