Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Hopeful on Belene NPP, South Stream

Sofia and Moscow may finish the negotiations on the Belene nuclear power plant and the South Stream gas pipeline projects and start fulfilling them after the presidential election in Russia, Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Yuriy Isiakov believes.

In an interview for the BGNES news agency, Isakov expressed his hope that the Bulgarian-Russian diplomatic relations will change for the better, as he said their potential has not been fully reached yet.

"First of all, I have to say that these projects surpass the frames of the Russian-Bulgarian relations. These projects are indeed big common European ventures in which some ten countries participate, as the case is with South Stream. And if we take all participants in the construction of Belene, there are probably from several European countries, too," Isakov commented on the two key Bulgarian-Russian energy projects.

Isakov stated he expects the real construction of South Stream to begin in December 2012, adding that the project would fully insure Bulgaria's energy security for the next 100 years.

Speaking on the day Russians vote for their next President, Isakov further reminded that Bulgaria is very attractive for Russian tourists.

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