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Thu, Feb 09 2012
US ambassador: Bulgaria should rely on sources other than Russian natural gas
Photo: Anelia NIkolova
Bulgaria needed to diversify its fuel energy sources and guarantee its people a stable and corruption-free environment, US ambassador James Warlick was quoted as saying by Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily on February 25 2010.
Warlick delivered a speech at an American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (AmCham) business lunch.
"In the past the US also made the mistake of becoming too dependent on Middle East oil, but we are now fixing that. You (Bulgaria) are too dependent on Russian natural gas and should think more about finding alternative fuel sources and developing renewable energy sources (RES)," Warlick said.
The Bulgarian Government should be applauded for its efforts in developing a new energy strategy, which was to be completed by the end of 2010, he said.
Warlick said that he hoped that this strategy would be developed in co-operation with the private sector, including AmCham.
"We need legislation that encourages RES investments," Warlick said, and recommended the introduction of fixed prices for purchasing renewable energy, expansion of the grid network and investments in education in these specialist fields.
According to him, bio-technologies, IT and RES were the two sectors of mutual interest of Bulgaria and the US where investments should concentrate. He named Bulgarian yoghurt and white cheese as one of Bulgaria's successes in bio-technologies.
Energy security could be achieved not just by sources' diversification but also through a policy of transparency that brought down corruption and eliminated certain interests which otherwise would continue to dominate Bulgaria's energy sector, Warlick said.
He praised Bulgaria's efforts in participating in the Nabucco natural gas pipeline project as well as in building pipeline connections with Greece, Turkey and Romania.
On Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov's efforts to cut crime, Warlick said: "Restoring the country depends on the supremacy of the law but it also has to do with creating an environment in which corruption has been overcome and people enjoy security".
The Bulgarian Government's economic policy was also praised by Warlick. Bulgaria ended 2009 with the lowest rate of budget deficit of all EU countries and should Bulgaria manage to end 2010 with a balanced Budget, it would have a chance in getting into the Euro zone as it would have covered all the criteria, he said.
Warlick delivered a speech at an American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (AmCham) business lunch.
"In the past the US also made the mistake of becoming too dependent on Middle East oil, but we are now fixing that. You (Bulgaria) are too dependent on Russian natural gas and should think more about finding alternative fuel sources and developing renewable energy sources (RES)," Warlick said.
The Bulgarian Government should be applauded for its efforts in developing a new energy strategy, which was to be completed by the end of 2010, he said.
Warlick said that he hoped that this strategy would be developed in co-operation with the private sector, including AmCham.
"We need legislation that encourages RES investments," Warlick said, and recommended the introduction of fixed prices for purchasing renewable energy, expansion of the grid network and investments in education in these specialist fields.
According to him, bio-technologies, IT and RES were the two sectors of mutual interest of Bulgaria and the US where investments should concentrate. He named Bulgarian yoghurt and white cheese as one of Bulgaria's successes in bio-technologies.
Energy security could be achieved not just by sources' diversification but also through a policy of transparency that brought down corruption and eliminated certain interests which otherwise would continue to dominate Bulgaria's energy sector, Warlick said.
He praised Bulgaria's efforts in participating in the Nabucco natural gas pipeline project as well as in building pipeline connections with Greece, Turkey and Romania.
On Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov's efforts to cut crime, Warlick said: "Restoring the country depends on the supremacy of the law but it also has to do with creating an environment in which corruption has been overcome and people enjoy security".
The Bulgarian Government's economic policy was also praised by Warlick. Bulgaria ended 2009 with the lowest rate of budget deficit of all EU countries and should Bulgaria manage to end 2010 with a balanced Budget, it would have a chance in getting into the Euro zone as it would have covered all the criteria, he said.
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What's not to love about getting patronized?
Bulgaria should not accept the advice of any other country or of anyone of any other nationality. Bulgaria is all-knowing. Just look around at all the success. No one should ever think to advise this great nation on any topic. Bulgaria should be advising the whole world, so that other nations can achieve the great success enjoyed by the Bulgarian people every minute of every day.
My apologies to my Bulgarian friends. His speech is an embarrassment to our country. We HAVE NOT become less dependent on foreign energy resources and we have no business telling any other country how to run their energy policies. Shame on you, Mr. Ambassador. Remove the log in your won eye first.
Don't worry Mr. Ambassador!
We will not rely on Russian gas only - we are building a Russian nuclear power station too!
"In the past the US also made the mistake of becoming too dependent on Middle East oil, but we are now fixing that."
US you are in the middle of major OIL WARS in the Middle East and you come to BG to tell us about energy policies?
How transparent the agenda is too, by bringing up the Nabucco pipeline, in which the US [...]
Read the full comment has invested so much, together with the missiles shield to protect it.
No enough that you want to use us as auxiliary pool of cheaper troops in your oil wars, not enough that you are basically forcing us to accept a gas delivery system that's less beneficial to BG, but more to you, not enough that you are trying to militarize us, when we have no outstanding issues with any one - from Iran to Russia, but now you'll sit there with straight face and compliment our government in a back handed way like:
" it would have a chance in getting into the Euro zone as it would have covered all the criteria?"
You seriously think you are dealing with children, don't you?