Section: Bulgaria
President Plevneliev Says Unfreezing of South Stream Tied to Russia-EU Dialogue
“To me it is more than clear that the unlocking of South Stream [is tied to] the EU’s negotiations with Russia,” Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev has said. In his view it is not clear whether Bulgaria would have lost or won from the South Stream. Plevneliev was the first to officially comment on his Russian...
Russia abandons South Stream pipeline, blames Bulgaria
Speaking during a visit to Turkey last night, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia was dropping plans for the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline that was supposed to enter EU territory from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The statement by Gazprom’s Chief Executive Alexei Miller was even more scathing. The two laid the...
NYT: Abandoning South Stream Is ‘Diplomatic Defeat’ for Putin
The decision to scrap Russia’s South Stream project and redirect the gas pipeline to Turkey seems to be a “rare diplomatic defeat” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the New Your Times commented on Tuesday. The USD 22 B project, once designed “to establish the country’s dominance in southeastern Europe”, has instead fallen victim...
Putin Meets Erdogan to Bolster Russia-Turkey Economic Ties
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Mondaystarted his one-day state visit to Turkey expected to focus on the further expansion of bilateral economic ties. In his meeting with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Putin is expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations as well as key international and regional problems....
Russian deputy foreign minister visiting Sofia
Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov has spoken with Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexey Meshkov at a meeting, closed for media. According to the message of the foreign ministry the Bulgarian minister has stated on the Ukrainian crisis that the most dangerous thing is when someone starts to believe his own propaganda. In his turn...
Preliminary Results Show Unexpected Winner of Moldova’s Elections
Despite expectations that it will occupy third or fourth place in the Sunday parliamentary elections, the pro-Russian Socialist party of Moldova is in the lead, according to preliminary results. With around 85 % of the votes counted, the Socialist Party gathers 21 %, followed by the leading party in the pro-European government coalition – the...
Marine Le Pen Reelected as Leader of France’s Front National
Marine Le Pen was reelected as leader of the French far-right Front National at a party congress, held in Lyon on Sunday. The incumbent leader Le Pen was the only candidate for the leadership position and she won with 100 % support, Le Monde reports. Le Pen has been at the head of the Front National since 2011, when she succeeded her father and...
Russia’s President Signs Law on Free Economic Zone in Crimea
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the law on the creation of a free economic zone in Crimea. The free economic zone is created for a period of 25 years, with the possibility for further extension, according to reports of ITAR-TASS. The law envisages a range of incentives for investors, including tax breaks, a preferential customs...
New Statesman: Will the Next UN Secretary General Be a Woman?
The article is from New Statesman. With eighteen months still to go before a decision is due to be taken, the race to succeed Ban Ki-moon as the next UN Secretary General is well under way with potential candidates and the selection process itself already the subject of intense debate. The appointment comes as the resurfacing of tensions between...
Torn between EU and Russia, Moldova Votes for Parliament
Moldova is holding parliamentary elections on Sunday expected to decide whether the ex-Soviet country would maintain its recent course towards EU membership or turn back and move closer to Russia. According to the latest opinion polls, Moldova’s current pro-EU government coalition – plus the Liberal Party, which left the coalition last year...
