press releases 2009
Joint Bulgarian-U.S. Military Training Facilities Continue as Planned
Press Release
October 20, 2009
A recent article in the Stars and Stripes newspaper has created confusion and uncertainty over the use and intentions of the joint Bulgarian-U.S. military training facilities such as the Novo Selo Training Facility. To set the record straight, all the Joint-use facilities are Bulgarian bases. These facilities, such as Novo Selo, are where U.S. military units can train with their Bulgarian counterparts at a facility that will offer all opportunities to practice interoperability and skills necessary to work together in a joint environment.
This facility is a result of the Defense Cooperation Agreement signed by both the Government of Bulgaria and the United States which stipulates that these facilities will be used for training. The U.S. forces who temporarily deploy to Bulgaria to participate in this training return to their home bases once the training is complete. As such, there are no permanent U.S. forces deployed to facilities such as Novo Selo, and the U.S. plans to keep operating in this manner.
The Ministry of Defense has sent out a press release addressing this same Stars and Stripes article. The U.S. Embassy in Sofia agrees with the statements made in the MOD press release, and we hope that the MOD information and ours will bring the focus back to where it truly belongs: on the professional opportunities and the personal camaraderie gained by troops from both nations working and training together for the common purpose of regional security and stability as partners and allies.