In an exclusive interview for bTV broadcast on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov commented on the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Energy Ministry, British asset management company Gemcorp and US nuclear power project management company IP3, as well as on the subsequent media information about Russian interests being behind Gemcorp.
In Petkov's words, thеre is absolutely nothing as specific as an actual contract between the Bulgarian Government and Gemcorp together with IP3; they said they have resources they would like to invest in the energy sector. Since the signing of the MoU, the Government has carefully read the articles about the companies in BIRD and Financial Times. "Although we had made sure that to this moment they do not have Russian investors, they clearly had such three years ago," Petkov said, adding that this fact will make the Government conduct a very careful check. He has ordered a full report from the State Agency for National Security. "In no way will Russian capital, particularly at the present moment, unless it is of clean origin, enter the Bulgarian economy," he stressed.
Asked if that might be the reason for the US Embassy in Sofia to distance itself from the matter, Petkov said that the US Embassy has only said they do not back the investment; they are neither in favour nor against it, they have simply withdrawn from this discussion.
Following a March 27 televised interview of Finance Minister Assen Vassilev where he said Gemcorp had approached the Government together with representatives of the US Embassy, the Embassy said on March 31 that the Commercial Attaché did not attend the signing of the MoU and not a single US government representative has advocated for Gemcorp before any member of the Bulgarian government. Claims to the contrary are the result of a misunderstanding, the Embassy said.
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