Bulgaria ready to join US anti-missile defence shield

Bulgarian Defence Minister Anyu Angelov said on Saturday (July 3rd) that Bulgaria is ready to join the US anti-missile defence shield in Europe. “It was important for us to talk to our American partners about how Bulgaria can contribute to the setting up of a missile defence in Europe. In addition to enjoying security from the shield, our country must also contribute to it,” Angelov told state radio upon his return from a week-long visit to the US. He said the first stage of setting up the missile defence has to be completed by 2015, and the second — in which Bulgaria will most likely participate — in 2015-2018. The missile defence is expected to be fully operational by 2020.