Posted on 04/27/2009 1:20:28 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
MOSCOW, April 27 (Reuters) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev got a frosty reception from Russia's leaders on Monday and expressed no clear hopes that a gas pipeline deal with Moscow would be reached during his two-day official visit.
Not only did President Dmitry Medvedev unexpectedly postpone his meeting with Stanishev with no official explanation, but Prime Minister Vladimir Putin took a jab at Bulgaria during his welcome speech that evoked load groans from the crowd. ....
Speaking at a welcome event alongside Stanishev, Putin took an apparent jab at Bulgaria's meagre investments in Russia.
"If Russia's investments (into Bulgaria) add up to hundreds of millions (of dollars), then Bulgaria is only in the neighbourhood of some $13 million. This in no way corresponds to what is possible," Putin said.
The reaction of the largely Bulgarian crowd of several hundred people was loud enough to drown out Putin, forcing him to raise his voice as he finished his point. ....
Stanishev was also careful to point out Bulgaria's role in another pipeline, Nabucco, which is being led by the European Union and stands in direct competition with South Stream.
"The Bulgarian government is considering South Stream as an important project along with Nabucco, in which we are participating as a stakeholder," Stanishev said during a lecture at Moscow's Diplomatic Academy earlier on Monday. ....
The January gas conflict that strained the energy bond between Russia and Europe must be avoided again at all costs, Stanishev said.
"Economists have valued our losses (from the gas conflict) at 150 million euros," he said. "We have to do everything we can to prevent such crises from happening again."
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.reuters.com ...
looks like Russia is trying to reclaim it’s position as leader of the Slavs
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