Sofia Weekly

Camp Ashraf – Bulgarian Mission in Iraq Likely To Be Terminated

Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov and the Chief of Army Staff Zlatan Stoykov returned safely from a visit to Iraq, where they met troops providing security at the Ashraf camp.

Bulgaria’s non-combat unit is 154-strong and guards the Ashraf refugee cam, located 60 kilometers north of Baghdad.

It is not certain whether Bulgaria will continue its mission in Iraq, Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov said after he returned from his visit to Iraq.

The Bulgarian unit’s mission is due to end on 31 March 2007. But it is still not certain whether the mission will be continued because that depends on the whether the USA will extend an invitation for that.

In order for our unit to continue its mission in Iraq the USA have to send the invitation at the beginning of 2007 so that the parliament can have time to discuss and adopt the resolution, Bliznakov said.

The political decision should be made after a serious analysis has been carried out, he said.

There is no risk of Bulgaria undertaking too many commitments without being able to provide for them, he added.

Vesselin Bliznakov returned safely from a visit to Iraq, where he met troops providing security at the Ashraf camp.

Sofia Weekly, December 4, 2006

December 9, 2006 0 comment

Iraq

Blast Kills 11 Iraqi Laborers from Bulgaria-Guarded Ashraf

Eleven Iraqis were killed and a dozen more wounded in a blast in a volatile area north of Baghdad on Monday.

The bomb was apparently planted in a bus, 20 km outside the town of Baquba.

Police says the Iraqis were traveling to work in the camp of Ashraf, which is currently guarded by a 120-strong Bulgarian contingent.

Baquba is 65 km north of Baghdad, in a religiously mixed region.

Sofia news agency 29 May, 2006

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=64163

May 31, 2006 0 comment

Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s Unit Assumes Ashraf Camp Control May 6

Bulgaria’s guarding unit will assume control over the Ashraf camp in Iraq on May 6, the Day of the Bulgarian Army, it appeared during a videoconference with Iraq Friday.

The head of the unit lieutenant-colonel Marin Marinov told during the videoconference that so far Bulgaria’s servicemen were assisted by the Americans but as of May 6 they will guard the camp alone.

Bulgaria’s non-combat unit, which will perform tasks in a military-humanitarian mission at Camp Ashraf in Iraq was deployed in the camp area on April 11.

The 153-strong contingent will be responsible for order and administration at the repatriation centre, for the escort of refugees in the camp, and will also guard facilities within its perimeter.

On March 29 Bulgaria sent off its first non-combat unit to guard the Iraqi refugee camp of Ashraf.

Bulgaria’s parliament approved the government decision to send up to 153 troops to guard the Iraqi camp of Ashraf, about 70 km north of Baghdad. The unit should stay in Iraq for a year.

The move came a few months after Bulgaria decided to pull out its 450-strong light infantry unit from the Arab country. During the unit’s service, the country lost 13 soldiers and six civilians.

The new non-combat mission will cost Bulgaria approximately EUR 8 M.

Sofia News Agency, May05, 2006

May 10, 2006 0 comment

Bulgaria

Bulgaria Sends off Ashraf Guard Unit

Bulgaria Sends off Ashraf Guard Unit At an official ceremony on Wednesday Bulgaria will send off its first non-combat unit to guard the Iraqi refugee camp of Ashraf.

Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, Defense Minister Vesselin Bliznakov, army staff and defense officials, families and friends of the troops will attend the event in Kazanluk, south Bulgaria.

Bulgaria’s parliament approved the government decision to send up to 155 troops to guard the Iraqi camp of Ashraf, about 70 km north of Baghdad. The unit should stay in Iraq for a year.

The move came few months after Bulgaria decided to pull out its 450-strong light infantry unit from the Arab country. During the unit’s service, the country lost 13 soldiers and six civilians.

The new non-combat mission will cost Bulgaria approximately EUR 8 M.

Sofia News Agency – March 29, 2006

April 3, 2006 0 comment

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Parliament Agrees Mission to Guard Camp Ashraf

Bulgaria’s parliament has approved a government decision to send up to 155 troops to guard an Iraqi camp.

Earlier this month the Socialist-led government agreed to deploy a non-combat unit of 120 lightly armed soldiers plus support staff to guard a camp of mainly Iranian refugees in Ashraf, about 70 km north of Baghdad.

The lawmakers whose approval is adamant for any major troop deployments voted Wednesday 151 to 15 in favour of the move.

The unit is due to depart by the end of March for a year-long mission

The government’s decision came less than two months after the Balkan country pulled out all its soldiers from the Arab country.

It originally sent a 450-strong light infantry unit to take part in post-invasion military operations. The country lost 13 soldiers and six civilians.

The new mission in Iraq will cost Bulgaria some EUR 8 M, the defense ministry has said.

Sofia News Agency, February 22, 2006

February 27, 2006 0 comment