site.btaPresidents of Bulgaria, Serbia Discuss Transport and Energy Connections Between Their Countries

Presidents of Bulgaria, Serbia Discuss Transport and Energy Connections Between Their Countries


Belgrade, March 12 (BTA correspondent Anelia Tsvetkova) - The
connection of transport and energy networks of Bulgaria and
Serbia and modern infrastructure were highlighted at a news
conference that Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev held
jointly with Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic on the first
day of his two-day official visit to Belgrade.

Plevneliev said that the implementation of the project for
pan-European transport corridor 10 and building a motorway
between Sofia and Nis are of strategic importance on a national,
regional and European level.

The Bulgarian head of state said that his country has always
been supportive of the South Stream pipeline project in keeping
with the EU rules. He added that Bulgaria is engaged in
preparatory work on the project and is ready to commence real
construction provided that the EU and Russia come to an
agreement on the observation of the EU legislation.

Plevneliev underscored the importance of building a
Bulgaria-Serbia gas interconnection and said that it would
enhance the security of energy supplies of the two countries and
the whole region. "Each country in the region has the right to
buy gas at competitive prices and to have access to
alternative suppliers," he added.

He further spoke of the importance to focus efforts on building
a regional market for gas and electricity to ensure
diversification and competitive prices.

Plevneliev reiterated Bulgaria's support for the EU accession of
Serbia and the countries in the Western Balkans based on shared
European values and goodneighbourliness. He vowed his country's
readiness to share its experience from the accession process.

Other projects of importance between the two countries which the
President singled out in his remarks include the building of
new border crossings at Bankia-Petacinci and Novi Korito-Salas.

Plevneliev and Nikolic also discussed the situation of the
Bulgarian national minority in Serbia and matters of education,
religious affiliation and information in the mother tongue
language.

The Serbian President said the Bulgarian national minority can
be taught in its mother tongue at kindergartens and at primary
school, and that there is also a Bulgarian language group at the
Faculty of Philology. The problem with the availability of
Bulgarian-language textbooks has also been resolved and
information in Bulgarian will be provided.

Bulgaria is ready to cooperate with Serbian institutions and
also try to find mechanisms for attracting additional
investments and promoting enterprise in the border regions and
between the two countries, Plevneliev said.

The requested extradition of Bulgarian banker and businessman
Tsvetan Vassilev was also raised at the news conference.
Tsvetanov is the majority owner of the failed Bulgarian
Corpbank, is currently in Serbia where he has significant
business interests, including the Peracin glass factory, and
Bulgaria wants him extradited to be probed for his role in the
Corpbank bank failure. A Serbian court of second instance has
recently turned down the extradition application.

Nikolic said he had visited the glass factory in Paracin and had
seen its new production line. According to Serbian laws,
Vassilev has not done anything wrong in Serbia and should be
held liable where he is responsible for wrongdoing, in terms of
investments or otherwise as is the case in Bulgaria, the
Serbian President said. He added that under the bilateral
agreement for extradition, Serbia has to extradite a foreign
citizen to his/her own country after a judgment by a Serbian
court.

Plevneliev expressed hope that the Serbian court will make a
responsible, independent and competent decision on the case.

Also on Thursday, President Plevneliev met with Serbian Prime
Minister Alexander Vucic and Parliament leader Maja
Gojkovic.