Bulgaria’s Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, reiterated Saturday that the country will pull out of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline if the assessment shows it will have negative effect on the environment.

Traikov spoke in an interview for the Bulgarian private TV channel bTV, saying that the words of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, before the EU Ambassadors to Sofia can be interpreted in several different ways, and reporters' interpretation stirred the confusion. (Borisov made headlines recently when he told the diplomats that Bulgaria has decided to pull out of the project. He later revised the statement, saying the decision will depend on the environmental assessment.)

On one other thorny issue, the project to build a second Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in the Danube town of Belene, Traikov said Saturday that as early as August-September, right after the appointment of the cabinet of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party, it was decided that Bulgaria does not have BGN 5 B and the State must find a strategic investor.

On the idea of holding a referendum on Belene, launched by President Georgi Parvanov, Friday, the Minister said, it is too late because Bulgaria already spent money on the project.

About a week ago, Traikov stirred controversy by saying, just minutes after Borisov told the Ambassadors that Bulgaria will pull out of the oil pipeline and freeze Belene that no official decision has been made. The reporter must be dreaming and it is impossible Borisov had made such statements, according to the Minister then.

In the TV interview, the Minister put the blame on the reporter and said the confusion was created because the latter asked him: “Is it true the cabinet decided to halt those projects?”

“Because the cabinet never made such decisions, she must have been dreaming, Traikov stated Saturday.

Traikov further dismissed rumors that he would be released from his duties by Borisov no later then the fall.