Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov said he did not know why anybody would not like the fact that Bulgaria was running itself. Bulgaria was not run by Brussels, nor by Moscow, Dimitrov said. Nobody could be dissatisfied with the signing of the South Stream gas pipeline agreement since it presented Bulgaria with very clear strategic positions, Dimitrov said in an interview with bTV's Tazi Sutrin (This Morning).

Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov had participated in all stages of the negotiations with Russia and had consistently defended Bulgaria's interests, Focus news agency quoted Dimitrov as saying.

Asked whether Bulgaria had sold out European interests when it signed the South Stream agreement, Dimitrov said this was a groundless accusation, not commented anywhere else but in Bulgaria's opposition.

Dimitrov said there was a shortage of gas in Europe and gas supply was needed.

Dimitrov said he had asked the European Commission (EC) if it had any misgivings regarding the South Stream project. The EC answered that Nabucco gas pipeline was a priority, but that Europe did not have anything against South Stream. According to Dimitrov it was in Europe's best interest to have a variety of energy sources.

Dimotrov said Bulgaria fought for and achieved clear revenues for the country.

He said there was no such thing as easy negotiations and that the Russian trump had been the alternative routes that could be used for the gas pipeline. According to Dimitrov the Russians' strongest argument was that they owned the gas.