/ world today news/ Prime Minister Boyko Borisov asked for support from the USA so that Bulgaria is not bypassed in the transit of gas from Russia to Western Europe. According to him, this will happen with the construction of the so-called “Turkish Stream”.
“I really rely on Bozhidar Lukarski and Temenuzka Petkova that they will find an option. I really want diversification. We fought hard for Nabucco. If he existed, we wouldn’t have a South Stream problem. This was said by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, who spoke to the American Chamber of Commerce about the government’s priorities in 2015.
Russia decided to invest in this project at the expense of South Stream, which was supposed to pass through Bulgaria. In front of representatives of American business, members of the American Chamber of Commerce, and the ambassador of the country, Marcy Rees, Borisov stated that “we have real problems with the fact that Turkey agreed to do Turkish Stream”.
“Even if it passes through Turkey, it is not an alternative flow. But then Bulgaria will be punished and will not take the transit fees. We rely on the EC through its interconnectors to develop the gas hub. We only have oral statements that it is stopped “South flow,” Borisov also said, quoted by “Focus”.
“We have real problems with the fact that Turkey agreed to build Turkish Stream,” said Borisov, quoted by Mediapool. He recalled that the current and previous governments decided to comply with European energy rules, according to which “South Stream” could not be carried out in the version offered by Russia. This led to the statement of President Vladimir Putin that he was abandoning the project because of Bulgaria and the opposition of the EU.
“Turkish Stream” can isolate Bulgaria and its gas transmission system, in which BGN 25 billion has been invested. Can a NATO country help Bulgaria be bypassed?! I think it can’t. We must not allow this to happen, and this must be a priority of the joint energy commission with the US, which we agreed upon during the visit of Secretary of State John Kerry. We have proven that Bulgaria is one of the most stable Euro-Atlantic partners,” said the prime minister. He added that he hopes our NATO partners from Turkey and Greece “will not take advantage of the desire to punish Bulgaria.”
“Otherwise, they are not our real partners. Things are black or white here, there is no gray,” warned the Prime Minister.
According to him, if Bulgaria does not receive support from its NATO partners, “it will not be fair to the Bulgarians to explain to them that this is our civilized choice, and that our projects fall one by one and we lose money”. “As the Americans say, tango is for two. How can you say you’re dancing when you’re constantly being carried under your arm,” Borisov described the situation.
Borisov was outraged that Turkey “will build 4 nuclear Russian reactors”, and Bulgaria abandoned the Russian project for the Belene NPP. “Can NATO Turkey do it, and NATO Bulgaria not?!” Borisov asked. It was his previous government that decided to end the project in 2012. He recalled that the Russian “Atomstroyexport” filed a claim against Bulgaria in an international arbitration court. According to the government, the Russian company is claiming EUR 860 million in compensation.
In addition to the USA and NATO, Borissov also addressed Russia with a message. He told the American business representatives that Bulgarians love Russia, which, however, had to lower the price at which it sells gas to Bulgaria.
“Bulgaria pays the most expensive gas in Europe. We have no problems with the Russian people. On the contrary, the Bulgarians love Russia. If we are so kind to Russia, let them give us the gas at the price they give to Germany. When it comes to such huge money from Bulgaria, we will defend our interest, even if we fall from power,” declared Borisov.
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