site.btaPM Borissov, European Council President Tusk Discuss Belene Arbitration, Migration, Brexit Referendum in Phone Talk

PM Borissov, European Council President Tusk Discuss Belene Arbitration, Migration, Brexit Referendum in Phone Talk

Sofia, June 22 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister and European Council President Donald Tusk had a conversation by telephone, the Government Information Service said on Wednesday.

Borissov familiarized Tusk with the Geneva Arbitration Court award in a commercial dispute between Bulgaria's National Electricity Company (NEK) and Russia's AtomStroyExport over the Belene N-plant project and informed him of a letter that Bulgaria will send to the European Commission. The Prime Minister pointed out that he counts on Tusk's assistance for an opinion on the actions that the Government will take from now on so as to protect the national interest to a maximum extent in line with EU energy policy.

Borissov and Tusk also exchanged views on the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of EU Member States' heads of State and government, including migration and the situation after the conclusion of the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement. Bulgaria has already signed a bilateral Implementing Protocol to that Agreement, and this Protocol will be endorsed at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting. The PM pointed out that despite Turkey's last week refusal to readmit persons who had illegally crossed into Bulgarian territory, the situation at the border is under control and Bulgaria has taken all measures necessary to safeguard its security.

Another topic of the telephone conversation was Thursday's referendum on the United Kingdom European Union membership. Borissov noted that Bulgaria respects the sovereign right of every people to determine its own destiny and trusts Britons' wisdom. "Bulgaria is convinced that Britain's continued membership in the EU is in the common interest and, precisely as part of the efforts to encourage a remain vote at the referendum, we supported the new settlement for the UK in February," the PM said.