site.btaPM Borissov: 'Dialogue with President Has Been Excellent So Far'

Varna, October 4 (BTA) - "So far we have had an excellent dialogue with President Rumen Radev," Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said at a news conference in Varna on Wednesday. He voiced hope that relations will continue to develop in the same way in the future.

The Prime Minister underscored that his behaviour is responsible and that neither he, nor his ministers have undermined President Radev's prestige.

The statement comes following President Radev's words on Monday that if GERB want a battle against him, they will get one, saying also that the tension between him and the governing GERB party is a fact.

Borissov also said that the presidential institution is always represented to the government's meetings. "We have discussions with the President; he briefed me on his visit to the USA; then we discussed several more issues," Borissov also said. In his opinion the relations are excellent and he has not remained with the impression that someone is at war with the government.

The Prime Minister appealed for more tact and vigilance because, as he put it, "everything is very fragile". He said that he cannot influence the war being waged in Parliament with the party having nominated the President. In his view the people close to the President attack more frequently GERB than vice versa.

Taking a question, the Prime Minister said that "the first violins" - the President and he - sing the same tune, while the backing vocals, Elena Yoncheva /BSP/, Kornelia Ninova /BSP leader/ and Tsvetan Tsvetanov /GERB/ have a different role. Borissov was obviously referring to the President's statement two days ago that the Prime Minister should "rein in his backing vocals" in Parliament. Borissov appealed, however, that the developments in the National Assembly would not affect his relations with the President.

Commenting on GERB MP Delyan Dobrev's resignation, Borissov said that this is an honourable act. In his opinion, Dobrev is an undisputed professional who is esteemed in his hometown and, therefore, the party's reaction to his resignation is understandable. The Prime Minister considers that Haskovo Mayor should also step down. He added that "he does not understand the Mayor insolence" referring to his reluctance to resign.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) repeatedly accused Dobrev of nepotism following an investigation by journalist and Socialist MP Elena Yoncheva.

A conflict between Haskovo Mayor Dobri Belivanov and GERB, the party which nominated him, came to a head days ago when GERB stripped the mayor of their political confidence. Two deputy mayors and key municipal servants also tendered their resignations in disagreement with Belivanov's governance. For his part, Belivanov accused GERB MP Delyan Dobrev of creating tension and influence peddling. The scandal has exposed a web of cronyism and dependencies.

The Prime Minister also said that a meeting including representatives of the World Bank, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania will be held in December. The Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnector will be launched by the year's end, Borissov commented. He noted that some of the largest world investors show interest in the Balkan gas hub project.

The country's GDP is 100 billion euro. Since the beginning of the year the incomes have increased by 11 per cent and the unemployment is 5 per cent. Given this rate of unemployment, there is no workforce for the business, said he.