Tuesday 17 July 2012
On Tuesday 17 July 2012 H. E. Anu Anguelov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, visited the NATO Defense College (NDC) and addressed a Lecture of Opportunity to Senior Course 120 (SC 120). The Minister was accompanied by Mr. Todor Stoyanov, Acting Ambassador to the Bulgarian Embassy in Rome.
Our distinguished visitors were warmly welcomed by the NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug, after which they were given an informative briefing on the NDC by the Dean, Dr. Richard Hooker.
The topic on which Minister Anguelov addressed SC 120 was: "NATO After the Chicago Summit, and Bulgarian Defence Policy". At the beginning of his lecture, he stated that the Chicago Summit was "undeniable proof that the transatlantic relation is alive, that on both sides of the Atlantic partners have the same goals and continue to have full agreement on the means by which they must be achieved". The speaker confirmed the Republic of Bulgaria's stated intention of participating in 15 NATO “Smart Defence” projects, highlighting several examples - the Allied Ground Surveillance Programme, Immersive Training Environments, the Individual Training and Educational Programme (ITEP), the Multinational Joint Headquarters in Ulm, Centers of Excellence as Hubs of Education and Individual Training, as well as the Female Leaders in Security and Defence Project. The Minister also commented on the extensive regional cooperation which Bulgaria is developing, the aim being to increase its capabilities and thus contribute more effectively to the mission of the Alliance.
The lecture was followed by a wide-ranging question-and-answer session. This afforded Course Members a valued opportunity not only to acquire first-hand information about the Summit, but also to learn more about Bulgarian defence policy and its readiness to adapt in a timely manner to the constantly evolving international security environment.
