Nikolay Nenchev

Bulgarian Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova expressed hope that the main facilities of the fence at the border with Turkey will be completed by the end of March.

Bachvarova said this during a parliamentary question and answer session on Friday, daily Dnevnik informs.

The Bulgarian parliament approved at first reading on Thursday the amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces Act allowing for aircraft from NATO member countries to guard the country's airspace by participating in joint air policing missions.

The debates lasted for more than two hours, with ruling and opposition parties hurling mutual accusations at each other.

The Bulgarian parliament will decide on Thursday whether to allow the country's airspace to be guarded not only by the Bulgarian army, but also by the armed forces of NATO allies.

This could be achieved by amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces Act.

The Bulgarian Air Force could have its ageing Soviet-made combat aircraft replaced by new multi-role warplanes in the next three to three-and-a half years, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said on Wednesday.

The government commission tasked with studying the available options is expected to submit a report by the end of March, Nenchev told bTV broadcaster.

Bulgaria will call a tender for six new engines for its MiG-29 fighter jets and the relevant spare parts by the end of the month, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said on Tuesday.

The first two engines which will be used for repair of six Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jets were delivered at the Graf Ignatievo air base on Tuesday.

This is in line with the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement signed between Bulgaria and Poland in October.

According to the agreement, six Bulgarian engines will be repaired in Poland until the middle of next year.

The first two engines to be used in the repair of the Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jets are expected to arrive from Poland on Tuesday.

Bulgaria and Poland signed an intergovernmental agreement on the repair of six of the country's fighter jets in October.

Poland will loan out two engines for temporary use until two of the Bulgarian engines are being repaired.

The Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (BZNS) and the People's Party for Freedom and Dignity (NPSD) have demanded that the Reformist Bloc, a loose coalition of parties of which they are members, should continue to exist.

Bulgaria could deploy up to 1000 troops at its borders to help police if a worsening crisis in Syria leads to increased migrant flow out of the war-torn country, Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said.

The Bulgarian parliament ratified on Friday the intergovernmental agreement with Poland on the repair of six of the country's MiG-29 fighter jets.

At first reading, the agreement was approved by 133 MPs out of the 177 lawmakers present in the plenary chamber, with 42 being against.