Karakachanov

If Macedonia wants to be a full member of NATO and the EU, it should abide by the commitments it has made to Bulgaria and Greece, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov told Focus Radio.

Bulgaria's Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Krasimir Karakachanov, who is also the leader of the nationalist VMRO party, on Wednesday proposed controversial measures aimed particularly at the country's ethnic Roma minority.

This was stated by the Minister of Defense at an annual conference, reported NOVA TV. 

''The security situation in the Balkans has not changed for the better in the past year.'' Defense Minister Krassimir Karakachanov said during an annual conference of the Chief of Defense.

More than 200 people of Roma origin went on Monday to protest at the Council of Ministers with the request for the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Krassimir Karakachanov. Their discontent was provoked by the demolition of the Roma neighborhood in the village of Voyvodinovo in Plovdiv and Karakachanov's comment that "the Gypsies have become extremely insolent".

The Bulgarian government has asked parliament for a mandate to negotiate with the United States on buying new fighter jets, Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said on Wednesday after ministers met in Sofia. 

It means that Bulgaria plans to move ahead with the purchase of Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 70 Viper jets to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-era Mig-29 planes.

Today, the Cabinet is expected to review the commission's report assessing the bids for the new fighter aircraft, reported the Bulgarian National Television. 

According to the report, most of the votes are for the US new F-16s. Thus, they displace the offers of Sweden and Italy for Gripen and Eurofighter aircraft.

Gypsies in Bulgaria have become extremely arrogant and the tolerance of Bulgarian society is wearing thin, Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov said to reporters with regard to the latest case of assault on a serviceman in the village of Voyvodinovo, Focus Radio has reported.

"Four countries fund the manifestations of radical Islamism in Bulgaria. Target is the Roma population, ghettos in particular. " Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Krasimir Karakachanov said during his visit to Rousse. The recent case, with a Bulgarian citizen arrested and convicted in Austria, is proof of this in his view.

Sofia. By October 19, a working group will analyse the proposals and will assess if they meet Bulgaria's requirements, in the meantime it may request further clarification from the bidders, Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov told bTV regarding the opened offers in the competition for the supply of fighters.

The Minister of Defense Krasimir Karakachanov believes that the Bulgarian Army performs its duties conscientiously, despite the lack of money.