site.btaBSP Leader Mikov: Turkey's Behaviour Goes Beyond Good-neighbour Relations

BSP Leader Mikov: Turkey's Behaviour Goes Beyond Good-neighbour Relations

Sofia, January 5 (BTA) - Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Chair Mihail Mikov refused to comment the Movement for Rights and Freedoms' (MRF) internal party processes, but said that, in the context of national security, the behaviour of neighbouring Turkey and its politicians goes beyond the good-neighbour relations. Bulgarian politicians, elected by the Bulgarian citizens, do not affirm Bulgaria's national interests and reputation with their actions.

BSP's leadership gave their first news conference for this year, during which they outlined their priorities and commented current political matters.

Mikov said his party would be very interested to follow the clearing up of MRF's profile as a political force in opposition, which represents the interest of its voters. This is still an open question for the socialists, he added. "I believe the bigger question is where does Bulgaria stand today - a little bit in the shadow of its very powerful neighbour with a political and national doctrine that differs from European values," Mikov noted.

It is yet to be seen how those MPs, who were excluded or left the MRF, will position themselves in the Bulgarian Parliament, the socialists' leader said. He also brought up the question about the place of the Bulgarian security services in this matter.

Mikov described the analysis of MRF's Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan about developments in Europe and across the world as a good one. "Many times we have repeated some of these conclusions, just as we have repeated many times that Bulgaria can not lose its geostrategic advantage in the Balkans as the place through which natural gas is transmitted from East to West. Now I am realizing that this insight has dawned on the Prime Minister as well," Mikov said.

BSP will support the implementation of a natural gas project through Bulgaria, he said. In addition to that, the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project is becoming ever more topical and necessary in light of the situation in the Middle East, the deteriorated relations between Russia and Turkey, and above all - in light of Bulgarian interests, Mikov said.

He outlined education, health care, more just taxation and Election Code, amendments as his party's priorities for the new political season.