site.btaOpposition Socialist Leader: PM's Visit to Russia Good Sign, but Bulgarian Socialist Party Sees No Concrete Outcome for Bulgaria

Sofia, May 31 (BTA) - Leader of the opposition Bulgaria Socialist Party (BSP) Kornelia Ninova said Thursday, speaking to reporters in Parliament, that Wednesday's visit of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to Moscow is a good sign but that the BSP sees no concrete outcome from it for Bulgaria.

Ninova said it was good that both Borissov and President Rumen Radev visited Moscow as the visits thawed the relations between Bulgaria and Russia. However, the BSP expected concrete results from Borissov's meetings in Russia.

"Borissov tried to correct his own mistakes from scrapping the [South Stream gas pipeline and Belene nuclear power plant] projects but without success. He apologized and asked forgiveness from Russian President Vladimir Putin but for the BSP it is more important that he apologize to the Bulgarian people for the lost profit for this country's national interest," Ninova said.

The BSP hopes that the dialogue between Bulgaria and Russia will continue on all political, diplomatic and economic levels.

Ninova said that Borissov went to Moscow to ensure supply of natural gas for the Balkan hub "but nothing of the kind happened". "The freezing of the South Stream gas pipeline and Belene nuclear power plant projects apparently cost a lot to Bulgaria's national interest, as shown by Borissov's talks. No concrete outcome arose from them either in respect of Belene or in respect of the Balkan hub," Ninova said.