Expert Warns Russian Influence Affects Bulgaria's 'Strategic Orientation'

Politics » DIPLOMACY | April 28, 2011, Thursday // 15:48
Bulgaria: Expert Warns Russian Influence Affects Bulgaria's 'Strategic Orientation' Boyko Noev is wary of continuing Russian political influence in Bulgaria. File photo

Unlike other Eastern European states, Bulgaria is still subject to strong Russian influence, according to Boyko Noev, former Defense Minister and ex Bulgarian Ambassador to NATO.

According to Noev, Russian influence in Bulgaria affects the country's strategic orientation and decision-making process.

"After the end of the Cold War confrontation, no nation in Europe has political goals that can be achieve with military force. This is true of both Russia and the West. But as the administration of Vladimir Putin gained momentum in Russia, it became clear that Russia will try to get back in the game by using the only instrument at its disposal – energy – namely, natural gas, coal, and nuclear projects that the Russians have in various countries, including Bulgaria, Noev stated at a round table on energy security organized by the Sofia-based Center for Study of Democracy, as cited by BGNES.

He believes that unlike Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, which were also affected by the Russia-Ukraine gas war of the winter of 2009, Bulgaria is a more special case because of the lasting Russian influence.

"Russian energy policies translate into influence on taking strategic decisions in Bulgaria," Noev said, adding that big energy powers in Europe such as Germany, France, and Italy will continue to "play their game" while minor powers will be following them.

The example he cited was the energy agreements that Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, a Socialist known for pro-Russian sympathies, made with then Russian President Vladimir Putin in January 2008 for the South Stream gas transit pipeline, the Belene nuclear power plant, and the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

"When President Parvanov signed the gas deal with Putin – which was not within his powers at all – Gazprom and Eni signed the agreement for South Stream, and thus Bulgaria was caught between Russian and Italy," he said.

Noev believes that the troubled and controversial Bulgarian-Russian project for the Belene NPP is politically motivated and that the expansion of the existing Kozloduy NPP will cost cheaper.

Noev used to be Bulgaria's Ambassador to NATO, and Defense Minister in the governments of PM Reneta Indzhova in the mid 1990s and of Ivan Kostov in 1997-2001.

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Tags: Russia, Boyko Noev, NATO, energy security, Center for Study of Democracy, Georgi Parvanov, Vladimir Putin, South stream, Italy, ENI, Germany, France, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, South stream

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