Russia needs Bulgaria

Russian head of government Vladimir Putin has called on the Bulgarian government to decide as quickly as possible whether it wants to participate in Russia's planned South Stream pipeline project, saying that Russia can go ahead with its energy policy without Bulgaria if need be. The daily Klassa believes Putin is bluffing: "It's obvious that Russia is only cranking up the pressure because it actually needs Bulgaria for a farsighted energy policy. From a geostrategic point of view Bulgaria has reaffirmed its role in the Euro-Asian energy axis. The Balkans play a key role in oil and gas transit from central Asia and Russia. This key geographical position provides us with a good opportunity to renegotiate the terms that are disadvantageous for us in the major Burgas-Alexandroupolis [the planned Bulgarian-Greek oil pipeline between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean] and Belene nuclear power plant energy projects, and in such a way that Bulgarian interests are protected."

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