Bulgaria, Russia Clear out Diplomatic Scandal

Politics | September 29, 2008, Monday // 00:00
Bulgaria Bulgaria, Russia Clear out Diplomatic Scandal: Bulgaria, Russia Clear out Diplomatic Scandal Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister Milen Keremedchiev stated Monday he had cleared out the diplomatic scandal about a statement of Russia's Ambassador to the EU that Bulgaria would veto any sanctions the Union might impose on Russia. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Milen Keremedchiev and Russia's Ambassador to Sofia Yuriy Isakov cleared Monday the low-grade diplomatic scandal, which occurred after a statement of the Russian representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov.

On September 17 Chizhov stated before a correspondent of the Bulgarian National Radio in Brussels that he expected Bulgaria to veto any sanctions that the EU might decide to impose on Russia over the conflict in Georgia.

After Monday's meeting, Keremedchiev explained he had been provided with the records of Chizhov's statement, and that it was not meant in the sense it resonated in the media.

According to Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister, the Russian Ambassador to the EU referred to "Bulgaria and other member states of the EU" as countries who might impose a veto on sanction against Russia.

Keremedchiev pointed out Chizhov had mentioned Bulgaria only because he was speaking before a Bulgarian journalist.

He summed up that the case had been cleared out, that his meeting with Ambassador Isakov had gone in a friendly atmosphere, and that Russia's position towards Bulgaria was "full understanding of its membership in NATO and the EU".

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry reacted to Chizhov's statement with a ten-day delay, when Keremedchiev announced he was going to inform the Russian Embassy in Sofia that such interference in Bulgaria's internal affairs was acceptable, and that the statement damaged the bilateral relations.

Several months ago Chizhov made a similar statement comparing Bulgaria to a Russian "Trojan horse" in the EU.

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