Bulgaria weighs expanding its Afghanistan mission

Sofia - Bulgaria's new conservative government may broaden its role in Afghanistan to include participation in the European Union's police training mission, Defense Minister Nikolay Mladenov said Monday. Speaking at a security conference in Sofia, Mladenov said although Bulgaria's defense budget for 2010 has been decreased to 1.44 per cent of gross domestic product, the country would continue to finance its foreign missions.

The EU Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL) began in June 2007. Some 400 European law enforcement experts are involved in training Afghanistan's civilian police force.

Bulgaria also has 450 soldiers deployed with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.