The situation around Roumyana Zheleva's nomination as Bulgaria's European Commissioner-designate had been unsalvageable, President Georgi Purvanov said in an interview published in Bulgarian-language 24 Chassa daily on January 22 2010.

This was Purvanov's first media appearance in weeks and his first comment on the Zheleva issue.

Zheleva resigned from all of her posts, including as Bulgaria's Foreign Minister, after the highly negative reaction to her January 12 2010 hearing at the European Parliament.

"I don't interfere with the Government's work and I don't think I should," Purvanov said when asked whether Prime Minister Boiko Borissov had asked for his opinion on the Zheleva issue and the Cabinet changes that followed.

"I declared my readiness to support the Government's efforts, but as they say, one can only blame himself for his own mistakes. The situation was beyond salvation," Purvanov said.

"In this respect, the way out could not be found through lobbying in Brussels and we had to assist both the European Commission and the European Parliament in taking their decision on the matter," he said.

Asked about how he felt about Zheleva's performance at the hearing, Purvanov said " My opinion could not be positive. The scandal did not help elevate our national dignity. This whole campaign burdened not just Zheleva but the Bulgarian Government and the country as a whole.

"It is about time to understand that when the foreign media publishes negative stories about Bulgaria and Bulgaria's opposition enjoys seeing the Government look bad, all of this could come back at us."

However, Purvanov said that the main reason for the scandal was the nomination of Zheleva.

"I now see the difference, with the strong and convincing candidate that I am sure Kristalina Georgieva will be," Purvanov said, referring to the World Bank vice president named by Borissov to replace Zheleva as Bulgaria's candidate Commissioner.

Purvanov said that he knew Georgieva. "I think that she would represent us very well and will fit this specific portfolio at the EC (International Co-operation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response). I am happy with her nomination".

Purvanov's interview came out the day that he was hosting a round table entitled "Bulgaria – after the crisis".

The event marks the third year of his second term in office. Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov were expected to take part in the conference.

In the same interview, Purvanov said that the goal of the discussion was to identify the key sectors of the economy in which the state could invest, so that when the crisis ended, Bulgaria would have a restructured economy, shrinking the gap between the rest of the EU and Bulgaria.

According to Purvanov, the energy sector could be Bulgaria's locomotive, along with investments in new technology, science and education.

"Investments in energy means security. It is a good thing that the Government managed to deal with this issue and, together with the Presidency, we worked on Bulgaria's position in the talks with Moscow which will probably include better financial conditions for Bulgaria in the Belene nuclear power plant project," Purvanov said.

Purvanov declined to comment on the performance of the Borissov Cabinet, but highlighted its work in fighting organised crime.