Iliana Iotova's position on Bezmer Air Base
The presence of US tanker aircraft at Bezmer Air Base does not involve Bulgaria in military actions, Vice President Iliana Iotova stated. The proposal, submitted by the Council of Ministers, provides for the temporary deployment of up to eight KC-135 aircraft and 250 US military personnel.
"I hope that there will soon be a truce again, that the conflict will not escalate, and that hostilities will not expand," Iotova emphasized.
Procedure and transparency
Iotova was adamant that any such request must undergo approval by the National Assembly. She made a comparison with previous periods, highlighting the greater transparency of the current government regarding military notes.
Key highlights:
- The tanker aircraft will not conduct combat missions in Bulgarian airspace.
- The decision to accept them depends solely on parliamentary debate.
- Iotova criticized the demands of "Democratic Bulgaria" for convening the Consultative Council on National Security (CCNS), describing them as inconsistent and politically motivated.
According to the Vice President, since the parties have limited the powers of the presidential institution over the security services, their current calls for a CCNS regarding the DANS (State Agency for National Security) case seem contradictory.