Bulgaria Will Not Accept Results of Crimean Referendum, Says FM
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Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin (left) and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right), Photo by BGNES/MFA
There is no reason for Bulgaria to recognize the referendum on secession from Ukraine that Crimea will hold on March 16.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin made these comments in an interview for Deutsche Welle, explaining the poll could only "ascertain the reality on the ground, but cannot justify the incorporation of Crimea into the Russian Federation".
On Monday, he was on a visit to Germany, where he met his counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the capital Berlin. During the talks, he declared support for a German plan envisaging the creation of a contact group for direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian authorities.
Vigenin also reminded that neither the Ukrainian authorities nor the EU have shown they would accept the outcome of the referendum, which, from the point of view of Brussels, would constitute a forced alteration of borders.
The Foreign Minister refuted speculations that joint Black Sea military drills of Bulgaria, Romania and the US have anything to do with the situation on the Crimean Peninsula.
He said he did not wish to contribute to the impression that "Bulgaria takes part in the demonstration of power toward Russia".
Kristian Vigenin expressed his belief that the EU could ensure the rights of Russian-language minority in Ukraine would be safeguarded, an issue of great concerns also for Bulgaria, with its 250 000 to 300 000-strong population living in the country.
In the minister's words, there is still room for diplomacy to solve the Crimean crisis.
During Vigenin's visit to Berlin, the two foreign ministers also discussed the prospects of Bulgaria entering the Schengen area and the opening of German labor market. They also started talks on some obstacles that German businesses in Bulgaria are trying to overcome.
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Thank you sa-sha but I think we always have to respond to people who publish the lie.
It is no lie, there are election posters.
The result could be close.
The Crimea has 2million people, hopefully this referendum will provide them with a safe option.
The governments are talking rubbish when they say they wont recognise the result.
If the Crimea joins the Russian Federation the western governments will make a lot of noise, lots and lots of noise but the Brits want Russian money, the Germans want Russian gas so they will make noise for a few weeks and then the story wil disappear from Western news and no one will be bothered to do anything.
2 million people joining the Russian Federation who in the west would agree to suffer financially for such a trivial issue.
Dear Optimistics
A "democratic referendum in the Crimea (Crimenal)" are you a really fool or a same crook as the so called "leaders" in the Crimea. Ask "Goblin" how he get his Post and the rest of these Mafia idiots (puppets of Russia).
This whole Crimea affair is one big lie.
Can you explain me what kind of president orders an other country to use force against there people if they resist. Maybe you can ask him where the 70bilion$ has been and a loan of 323milion$ dissapaered as well!!
Only Russian TV channels now so people starts to get indoctrinated.
No any country should recognize this "referendum"
The West are such hypocrites, they recognise a group of thugs in Kiev who ousted the elected government but they are not prepared to recognise the results of a democratic referendum in the Crimea.
When Russia wants to discuss the Ukraine they want to discuss the issues with the legitimate government and the West says they cant do that, things have changed and Russia needs to talk to the thugs in Kiev.
