site.btaPresident Radev: Government Should Say Why Only Gas Supplies for Bulgaria and Poland Are Suspended

The government should answer quickly several questions: why only gas supplies for Poland and Bulgaria have been suspended, how Austria and Germany are paying and how they have ensured their energy security, said President Rumen Radev on Wednesday taking a journalist's question in connection with the announcement that Gazprom is halting gas deliveries to Bulgaria as of April 27.

The economic war is escalating and the risk to Bulgaria is increasing in all aspects of this conflict, said the President. He said that he has been calling for careful and responsible attitude on the part of Bulgaria to the conflict which affects directly the life and welfare of the Bulgarians here and especially the Bulgarians in Ukraine.

The Bulgarian head of State said that the government should answer the question whether enough capacity for deliveries from Greece and other countries has been reserved because otherwise we'll see intermediaries warming up. This means that Bulgaria will find alternative supplies but this will take time and resources and the prices will be much higher as well as the risks to supplies from now on, said Radev.

Asked about the possibilities for energy diversification Radev said that the three billion leva paid by Bulgaria to build Balkan Stream do not serve the Bulgarian interests but the interests of other countries which transit gas through Bulgaria for free, while at the same time Bulgaria failed to ensure genuine diversification.

The situation with gas deliveries will be a real test for European solidarity and how the EU will help the most energy dependent and the most energy poor country, said Radev.

The government must give a definitive answer to those who put their trust in it whose interests it is serving: theirs or someone else's. It is high time the government showed real proof that it stands by Bulgaria's sovereignty and that it is guided in ots policy by the Bulgarian national interest, said the Bulgarian head of state.

Radev opposed categorically the provision of military aid by Bulgaria to Ukraine and said that this will be a step towards getting Bulgaria directly involved in the conflict. 

"A number of reports have emerged about where Bulgarian armament is going and I am surprised how the economy minister will explain to Bulgarians and the left-minded people who have always been against war that Bulgarian weapons are feeding this conflict," added Radev.

Of the upcoming visit of a Bulgarian delegation, led by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, to Ukraine, Radev said that there is no need for such a visit and that the sovereign Bulgarian position is elaborated in Sofia and not Kyiv, said Radev.

Asked about a fund raiser for Ukraine, launched by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on Monday, Radev said that politicians who are insensitive to the problems of their own people, can't help other peoples. Radev urged Bulgarian politicians before saving the world to turn to the thousands destitute Bulgarians.

Speaking at a BTA-hosted news conference, Deputy Prime Minister Assen Vassilev called "disgraceful" President Radev’s claim that if Bulgaria provides military aid to Ukraine, it prolongs the conflict with Russia. "I do believe that Ukraine will be victorious in this conflict, and we must aid it to win. Otherwise, the alternative is first Ukraine, and then the rest of the Eastern European countries to become 'vassal appendages'," he said, adding that his Continue the Change party will not allow such a scenario.