U.S. Air Forces would join the protection of the Bulgarian airspace for about a week, the Defense Ministry of Bulgaria announced on Wednesday.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev said in a press briefing a decision was adopted at Wednesday's sitting of the cabinet on joint air policing, joint protection of the airspace with the United States.

The mission would run from Sept. 9 to 16 this year. Two fighters of U.S. Air Forces would join the mission in cooperation with Bulgarian Air Forces, said Nenchev.

The expenses on the whole mission would be covered by the United States. Bulgaria did not have to pay anything under the contract, Nenchev added.

He said the mission was an initiative adopted by NATO. The joint protection of the Bulgarian airspace with Poland was still an option.

Bulgaria, a Balkan country in the southeastern Europe, joined NATO in 2004.

Source : XINHUA