The Bulgarian Parliament today unanimously supported a proposal to dismantle Soviet-made medium-range missiles by October 2002 (see GSN, Dec. 7), according to the Associated Press (Associated Press, Dec. 19).

The parliament backed an Oct. 30 deadline for the complete dismantlement of Bulgaria’s arsenal of SS-23 missiles, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline.  “The deadline for the destruction of the missiles is desirable, but not binding,” said Stanimir Ilchev, head of the parliamentary commission on foreign policy, defense and security (RFE/RL Newsline, Dec. 18).

Bulgaria will receive financial and technical aid for the plan, Ilchev said.  “No hard figures are available as of yet,” he said.  “That will be specified during the negotiations that have been initiated.”

The clauses in the SS-23 contract that prohibit its resale, donation or transfer to another country will be honored, Ilchev said.  The missiles will be scrapped within Bulgaria and with all necessary environmental and other precautions, he said (Sofia BTA, Dec. 17, in FBIS-EEU, Dec. 17).

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