Greece Insulted by Bulgarian PM's Makaza Remark - Report

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has allegedly insulted Greece authorities by saying that his country is ready to pave with asphalt 1.5 km on Greek territory on the road through the Makaza mountain pass.

Last week, Borisov noted that the economic crisis has rendered Greece unable to finish its construction thus the road between Bulgaria's Kardzhali and Greece's Komotini remains closed. He pointed out that Bulgaria has been ready for quite a while with its section.

According to Greek media, Greek officials have been insulted by Borisov's comments, the Bulgarian Focus News Agency reported on Friday.

The news agency says that a Greek company is expected to launch the construction of the 1.5 km section on Friday.

The Ruse-Makaza road linking Romania and Greece through Central Bulgaria is supposed to be part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor No. 9 leading from Helsinki, the Baltic States, Moscow, Kiev, and Bucharest to the Greek port of Alexandroupolis on the Aegean.

However, the international transport corridor, which harbors the potential to stimulate the development of much of Bulgaria's central regions, does not function at present because the Makaza Pass in the Rhodope Mountains on the Bulgarian-Greek border remains closed.

• 1