/ world today news/ The most important message we heard about us Bulgarians during the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry is that we were praised for making Turkey a distributor of Russian gas instead of us being the center of Russian gas for the EU.
Independent MP Velizar Enchev stated this to bTV. I think that the EU already realizes that it made a fatal geopolitical and financial-economic mistake, gifting a country that is not a member of the EU, but a country that should not have a chance to enter the EU, as it is foreign to our civilization norms – Turkey, that Turkey has become a decisive factor in the energy policy of the EU, added Enchev.
John Kerry praised us for failing, not only this government, but the previous governments, especially Oresharski’s, and the previous ones as well, we failed a geopolitical project from which Bulgaria would have benefited immensely, if only from the transit fees . So this visit for me is a visit of condescension, a visit-inspection, a visit during which the vassals were praised for their vassal policy, which is not in their interest, emphasized Enchev.
He added that he does not see any danger from Russian influence in Bulgaria, except that he agrees with South Stream’s critics who claim that Russian gas for Bulgaria has the highest price. “These experts are right, and during the previous negotiations many years ago for Russian gas, something abnormal happened – we paid the highest price for these gas supplies. But this is a problem of the corrupt Bulgarian political class, not a problem of Bulgarian geopolitics. which has an interest and is very interested in not only being a recipient of Russian gas, but also being a transit country for Russian gas. Well, we’ve missed that historic opportunity and now we’re going to buy the gas from Turkey, instead of receiving it directly through the sea. So, Erdogan has reason to be satisfied with the Bulgarian allies, that is the quadruple coalition at the moment in Bulgaria, whose representatives stood in the plenary hall and proudly stated that “We are happy that “South Stream” failed. This is a shame for this Bulgarian political class,” assured Enchev.
He said that if the signed agreement between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin is to be believed, such a contract has definitely been signed, the only disagreements really appeared 48 hours ago about the price of gas supplies to Turkey, which is a normal procedure, but I have no reason not to I believe the presidents of Russia and Turkey that this is a serious contract that will be implemented and will be implemented, notice, up to the Turkish-Greek border, since they obviously want to bypass Bulgaria, that is, for the gas to eventually pass through Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Austria. That is, Bulgaria is currently emerging not only as a losing country, but also as a humiliated country from the EU,” emphasized Velizar Enchev.
#vassals #praised #vassal #policy
Given Dr. Petrova’s analysis of the broader geopolitical implications of Turkey’s emerging role as a gas hub, what specific steps could Bulgaria take to mitigate potential negative impacts and capitalize on any potential opportunities?
## Interview: Bulgaria’s Geopolitical Positioning and the “Turkey Stream” Gas Pipeline
**Guests:**
* **Velizar Enchev:** Bulgarian Independent MP
* **Dr. Elena Petrova:** Energy Policy Analyst, Sofia University
**Host:** Welcome to World Today News. Today we delve into the geopolitical implications of recent developments in the European energy landscape, specifically focusing on Bulgaria’s role and the controversial “Turkey Stream” gas pipeline. Joining us are Bulgarian Independent MP Velizar Enchev and Dr. Elena Petrova, an energy policy analyst at Sofia University.
**Section 1: Lost Opportunity – Reflecting on South Stream**
**Host:** Mr. Enchev, you’ve been very vocal about Bulgaria’s perceived strategic blunder in failing to secure the South Stream pipeline. Can you elaborate on why you believe this was a missed opportunity for Bulgaria and what potential benefits it could have offered?
**Enchev Response:** [Provides detailed explanation of his viewpoint, referencing potential transit fees, geopolitical leverage, and economic benefits.]
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, what is your take on the South Stream project? Do you agree with Mr. Enchev’s assessment of the potential benefits?
**Petrova Response:** [Offers nuanced perspective, potentially discussing the geopolitical complexities, economic realities, and potential risks associated with South Stream.]
**Section 2: The Rise of Turkey – A New Gas Hub?**
**Host:** The Turkish Stream pipeline seems poised to become a key player in the European energy landscape. Mr. Enchev, you’ve expressed concern about Bulgaria being bypassed in this new energy architecture. What are the implications of Turkey becoming a major gas hub, potentially at Bulgaria’s expense?
**Enchev Response:** [Expands on concerns about Bulgarian economic interests, geopolitical influence, and potential dependence on Turkey.]
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, how do you see Turkey’s role evolving in the European energy market? Do you see potential advantages or risks for the region as a whole?
**Petrova Response:** [Analyzes Turkey’s position from a broader geopolitical and economic perspective, exploring potential impacts on regional stability and energy security.]
**Section 3: The Price of Gas – A Question of Dependence**
**Host:** Mr. Enchev has criticized Bulgarian energy policy for leading to the country paying the highest price for Russian gas. How do you see this issue of gas pricing impacting Bulgaria’s geopolitical positioning and its relationship with Russia?
**Enchev Response:** [Elaborates on his argument regarding corrupt practices within the Bulgarian political class, questioning motivations behind high gas prices and their impact on national interests.]
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, what factors contribute to varying gas prices across different European nations? Is there evidence to support Mr. Enchev’s claim regarding Bulgaria’s high gas prices?
**Petrova Response:** [Provides a balanced analysis of gas pricing mechanisms, highlighting market forces, geopolitical considerations, and contractual agreements.]
**Host:** looking ahead, where do you see Bulgaria fitting into the evolving European energy landscape?
Be sure to frame follow-up questions based on the guests’ responses, encouraging further discussion and exploration of different viewpoints. The aim is to facilitate a balanced and insightful conversation about the complex geopolitical and economic challenges facing Bulgaria in the context of the evolving European energy landscape.
