Bulgarian PM: Lukoil Must Restrain from War with Cabinet

Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, is firm friendship stops where the State and the law begin. Photo by BGNES

I truly hope Lukoil Bulgaria will not enter in a war with the State, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, stated Thursday.

Borisov commented on earlier statements of his long-time friend, the CEO of Lukoil Bulgaria, Valentin Zlatev, who, allegedly, had said the cabinet will fall 10 days after the closure of the only oil refinery in the country, owned by his company.

"I hope the refinery will deal seriously with the issue, especially regarding jet fuel. (Lukoil is the only producer of such fuel not only in Bulgaria, but in the region.) We will not have problems with other types of fuels. Their license would be granted again sooner or later; this is the biggest business in Bulgaria and I hope they will not end up being in war with the State. I seriously advise them to not do it. It is not our fault that we enforce the law; it is theirs to not abide by it," the PM stressed.

Regarding his widely publicized friendship with Zlatev, Borisov pointed out he had said many times he no longer has friends, because he is first and foremost the leader of the country, which is his top priority.

The PM commented it is high time for Lukoil to submit a report on the installation of electronic measuring devices, the lack of which prompted the Customs Agency to revoke the company's license to operate the so-called excise storage facilities. Such report has not been prepared and not even started, according to Borisov.

"We passed the Ordinance over a year ago and everyone must comply – what else is there to discuss. From now on, their only right is to appeal in Court. There are no sacred cows in Bulgaria," the PM declared.

Borisov further criticized the right-wing Blue Coalition for wanting to topple the cabinet through a no-confidence vote one day and to support it on the other. He did not spare criticism towards the leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Sergey Stanishev, saying the latter instead of being embarrassed for missed profits for the State for many years was playing games.

"This is the difference between the government of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party and previous cabinets – friendship is one thing and it stops where the State and the law begin," the PM concluded.

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