Bulgaria denies missile shield talks

Bulgaria has not held official talks with the United States on hosting parts of a U.S. missile shield, the Bulgarian MFA said on Friday. The statement came after Russia demanded an explanation from Sofia on the issue. Bulgaria denies missile shield talks "There have been no official talks with the U.S. on this issue," Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Vesela Cherneva said. Last week, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said the U.S. would hold preliminary talks with Bulgaria, adding Sofia should show solidarity to the collective European security. The foreign ministry spokeswoman said that Bulgaria, a NATO and EU member, had so far not received an official invitation for talks. Sofia will continue to stick to NATO's joint approach in taking decisions on security and defense, the ministry said. U.S. President Barack Obama has revamped the U.S. missile defense approach since he scrapped a Bush-era plan for a radar site and interceptor rockets in the Czech Republic and Poland. Moscow has repeatedly demanded clarification from Washington, voicing surprise at Romania's offer this month to host interceptor missiles. U.S. Ambassador to Sofia James Warlick stated in a public appearance that Washington had already had unofficial talks with Bulgaria about the issue. He said that initial talks were held with other countries as well, and that he was hoping for a positive result of the negotiations with the Bulgarian government, Reuters reported. However, U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary for International Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that Washington had not asked Bulgaria to host any missile shield elements so far. He said Moscow knew last year Romania was a possible site and reiterated the missile defense plans were not aimed at Russia but instead focused on countries such as Iran. Russia sees the plan as a threat to its own nuclear arsenal and has bristled at what it sees as US meddling in its sphere of influence. Borisov said earlier this week that both Moscow and Washington played their own games at Bulgaria's expense. "So many opinions were voiced by the two sides without even consulting us. I will just pretend that I have heard neither the Russians nor the Americans," he said.

Bulgaria denies missile shield talks

"There have been no official talks with the U.S. on this issue," Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Vesela Cherneva said.

Last week, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said the U.S. would hold preliminary talks with Bulgaria, adding Sofia should show solidarity to the collective European security.

The foreign ministry spokeswoman said that Bulgaria, a NATO and EU member, had so far not received an official invitation for talks. Sofia will continue to stick to NATO's joint approach in taking decisions on security and defense, the ministry said.

U.S. President Barack Obama has revamped the U.S. missile defense approach since he scrapped a Bush-era plan for a radar site and interceptor rockets in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded clarification from Washington, voicing surprise at Romania's offer this month to host interceptor missiles.

U.S. Ambassador to Sofia James Warlick stated in a public appearance that Washington had already had unofficial talks with Bulgaria about the issue.

He said that initial talks were held with other countries as well, and that he was hoping for a positive result of the negotiations with the Bulgarian government, Reuters reported.

However, U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary for International Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that Washington had not asked Bulgaria to host any missile shield elements so far.

He said Moscow knew last year Romania was a possible site and reiterated the missile defense plans were not aimed at Russia but instead focused on countries such as Iran.

Russia sees the plan as a threat to its own nuclear arsenal and has bristled at what it sees as US meddling in its sphere of influence.

Borisov said earlier this week that both Moscow and Washington played their own games at Bulgaria's expense.

"So many opinions were voiced by the two sides without even consulting us. I will just pretend that I have heard neither the Russians nor the Americans," he said.