Bulgaria’s President Radev Met with Russia’s Prime Minister Medvedev

Following a meeting with Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on 21^st of May, Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev described his visit to Russia as breakthrough in relations. He pointed out that this is the first meeting at the highest level after a long break. He urged the Bulgarian government to use the positive momentum of his visit to Russia for the implementation of projects of mutual interest. President Radev urged for work to be done for a direct gas connection between Bulgaria and Russia. Dmitry Medvedev believes that the visit will bring bilateral relations to a new level and also expects a visit by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov soon.

As a result of your visit, I hope we will move our relations to a different level. The Bulgarian and Russian people are connected by friendship and spiritual closeness, but it is necessary to intensify trade and economic activity as the trade of goods decreases and needs to be given greater dynamics of relations. I soon expect Prime Minister Borisov to visit Russia, Medvedev said.

Active political dialogue is an important condition for results in all other areas of mutual interest, said Rumen Radev. It is widely believed that the two countries have huge potential in trade, economic and energy relations.

Radev further said that in the recent weeks, the Bulgarian government “has emerged from lethargy” with regard to energy projects with Russian participation. You know that there are already announcements for the restart of Belene Nuclear Power Plant Project, which implies Russian participation.

President Radev called on governments of Bulgaria and Russia, together with the European Commission, to re-discuss the possibility of direct supplies of Russian gas to Bulgaria.

Rumen Radev and Dmitry Medvedev did not discuss sanctions against Russia. But the Bulgarian President stressed that sanctions should not be a reason to freeze relations.

Rumen Radev: You know my opinion about the sanctions. But this is a matter of the competence of the European Council, where Bulgaria is represented by the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Medvedev has committed that in the autumn, the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation will hold the sitting, which was previously postponed, to discuss all specific projects.

Tomorrow, 22nd of May, in Sochi, President Rumen Radev will meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.