Public Lecture of The Minister of Defence Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Tagarev

The Rector of UNWE Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev opened the public lecture delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Tagarev, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria. Prof. Stattev announced the signing of a Framework Agreement for Cooperation between the UNWE and the Ministry of Defence and presenting the document he pointed out that it was a logical continuation of the recent extremely useful cooperation between both institutions. At the meeting at the Large Conference Hall attended the Vice-Rectors of the university, Deans, lecturers and students from the Economics of Defence and Security Department.

The Rector Prof. Statty Stattev (on the left) and the Minister Todor Tagarev after the signing of the Framework Agreement for Cooperation

Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) introduced the Minister of Defence from the interim government determining his curriculum vitae as respective. He outlined that Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Tagarev has become a member of the NATO Research and Technology Board and national representative at its panel on System Analyses and Researches. Prof. Stattev also emphasized on his considerable experience in the management and participation in international and national interdisciplinary studies on the issues of security and defence and pointed out that his research and scientific-applied publications were translated in 12 languages. The Rector examined the cooperation of the university with the military ministry over the years as he mentioned about the interaction in important joint scientific events, provision of students internships and work for graduates from the UNWE, etc. A lot of our alumni had occupied key positions at the Ministry of Defence, outlined Prof. Stattev reminding that Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, Head of the National and Regional Security Department has become a member of the new Public Council on Defence Policy.

At the opening of the public lecture (from the left to the right): Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Head of the National and Regional Security Department, Minister Todor Tagarev, Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Hristo Parvanov, Dean of the Economics of Infrastructure Faculty, Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Valentin Kisimov, Vice-Rector of UNWE

In his lecture on Priorities of the Defence Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria the minister acquainted the audience with the major principles of Bulgarian defence politics. He examined the criteria for creation of declaration for future decisions as he outlined the defence security adequacy, its adoption by the international responsibility and society point of view, its implementing according to the resources, modern technologies, etc. Assoc. Prof. Tagarev was explicit that the defence sphere should be public because there were lots of interested parties in the policy conducted in that field.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Tagarev

The Minister also outlined the challenges in the defence field emphasizing on the fact that threats had no limits in the present days and the danger could become reality even by the distance. He also pointed out that the future and life have already required cyber-security and cyber-defence. We don`t have at disposal the traditional branches, we work in a “grey field” and there is no boarder line between the internal and external threat, said Assoc. Prof. Tagarev. He paid attention to the priorities in the defence as he outlined the counterproductive public speaking in style such as “we and NATO”, etc. A lot of people haven`t understood yet that the NATO – this we are, pointed out the Minister as he examined the NATO projects for intelligent defence, provision of cohesion in the state government, implementation of informed and critical public understanding about the defence. I hope you will soon become part of this dialogue and you will find professional realization in the field of defence, addressed to students at the hall Assoc. Prof. Tagarev.

Students from the National and Regional Security Department