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In June, the Varna Chapter held its 3rd international conference on the challenges facing the Bulgarian navy and maritime sovereignty.

The conference, organized under the auspices of the Bulgarian Minister of Defence and with the full support of the Bulgarian navy command, examined the new missions and roles of the Bulgarian navy, its required operational capabilities, the navy’s modernization and procurement priorities, and the challenges involved in the establishment of a maritime surveillance system for Bulgaria.

The conference was attended by 96 delegates from 14 countries. Representatives from 18 leading Western defense companies participated in the event. Among the conference participants were senior officials from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, the General Staff, the Office of the president of Bulgaria and the Main Naval Staff, as well as defense diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Speakers included Associate Professor Capt. Kosta Ivanov, BU N (Ret.), Ph.D.,chapter president; Rear Adm. Peter Strantchevski, BU N (Ret.), national defense adviser to the president of Bulgaria; Vice Adm. Peter Petrov, BU N, first deputy chief, Bulgarian General Staff; Rear Adm. Minko Kavaldzhiev, BU N, chief, Bulgarian Main Navy Staff; Associate Professor Boris Kornovski, deputy mayor of Varna; and Konstantin Zografov, regional vice president for the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region, AFCEA International.

Adm. Kavaldzhiev spoke about the challenges for Bulgaria’s navy and maritime sovereignty in light of the country’s accession to NATO as well as the Strategic Defence Review. Zografov outlined the role of AFCEA in the NATO enlargement and transformation process. Vladimir Grigorov, head, Armaments Development Department, Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, spoke about the modernization challenges facing the Bulgarian armed forces and discussed the government’s decision to allocate BGN 1.5 billion between mid-2004 to 2005 for the start of 11 priority modernization projects. Dimana Dermendzhieva, legal directorate, Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, described the legal requirements and procedures in the implementation of modernization projects in the Bulgarian armed forces. Capt. Dimiter Ispirski, BU N, head of the planning and development department, Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, presented the Bulgarian navy’s vision on the establishment of a national integrated maritime control and information system.
Innovative solutions and capabilities to support the project for Bulgaria’s naval shipbuilding program and modernization of the existing fleet also were presented and exhibited.