site.btaForeign Minister Mitov about EU Plans to Broaden Sanctions over Ukraine Crisis

118 - POLITICS - BULGARIA - EU - UKRAINE - SANCTIONS

Foreign Minister Mitov about EU Plans to
Broaden Sanctions over
Ukraine Crisis


Brussels, November 17 (BTA correspondent Nickolay Jeliazkov) -
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov spoke to Bulgarian
reporters here about ongoing discussions in the EU on broadening
the sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. Visiting Brussels for a
meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Mitov said that his
colleagues are unanimous that the sanctions should be expanded.
He explained that the restrictions will apply to those who
organized or recognized the elections in Eastern Ukraine, mostly
representatives of the local Russian minority.

Mitov said that consensus exists among the EU foreign ministers
to demand observation of the Minsk agreement. "Ending the
hostilities in Ukraine is the Number One priority, followed by
improvement of the humanitarian situation and exchange of
prisoners, and the life of people should improve," the top
Bulgarian diplomat said.

"The reports about the presence of Russian military and the
arrival of new ones [in Ukraine] does not make us hugely
optimistic. There is a risk for escalation of the conflict," the
Minister said.

He believes the sanctions have so far had an effect on the
Russian rouble and the Russian economy, and investors have
pulled out. "It is a serious blow. The dramatic decrease of oil
prices is having an effect, too," said Mitov.

He was adamant that the EU aid for Ukraine should be tied to
reforms and said that the Ukrainian energy market needs reforms.


Minister Mitov is optimistic that the agreement on gas supplies
that Kiev and Moscow reached under the European Commission
auspices, will be observed.

"The EU needs to build a comprehensive strategy and new policy
in respect to Russia," said Mitov. "Bulgaria wants to see
dialogue with Russia but denying obvious things such as the
presence of Rissian military equipment and forces [in Ukraine]
creates mistrust," he added.

Asked what the Bulgarian position on Russia should be, the
Foreign Minister said Bulgaria should be aware that it belongs
to the Western world. "For decades, we have fought to become a
part of it. Our statehood is based on these [Western] values and
we should clearly say where we stand. We should be able to
re-define our relations with Russia to preclude conflicts. We
have to say clearly where we stand or else our friends will
start having doubts in us," Mitov said. PK/LN/