BOSNIA AND BULGARIA TO CO-OPERATE IN DEFENCE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 3,2007) - Bulgaria and Bosnia’s defence ministers Vesselin Bliznakov and Selmo Cikotic signed a memorandum of understanding between the two ministries.Bliznakov said that the memorandum is the first document for co-operation concerning defence, between the two countries.

The memorandum would have a positive effect on the Bosnia’s integration to the European and Euro-atlantic structures, he said.

Bulgaria would co-operate with Bosnia in the fields of army transformation, staff management reforms, training among others.

"We offered Bosnia’s army representatives to study at Bulgaria's higher military educational institutions," Bliznakov said.

Bulgaria also shared its experience in peacekeeping missions.

According to the Bosnian Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic, defence reforms’ success in Bosnia could be improved, using Bulgaria’s experience.Bosnia also had experience to show and offer, he said.