Eurasia Press & News
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has confirmed that Russia PM Vladimir Putin will not be visiting the Sofia Energy summit because of differences in opinion over energy issues.
Parvanov stated Thursday, in an interview for Bulgarian daily newspaper 24 Chasa, that Putin will not be coming to the forum due to his concern over a number of energy issues that will be pushed at the forum, which he believes are not beneficial to Russian interests.
Parvanov also confirmed that one of Putin’s concerns is over the South Steam gas project.
Bulgaria Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivaylo Kalfin explained Wednesday through a rather ambiguous statement that Putin canceled the trip because the Russian Federation connected his presence with the “South Stream” gas line, adding that the agreement for the above project has not yet been reached and some details needed to be finalized.
Kalfin said the mixing of the topics to be discussed at the summit was unforeseen, thus Putin’s last minute change of mind.
