Delyan Dobrev, Bulgaria's new Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism. Photo by BGNES
Bulgaria's newly appointed Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, Delyan Dobrev, has stated that his stance on the Belene "does not differ from the government's".
All facts have to be carefully considered before a decision is reached on the Belene project, Dobrev, who was Deputy Economy Minister until Thursday, told reporters.
Upon asked whether he really intended to resign together with former Economy Minister Traicho Traikov, Dobrev clarified that he was worried whether criticism might emerge towards him, too.
"The Prime Minister was clear enough that there is no criticism towards my work," the newly appointed cabinet member said, as cited by dnevnik.bg.
Earlier on Friday, Traikov stated that Dobrev was ready to quit together with him.
Traikov himself was allegedly dismissed because of the awkward situation that took place during the opening of a Bulgarian-Qatary business forum in Doha.
The forum began with a false start without even one Qatari businessman showing up before the anticipating representatives of over 100 Bulgarian companies.
However, Traikov believes he may have been fired because of his stance against the construction of Belene.
In an interview for BNT on Friday, Borisov dismissed as "non-sense" reports that former Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov was axed because he had been against the project to build Belene with Russian financing.
The PM stressed that he had sent Traikov and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov to Moscow to "tell the Russians that Bulgaria is giving up on the project."
Borisov stated that the reactor initially meant for Belene will be installed in the country's sole existing NPP, Kozloduy. However, he did comment on whether a decision has been taken to scrap the Belene project.