Bulgarian-Russian relations were developing on all key issues, Russian president Vladimir Putin said at a news conference, during his visit to Sofia.
The two countries agreed on a number of important matters, which would not be possible if they were not good partners, he said.
Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov said that Bulgaria and Russia signed a package of energy agreements, among which the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant (NPP), Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and South Stream gas pipeline.
Some of the agreement had been prepared for years, Purvanov said. In a few months we managed to achieve agreements, which create preconditions for development of the Bulgarian economy. Each of the countries had its own interests to defend during negotiations, but we arrived at a compromise, which would protect the interests of the two countries, Purvanov said.
“The agreements signed afford an opportunity for positive quality break-through in our relations,” Purvanov said.
He added that the projects were of importance to the EU too and that the EU member states representatives showed their involvement in the particular projects.
Putin said that the Russian Federation to provide 3.8 billion euro for the construction of the Belene NPP if needed.
The completion of projects signed with Bulgaria would increase the energy safety of Europe, the Balkans and Bulgaria, he said.
The European countries were competing to offer terrain for the construction of Russian gas pipeline facilities, Putin said. Such projects would increase the political and economic importance of the country in Europe and provide profits to the state budget.
Putin announced that Russian Gazprom and Italian ENI had signed an agreement for the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline.
According to Purvanov, the Gazprom-ENI agreement showed that the project was developing faster than any other project
Bulgaria and Russia discussed a number of other agreements in various sectors of the economy. The negotiations were an important step in economic developments between Bulgaria and Russia, Purvanov said.
Bulgaria and Russia agreed on the opening of a ferry between Varna and Port Kavkaz. The ferry would decrease transport expenses and commodity prices. The two countries also discussed mutual involvement in other large transport projects in the region, which had been delayed for years.
“I am grateful that Russia replied positively to our suggestion” for more significant participation of Bulgarian construction companies in projects in Moscow and Sochi.
The possibility for improvement of the commodity exchange structure, especially in the field of new technologies was also discussed. Bulgaria presented it projects and initiatives for the establishment of the use of Cyrillic online.
Bulgaria and Russia discussed the transport and tourism sectors opportunities, inter-regional co-operation in small and middle size business, culture, education and science.
Another matter, which was resolved, was the Russian debt to Bulgaria. Bulgaria promised to speed up the work of the commission for the licenses for production of weapons.
Putin said that business relations between the two countries had been a priority matter during negotiations. The future efforts of the two countries would be concentrated on other big mutual projects.
Purvanov and Putin discussed the matter of the Bulgarian archives which had been seized after the Second World War and were since kept in Russia. Putin said that Russia was waiting for an official written request. The request would be examined under current Russian legislation “in the most benevolent way”, he said. Meanwhile, there would be no problem for Bulgarian scientists and historians to access the archives in Russia Putin said.
