Head NATO Commander visiting Bulgaria

The commander of Nato’s Allied Land Command, Lieutenant General Roger Cloutier, is visiting Bulgaria, according to a Bulgarian Defense Ministry statement on March 2.

Cloutier has held talks with Bulgaria’s Defence Chief, Admiral Emil Eftimov, on measures to strengthen Nato’s deterrent and defense capabilities in Eastern Europe as a result of hostilities in Ukraine, the Defence Ministry said.

Bulgaria’s decision to build an Alliance battle group was welcomed, and the possibilities for other nations to participate in it in order to increase the training and interoperability of the allies were discussed, the statement said.

The timeliness of the decision was emphasized, which is in line with the establishment of battle groups in other Eastern European countries. On March 2, Cloutier was to visit Bulgarian military formations and training grounds, where he would get acquainted with the state of their capabilities and the opportunities for joint training and exercises, the ministry said.

Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association celebrates 25 years of Military Ministry in Bulgaria since the first event co-hosted by the Bulgarian Armed Forces and government officials in 1997.

2018 The Road toward a Balkan Multi-Ministry Center and Legal Status

2017 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Legal Case Renewed

2015 Revisting the Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs by Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association

2014 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution Reaffirmed

2012 First Class of the Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program

2011 Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program Continues

2010 Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program begins in Sofia, Bulgaria

2009 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association holds an introductory chaplaincy course in Yambol, Bulgaria

2008 The Case of a NATO Chaplaincy Model within the Bulgarian Army released

2007 Bulgarian Chaplaincy Associations Recognized by U.S. Department of State

2006 Registration for the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association Rejected by Bulgarian Court

2005 The Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association presented before the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance

2004 Three U.S. Bases in Bulgaria to be Built by 2010

2003 The Case of a NATO Chaplaincy Model within the Bulgarian Army

2002 First Balkan Chaplaincy Conference at the Central Church of God in Sofia, Bulgaria

2001 Church of God Chaplaincy Commission to visit Bulgaria

2000 Euro-seminar: Christian ethics in the military forces

1997 First Military Ministry Seminar in Veliko Tarnovo

With all this accomplished, in the beginning of the 21^st century law and chaplaincy meet on the road to democracy as Bulgaria remains the only country in NATO without military force chaplaincy. But before chaplaincy could be legalized completely and endorsed by the state to its full functionality, several changes must be undergone. Some of them are:

1. Legal provision allowing chaplains to work as staff in the army, which guarantees the equal presence of protestant chaplains as well.
2. The approval, acceptance and implementation of a NATO based model for chaplaincy within the structures of the Bulgarian Army.
3. Periodical and systematic educational strategy toward chaplaincy workers among Bulgarian evangelicals.
4. A paradigm for cooperation of Bulgarian chaplains from various ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
5. Further research publications to enhance the efficiency of chaplaincy within the Bulgarian national context.

Also important [click to read]:

• U.S. Department of State recognizes our chaplaincy efforts in Bulgaria
• Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs
• Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution
• Chronology of our role and involvement in developing Church of God chaplaincy in Bulgaria since 2001
• Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program in Bulgaria Reflections
• The Past Decade of Chaplaincy in Bulgaria (2006-2016)
• Related Publications and Presentations by Cup & Cross Ministries International

More Publications on the Topic and History of Events:

• • Chaplaincy Conference and Master’s of Chaplaincy
  • Chaplaincy Course in Yambol, BULGARIA
  • Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association Annual Meeting
  • Family Seminar for Military Men and Women
  • Cup & Cross Ministries in Church of God Publications
  • The Case of a NATO Chaplaincy Model within the Bulgarian Army
  • 10 Years of Military Ministry in Bulgaria
  • National Chaplaincy Conference
  • Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association Gains Legal Status
  • Chaplain Dees Visits Bulgaria
  • Chaplaincy Course at the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute
  • Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association
  • Meeting the NATO Chaplain
  • National Chaplaincy Meeting
  • Chaplaincy Developments in Bulgaria
  • U.S. Bases in Bulgaria
  • National Chaplaincy Meeting
  • Chaplaincy in Bulgaria
  • HEALTHCARE CHAPLAINCY IN BULGARIA
  • Chaplaincy in Bulgaria
  • Mission Bulgaria

NATO Top Commander Eyes Bulgarian Contenders US Bases

US Airbase to be Built in the Village of Bezmer in the Yambol Region

NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and commander of American troops in Europe, General James Jones, arrived in Bulgaria for a two-day visit to Bulgaria. at the invitation of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Nikola Kolev. The future stationing of US bases in the Balkan country toped the agenda of General Jones, who visit ed eligible units and sites on the territory of the country, including the firing field at Novo Selo and the air base at Bezmer in the Yambol region.

Bulgaria, Romania and Poland are favorite destinations for hosting US bases. At the end of 2003 Bulgaria’s Parliament expressed support for the future stationing of US bases in the Balkan country. The Black Sea port of Bulgaria, which became a full-fledged NATO member in April last year, has already been used by the US army during the Iraq war.
General Jones last visited Bulgaria a year ago when he highly assessed the reforms in Bulgaria’s army as well as the work of the Balkan country’s military forces participating in NATO peacekeeping missions.