site.bta Prime Minister Borissov Reacts to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's Comments on AmCham Statement

Prime Minister Borissov Reacts to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's Comments on AmCham Statement

Sofia, October 14 (BTA) - Speaking to journalists on Wednesday
emerging form a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in
Istanbul, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov reacted to the comments
made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Russian TV, in
 which he criticized Borissov's statement during a Monday
conference in Sofia, organized by the American Chamber of
Commerce in Bulgaria (AmCham).

Lavrov told Russia's NTV, quoted by the TASS News Agency, that
Borissov should be ashamed before the voters and the country by
his statements that the Russian energy projects were stopped in
the interest of the United States. Lavrov noted he was perplexed
 when he read that Borissov said that Bulgaria has given up the
implementation of energy projects with Russia, including South
Stream, in the interest of the US.
 
Speaking at a Monday AmCham conference, Borissov said referring
to the US: "We can't be together only when we have lunch. We
must be together in tackling the problems, too. We are one,
friends, or else I wouldn't be talking to you that way. We
recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. We stopped
three large Russian projects. We stopped Russian planes from
overflying the [Black] Sea. If this is not partnership, I wonder
 what it is." The Bulgarian Prime Minister was referring to the
abandoned Belene N-plant, the Bourgas-Alexandropo oil pipeline
and the South Stream gas pipeline project.

Commenting on Lavrov's interview, Borissov said: "I would also
address them [the Russians] - aren't they ashamed before their
brothers, their best friends, Slavs, Orthodox Bulgarians, to
charge us the highest prices for natural gas in Europe for
decades on end. With all due respect, they should listen more
carefully to what I have said." He explained that his statement
was interpreted in Bulgaria as scolding the Americans, but
differently in Russia. According to him, everyone can use the
statement as they please for their own domestic consumption. "I
am honest before the voters and they have elected me precisely
for that - when there is something wrong, I say it, regardless
of whether it is about Americans or Russians," Borissov said.

"It does not do him credit, but I value his opinion, because he
is an exceptionally good diplomat. He said a while back that we
and Albania will share Macedonia, so he is not always right. In
my statement, I merely gave an example that the American
businesses must set an example and no corruption schemes must be
 allowed," Borissov further noted.

***

In a facebook post, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader
Mihail Mikov said that Borissov's words about the projects and
partnerships are shame for Bulgaria. He described Borissov
AmCham statement on Monday as "an insult to all Bulgarians".

Mikov said that he does not understand when Borissov is being
sincere - when he tries to ingratiate himself with the US, or
with Russia. "Regardless of whom he is trying to ingratiate
himself with, it is clear that, in this confusion, the Bulgarian
 people's interest is obviously placed on the back burner," the
BSP leader said.