THE first visit to Bulgaria by Russian prime minister Mihail Fradkov was met with mixed feelings in Sofia, as it failed to resolve the question of two top energy projects that have been hampering relations between the two countries in recent years.
Fradkov came to Sofia on October 19 to seek a deal by which Russia would get preferential treatment in taking part in the construction of Belene nuclear plant, against giving its approval for the launch of the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project. The pipeline will transmit Russian oil from the Bulgarian port city of Bourgas on the Black Sea to the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on the Aegean Sea.
Fradkov said that the launch of the pipeline project "depends on its economic effectiveness".
According to the plan begun in 1995, oil from the Caspian Sea would be transported by tankers from the Russian port of Novorossiysk across the Black Sea to Bourgas.
After talks with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Fradkov said that while the project was "attractive", Moscow still had its doubts whether the Russian-Bulgarian-Greek venture would suit Russian interests.
"We need a complex analysis of this project's expedience," he said and insisted that "the distribution of the three countries' shares in the venture should justly reflect Russian interests," Fradkov said.
He did not elaborate on the share that Russia wants to have in this project, but was apparently pushing for more than the equal 33.3 percent share backed by Bulgaria and Greece.
President Georgi Purvanov and his Greek counterpart Constantinos Stephanopoulos said last week in Sofia they were determined "to find together a solution" for the implementation of the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis project, at the same time reminding that "the project cannot be implemented without Russia".
The issue is to be further discussed during trilateral talks to be held on November 4 and 5 in Athens.
Saxe-Coburg reportedly was not keen to promise preferential treatment to Russian companies that want to participate in the construction of the second Bulgarian nuke plant near the Danube town of Belene.
Bulgarian-language media reported in the days leading up to the Fradkov visit that Russia wanted a "oil for nuke deal" and would give a push to the pipeline only if there were advantages for Russian companies on Belene.
Bulgaria and Russia will continue to co-operate in the field of nuclear energy through the participation of Russian contractors in the modernisation of units 5 and 6 of Kozlodui nuclear power plant, Energy Minister Milko Kovachev and Russian minister of industry Viktor Hristenko said after signing an agreement to that effect.
Bulgaria's Energy Ministry denied a statement made by Hristenko and quoted by the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, saying that Russia will build Belene and that the participation of Russian investors in the project is envisaged in the long-term co-operation agreement.
Kovachev said that in fact, Russia's AtomStroyExport, in partnership with Framatome of France, is one of three candidates to supply the technology for the Belene nuclear facility but the vendor will be selected through a competitive tender on the basis of the offered price for the future electricity output and in accordance with international nuclear safety standards.
Fradkov said that Gazprom has been actively working on the Bulgarian market by supplying and transiting gas via this country's territory. Possibilities for extending the transit facilities were discussed with view of the potential of the Balkans and Bulgaria in particular. Fradkov said Russia was interested in privatising promising facilities in Bulgaria, quoting as an example the purchase of Neftochim oil refinery in Bourgas by the Russian LUKoil.
Sofia and Moscow had decided to boost Bulgaria's capacity for gas transportation, Fradkov said.
It is possible to settle the Russian debt to Bulgaria through upgrading of helicopters, apart from MIG fighters, Fradkov said. Under a bilateral agreement, Russia has to repay $14.5 million by the end of this year, and another $24.5 million in supplies of special production. The matter has a potential, but it is also a very delicate one in regard to the standards of NATO, Fradkov said.
The two prime ministers attended the signing of new bilateral documents, including on long-term co-operation in power engineering, a memorandum on the drafting of an intergovernmental agreement on joint use of a railway ferry line between the port of Varna and Caucasus and on supply of trains for Sofia subway.
Fradkov came to Sofia on October 19 to seek a deal by which Russia would get preferential treatment in taking part in the construction of Belene nuclear plant, against giving its approval for the launch of the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project. The pipeline will transmit Russian oil from the Bulgarian port city of Bourgas on the Black Sea to the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on the Aegean Sea.
Fradkov said that the launch of the pipeline project "depends on its economic effectiveness".
According to the plan begun in 1995, oil from the Caspian Sea would be transported by tankers from the Russian port of Novorossiysk across the Black Sea to Bourgas.
After talks with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Fradkov said that while the project was "attractive", Moscow still had its doubts whether the Russian-Bulgarian-Greek venture would suit Russian interests.
"We need a complex analysis of this project's expedience," he said and insisted that "the distribution of the three countries' shares in the venture should justly reflect Russian interests," Fradkov said.
He did not elaborate on the share that Russia wants to have in this project, but was apparently pushing for more than the equal 33.3 percent share backed by Bulgaria and Greece.
President Georgi Purvanov and his Greek counterpart Constantinos Stephanopoulos said last week in Sofia they were determined "to find together a solution" for the implementation of the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis project, at the same time reminding that "the project cannot be implemented without Russia".
The issue is to be further discussed during trilateral talks to be held on November 4 and 5 in Athens.
Saxe-Coburg reportedly was not keen to promise preferential treatment to Russian companies that want to participate in the construction of the second Bulgarian nuke plant near the Danube town of Belene.
Bulgarian-language media reported in the days leading up to the Fradkov visit that Russia wanted a "oil for nuke deal" and would give a push to the pipeline only if there were advantages for Russian companies on Belene.
Bulgaria and Russia will continue to co-operate in the field of nuclear energy through the participation of Russian contractors in the modernisation of units 5 and 6 of Kozlodui nuclear power plant, Energy Minister Milko Kovachev and Russian minister of industry Viktor Hristenko said after signing an agreement to that effect.
Bulgaria's Energy Ministry denied a statement made by Hristenko and quoted by the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, saying that Russia will build Belene and that the participation of Russian investors in the project is envisaged in the long-term co-operation agreement.
Kovachev said that in fact, Russia's AtomStroyExport, in partnership with Framatome of France, is one of three candidates to supply the technology for the Belene nuclear facility but the vendor will be selected through a competitive tender on the basis of the offered price for the future electricity output and in accordance with international nuclear safety standards.
Fradkov said that Gazprom has been actively working on the Bulgarian market by supplying and transiting gas via this country's territory. Possibilities for extending the transit facilities were discussed with view of the potential of the Balkans and Bulgaria in particular. Fradkov said Russia was interested in privatising promising facilities in Bulgaria, quoting as an example the purchase of Neftochim oil refinery in Bourgas by the Russian LUKoil.
Sofia and Moscow had decided to boost Bulgaria's capacity for gas transportation, Fradkov said.
It is possible to settle the Russian debt to Bulgaria through upgrading of helicopters, apart from MIG fighters, Fradkov said. Under a bilateral agreement, Russia has to repay $14.5 million by the end of this year, and another $24.5 million in supplies of special production. The matter has a potential, but it is also a very delicate one in regard to the standards of NATO, Fradkov said.
The two prime ministers attended the signing of new bilateral documents, including on long-term co-operation in power engineering, a memorandum on the drafting of an intergovernmental agreement on joint use of a railway ferry line between the port of Varna and Caucasus and on supply of trains for Sofia subway.
