site.btaUPDATED Prime Minister: No Talks Held with Gazprom Export at Present

In an interview for Nova TV on Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Galab Donev said that they are currently not holding talks with Gazprom Export. In his words, they have sent an inquiry to Gazprom about the restoration of gas supplies under the agreement with Bulgaria; no reply has been received to the request for talks. 

These are talks between Bulgargaz and Gazprom as trade partners with equal rights who are trying to restore the dialogue between themselves, Donev stressed.

Asked what compromises Bulgaria is ready to make, for example to pay for Russia’s gas in rubles, Donev said: “We will not make compromises. If we start a dialogue with Gazprom Export, we will use the scheme used by all EU countries receiving gas from Gazprom Export. These are Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Hungary.”

The caretaker government is working on diversification of gas sources and the provision of the quantities needed by the Bulgarian businesses and citizens this winter at affordable prices, the Prime Minister said.

Asked about Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova standing behind the head of State during the ceremony for Unification Day, September 6, the Prime Minister said he does not know who had invited her. For an ambassador to attend such a national holiday, they should have received an invitation. This question should be directed at the local authorities in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria) as the organizers of the September 6 celebrations, Donev noted. 

He said he cannot accept the criticism that the caretaker cabinet has revenge ambitions. The dismissals made by the government should not be interpreted as revenge; these are made in case of omissions and the work not going forward.

Commenting on the situation after the October 2 snap elections, Donev advised the participants in the election campaign to do everything possible to reach an agreement, because Bulgaria’s next government will once again be a coalition.