EU TO BULGARIA'S PRESIDENT: NO PROBLEM IF RUSSIA PARTICIPATES IN BELENE NPP PROJECT

"The EU feels no worries regarding the participation of Russia in the construction of Belene NPP," Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov stated after his meeting with EU Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger. Bulgaria's Head of State arrived in Brussels yesterday on a 2-day visit. After his first meetings in Brussels yesterday, President Parvanov commented that he insisted that Belene NPP project became a European project and that investors from France and Germany would be invited to the project. President Parvanov added: "Bulgaria's agenda is the approval of regulations for the quick payment of compensations for the pre-term decommissioning of Kozloduy NPP units."

Mr Parvanov also discussed two other important projects - the Nabucco gas pipeline and South Stream. In his opinion, the stands of the EU and Bulgaria on these projects are alike. It is important that we seek more and different sources for Europe's gas supplies," Mr Parvanov went further.

Today, President Parvanov will have a meeting with the President of the EC Jose Barroso and with the leaders of the major parties in the EP.