site.btaJanuary 17, 2008: Russia's President Putin Arrives on Two-Day Official Visit to Bulgaria

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin arrived on a two-day visit to Sofia at the invitation of his Bulgaria counterpart, Georgi Purvanov, on January 17, 2008. This was Putin's second visit to this country since his March 2003 stopover.

The visit coincided with the 130th anniversary of Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule, an event achieved with the significant support of Russia during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). This added symbolic weight to Putin's presence in Sofia.

One of the major highlights of Putin's visit was the signing of an agreement related to the South Stream natural gas pipeline project. The pipeline was intended to transport Russian natural gas to Europe through Bulgaria, bypassing Ukraine and reducing transit risks. An agreement was also signed concerning the establishment of an international company in charge of the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline. The pipeline was designed to transport Russian and Caspian oil from the Bulgarian port of Burgas to Alexandroupolis in Greece, bypassing the busy Bosphorus Strait. Another major agreement signed during the visit concerned the building of the Belene N-plant project.

All three projects were later abandoned.

On the day of Putin’s arrival, the Anna Politkovskaya Association for Freedom of Speech gathered at Eagles' Bridge in central Sofia to protest his visit. Some hundred people booed the Russian President's cortege while it passed through Eagles' Bridge, waving flags of Bulgaria and the EU and raising slogans including  "Putin - KGB - Oligarch", "Bulgaria Is State Security  Oligarchy!", and "Freedom First, Deals with 'Big Brothers'  Later". At another location in central Sofia, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria held a another rally to protest Putin's arrival.

Following is the BTA External Service news item of January 17, 2008 on President Putin's arrival in Sofia:

President Putin Arrives on Official Visit 

Sofia, January 17 (BTA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Sofia Thursday evening on a two-day official visit at  the invitation of  his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Purvanov. He is here for the start of year-long festivities marking the  130th anniversary of Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule and for the signing of a number of agreements, including several in  the energy sector. 

This is President  Putin's second visit to this country since  his March 2003 stopover. 

At Sofia Airport Putin was met by Deputy Prime Minister and  Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin, the Chef de Cabinet of the  President Nikola Kolev, advisers of the head of state, the  Ambassador of Russia to Bulgaria Anatoly Potapov and the  Bulgarian Ambassador in Moscow Plamen Grozdanov.

The official welcome ceremony is Friday morning.
    
The wife of the Russian President, Lyudmila Putina, did not  arrive with him. According to diplomatic sources, last moment  health reasons prevented her from accompanying him on his visit  to Bulgaria.
    
A gala concert at Sofia's National Palace of Culture will open  the President's stay, at which eminent Russian  performers will  unveil Bulgaria's Year of Russia.

A one-to-one meeting of the two heads of state will then take   place, followed by plenary discussions between their official   delegations. A joint press conference will follow. President Putin will then   meet with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and with National   Assembly Chairman Georgi Pirinski. 

Putin is accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitriy   Medvedev, Presidential Aide Sergei Prikhodko, Foreign Minister   Sergey Lavrov, Transport Minister Igor Levitin, Industry and  Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko,  Sergei Kiriyenko, head of  the Russian Federal Atomic Energy  Agency (Rosatom), Moscow  Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and Mikhail  Margelov, Chairman of the  Federation Council Foreign Affairs  Committee. 

ITAR-TASS has reported that Russian business is represented by  Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Rosneft President Sergey  Bogdanchikov, LUKOIL President  Vagit Alekperov, Stroytransgas  President Victor Lorents,  AtomStroyExport President Sergey  Shmatko, Mechel mining and  metals company CEO Igor Zyuzin and  Transneft Vice President  Mikhail Barkov.