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.

Another opposition party in Parliament, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), demanded that Borissov inform the National Assembly about the results from his Moscow visit. MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi said that "in a parliamentary republic it is good whereby the Prime Minister inform the MPs about the results
 of the meeting so that we can comment facts. We have only fragmentary information from the media".

Reacting to the criticism from the opposition, GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said, also speaking to reporters in Parliament, that "time will tell whether PM Borissov's visit to Russia was successful or not".

Tsvetanov said that "Borissov strives to protect the national interest while at the same time does not want to go outside the frame of the common position of the EU".

Tsvetanov said that the political debate on lifting the moratorium on the Belene N-plant will probably take place next week or the week after. He said that the cabinet needs to be provided with an opportunity to hold talks with potential buyers.

Commenting MRF's demand that the Prime Minister inform Parliament of the results of his Moscow visit, Tsvenatov said that it will be completely sufficient for the Energy Minister to tell about the progress made and the outcome of the talks that were held.

Floor leader of the power-sharing coalition of the United Patriots Volen Siderov told reporters in Parliament that Borissov's visit to Moscow was "useful for Bulgaria".

"President Rumen Radev was in Moscow before the Prime Minister but Radev has other powers. Borissov as head of the executive power could press ahead with questions and topics that were raised at the meetings," Siderov said. He noted that the important topic was the opportunity for Bulgaria to be a country with a gas pipeline from Russia. "I think that this is possible to happen," Siderov said.

In his opinion, the fact that Borissov was received by Putin "is a step ahead". "More so after Borissov showed that he not always bows to the external pressure to maintain hostile relations with Russia, and I mean the Skripal case," Siderov said.

Asked whether the moratorium on the Belene N-plant project needs to be lifted, Siderov said that "such a decision is long overdue".