site.btaParliament Rejects Draft Resolution on Resumption of South Stream Project

Parliament Rejects Draft Resolution on Resumption of South Stream Project

Sofia, February 3 (BTA) - Parliament Wednesday voted 27-17, with 65 abstentions, to reject a draft resolution on the resumption of the South Stream project moved by Ataka.

During the debate, Ataka leader Volen Siderov said Bulgaria should be proactive and should propose to Russia to resume the gas pipeline project. There are signs that Russia has not given up the project, he said. Certain geopolitical events which took place after its suspension are in Bulgaria's favour. This is a good time to correct the mistakes of the previous governments. In his view, the project would energize "the dormant Bulgarian economy."

Independent MP Velizar Enchev supported the project's resumption.

Tasko Ermenkov MP of BSP-Left Bulgaria said that while he understood Ataka's concern over natural gas supplies, such a project no longer existed. "Talking about a revival of the South Stream project now is extravagant, to say the least. Without an economy, relying only on EU programmes, without building production capacity to generate GDP, we cannot exist as a State," said Ermenkov. He proposed a new draft resolution expanding Bulgaria's opportunities for gas supply and transit.

Peter Slavov MP of the Reformist Bloc said South Stream had not been in Bulgaria's interest and would have imposed a monopoly on gas supply.