Nikolay Nenchev

Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev warned of the possible presence of terrorists among the refugees entering the country.

Nenchev expressed his concern on Saturday, private NOVA TV quotes him as saying.

His concern stems from the fact that very often there are people recruited by terrorist groups and organisations, including Islamic State (IS), among refugees.

Bulgarian police officers and servicemen are conducting joint training on the country's border with Macedonia on Friday.

The training is aimed at assessing the country's capacity to guard the border in the event of a heightened migrant pressure and counter the smuggling of migrants.

Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev will table to the Council of Ministers the draft for the acquisition of a new multi-purpose fighter jet in several days.

Nenchev said this at the Graf Ignatievo air base on Thursday where he is attending the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of its establishment.

Bulgaria's Defence Council has approved the investment project for acquiring new fighter jets for the country's Air Force, public broadcaster BNR reported on Monday.

The decision was taken by the consultative body within the Defence Ministry last week, according to BNR.

Border protection will remain assigned mostly to border police and riot police even after deployment of troops has been completed, Bulgaria's Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said.

He has told the Bulgarian National Television that the army, now authorized to provide assistance in border patrols, will stand ready to help in emergency situations.

Bulgaria has said it is ready to build a wire fence along its border with Greece to tackle a potential increase in migrant inflow after the Western Balkans route was practically closed.

Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev halted two public tenders for the delivery of armoured machines for use by the land forces and the military police worth more than BGN 50 M.

The information was confirmed by sources within the defence ministry, private bTV station reported on Monday.

A joint exercise is to be conducted on Saturday in Southwestern Bulgaria, at the border with Greece and near the one in Macedonia, in light of potentially increasing migratory pressure.

The drill will be held in the region of Petrich, Sandanski and Kulata, the latter being a major border crossing point with Greece.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov called for conducting joint military and police trainings at the borders with Greece and Macedonia in order to assess the country's capacity in dealing with a heightened migrant pressure.

The defence council to Bulgaria's defence ministry is expected to meet on Tuesday to review the draft project for acquisition of a new warplane for the needs of the country's air force.

This was announced by Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev during a press conference on Monday.