Bulgarian MPs Anticipate EconMin Hearing over Belene Nuke

Politics » DOMESTIC | April 8, 2011, Friday // 09:25
Bulgarian MPs Anticipate EconMin Hearing over Belene Nuke: Bulgarian MPs Anticipate EconMin Hearing over Belene Nuke Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, is expected in the Parliament to give explanations on the scandal surrounding the Belene NPP. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

For the third day in a row, the Bulgarian Parliament is anticipating the appearance of Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, to hold a hearing on what exact documents have been signed for the Belene Nuclear Plant.

The scandal broke Tuesday after the Director of the National Electric Company, NEK, Krasimir Parvanov, signed an agreement with Russia's Rosatom's subsidiary Atomstroyexport, called by Traikov a breach of national security because it potentially binds Bulgaria to build its second NPP in the Danube town of Belene with Russian participation.

Traikov slammed Parvanov and announced he is going to be fired, but the dismissal was later overturned by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Borisov harshly criticized the Energy Minister's hasty and emotional reaction and threatened him with being kicked out of office.

It turned out that Parvanov has coordinated his actions with Deputy Prime Minister, Simeon Djankov, who oversees finance and economy.

It is still an open question whether the signed document is legally binding. The issue has stirred heated debates in Bulgaria as it comes before the two sides agree on the price of the project and conduct safety checks.

Traikov is expected to shed some light Friday, explaining details to the Members of the Parliament.

The Friday agenda, however, begins with the draft resolution of the far-right, nationalist Ataka party, for arranging property and social issues related to Bulgarians from the Thracian Region and compensations to be asked from Turkey. The debates on the topic have already been postponed twice on the request of the nationalists on the grounds they are seeking larger support. The Ataka MPs held a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, on the resolution.

The ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, opposes the resolution and says its motives have not been aligned with changes in the text, agreed on during talks with Mladenov.

Also on Friday, which the day of parliamentary control, the MPs are scheduled to vote on second read on the amendments in the Orders and Medals Act, proposed by the right-wing Blue Coalition. The amendments ban bestowing such State awards to people who have been agents or collaborators of the former Communist State Security, DS.

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Tags: Orders and Medals Act, DS, Blue Coalition, compensations, Ataka, Thracian, Nikolay Mladenov, Foreign Affairs Minister, Economy and Energy Minister, Russia, NEK, Rosatom, NPP, Belene, Atomstroyexport, National Electric Company, NEK, Traicho Traikov, Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, Krasimir Parvanov, Simeon Djankov, DPS

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