A NATO Centre of Excellence for crisis management and disaster response will be established in Sofia. It was launched with the end of the two-day long international forum, held in the capital city with the participation of experts from 10 NATO member-states. According to Deputy Defense Minister Avgustina Tsvetkova the centre is Bulgaria’s contribution to the joint implementation of one of NATO’s three major tasks from the Strategic Concept – crisis management.

“Typically this kind of centres are specialized organizations within NATO that provide opportunity for creation of the program and strategic documents on a certain topic. The centre is focused in the area of crisis management in cases of disasters. It will provide an opportunity for education and training of HR from NATO member-states and its partnering countries. The centre is expected to be accredited mid-2013. It will consist of 50 Bulgarian experts and 10 representatives of other states. It will be co-financed by the countries that participate. Being a host of the project, Bulgaria should provide a building for the centre.”

Avgustina Tsvetkova goes on to say that the centre will use the facilities, situated in Cheralitsa near Sofia, since it is really suitable for simulative trainings. Besides that, the resources of the interior ministry will be used, including its operative center in the town of Montana, Northwest Bulgaria.” This centre won’t operate on certain cases, it will only train HR and will prepare strategic documents and tools that will be used by NATO member-states. National institutions will perform the operative tasks – these are the interior ministry and Civic Protection, according to Bulgaria’s legislation,” the deputy pm said and added:

“The Bulgarian state copes with crises and we can provide many experts in the area. The fact that NATO has opted for the establishment of such a centre on Bulgarian territory means that they do appreciate our experts. This opportunity, given to us to train people from other countries and NATO partners proves the capacity of our team that can build up a useful Euro-Atlantic institution together with the states donors.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev