site.btaMRF Supports US Tanker Aircraft Deployment at Bezmer Air Base

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) supports the deployment of US tanker aircraft at Bezmer Air Base, leader Delyan Peevski wrote on the party's Facebook page on Monday. He was responding to a statement by Prime Minister Rumen Radev made earlier in the day that the Government will seek Parliament's authorization for the stationing of the US in-flight refuelling aircraft at the military airfield in Southeastern Bulgaria.  

The deployment of up to eight tanker aircraft was requested by the US Embassy in a diplomatic note on June 17, pursuant to the 2006 Defence Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and the United States to support US operations in the Middle East, Radev specified.   

In his post, Peevski notes that the MRF's position in favour of the request is the result of the party's firm conviction, as Euro-Atlanticists, that Bulgaria must steadfastly uphold its values and be a loyal and predictable partner as a member of the European Union and NATO.

US Air Force aerial refuelling aircraft were stationed at Sofia Airport in February. Initially, they were to stay there until the end of May, and then the deployment period was extended until the end of June. The aircraft left Sofia Airport by the deadline.