Bulgaria’s PM: We seek to pursue a balanced policy towards Russia

Bulgaria strives to pursue a balanced policy towards Russia, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said during Question Time in Parliament on September 20.

Answering a question from Anton Kutev, an MP for the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party, Borissov said that Bulgaria had good relations with Russia and the only unresolved problem was lack of agreement about weapons licences. Bulgaria continues to negotiate on this issue, Borissov added.

The PM also commented on the two big energy projects: Belene Nuclear Power Plant and TurkStream. In relation to the Russian-linked Belene nuclear power station project, he said that the project had failed years ago because of a lack of clarity about its cost. But the situation was different now, with 12 companies applying for the construction of Belene, Borissov said.

He said that without Russia it would not be possible to finish the plant because the reactor supplier for it is the Russian state-owned Rosatom.

Borissov also explained that construction of the Bulgarian part of Turkish Stream has already begun. The project will not be completed by New Year's, when the transit of natural gas through Russia is expected to stop, but Serbia itself will not be ready by then.

The PM also commented on Europe's sanctions on Russia. According to him, it is not possible for Bulgaria to interfere with the position of the European Union.