The Times: Babies in Bulgaria Suffer as Gazprom Delays Energy Deal

Society | January 10, 2009, Saturday // 00:00

"While Russia and Ukraine found new ways to disagree about restoring gas supplies to Europe yesterday mothers and their newborn infants huddled into the one maternity ward left with any heating in the main hospital in Sofia," the British daily "The Times" writes on Saturday.

"The former Soviet nation is almost totally reliant on natural gas from Russia," the authors point out and explain that in the winter temperatures in Bulgaria often fall to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The article describes the effort of ordinary Bulgarians to keep warm as "shops in the Bulgarian capital have run out of electric heaters and families scoured the city for help."

The publication quotes a 45-year-old father, who stood in line in front of a utility store in Sofia as saying "I have already tried smaller shops and their heaters are all sold out. I am ready to fight for those heaters."

"In the Black Sea port of Varna, which has been without gas for days, residents protested in front of the Russian Consulate holding banners that read "Stop the Gas War of Putin".

Sergei Stanishev, the Bulgarian Prime Minister, described the situation as "the worst-ever crisis" and Georgi Parvanov, the President, announced that the country would seek financial compensation from Russia," the authors continue.

The article further talks about Bulgarian prisons without an alternative to gas-powered heating and zoos switching to electric.
Ivan Ivanov, a zoo director, is quoted as saying: "Only the Siberian tigers feel comfortable in these temperatures."

The Times article's full text can be found at: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=100351

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