Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was interviewed by Bulgarian journal, International Relations, the website of the Foreign Ministry reported.
As Lavrov noted during his interview, he looks forward to expanding practical bilateral cooperation, “Mostly in energy, trade and the economy, all the more so as such cooperation has an enormous potential. The planned Turk Stream gas pipeline opens up broad opportunities for our joint efforts. After it is extended to Bulgaria, the pipeline will enhance its energy security. Considering the unfortunate experience of the South Stream project, it is necessary to obtain solid guarantees from the European Commission that an arbitrary decision by Brussels will not undermine the current plans.”
According to the minister, “Good prospects for broader cooperation are linked with Sofia’s decision to resume construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant. Russia has all the required technology and extensive experience for successfully reviving this project. Today, the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation is studying possible forms of involvement in building the nuclear power plant. In 2017-2018, Rosatom already made it possible to extend the service life of the fifth and sixth reactors of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently the only operating NPP in the country, for a period of 30 years.”
Yet he pointed out that “In 2017, bilateral trade soared by 24%; unfortunately, it increased by just 0.6% last year. Members of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Science and Technological Cooperation discuss prospects for expanding and diversifying Russian-Bulgarian trade. Today, it has become possible to ensure the regular nature of its work. We believe that cooperation between Russian and Bulgarian specialists will make it possible to considerably strengthen trade and economic ties.”