Alexandroupolis, Greece News

Russian energy giant Gazprom will hold talks with Bulgaria in January on the project to build the South Stream gas pipeline.

Bulgaria's Energy Minister Traicho Traikov, accompanied by his deputy Maya Hristova and Bulgarian Energy Holding boss Galina Tosheva were in Moscow on December 24 2009 to meet Russian energy minister Sergey Shmatko.

The Bulgaria Greens call for immediate suspension of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

Bulgarian Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov and Russian Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko are pictured here during their previous meeting in Sofia in September.

Russian state-run gas giant Gazprom said on December 7 that it would not make any bargains on the South Stream gas pipeline project.

Economy Minister Traikov says the fate of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipe depends on the Environment Ministry.

Azem Vllasi will be the first Kosovo ambassador to Montenengro, media report, once Podgorica establishes diplomatic relations with the country.

The contract for the construction of the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline was not favourable for Bulgaria and against national interests, Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said during a visit to the Black Sea city of Bourgas on December 6 2009.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signed on Wednesday a joint action plan on cooperation between the two countries, mainly in the economic field.

Russia expects tough talks with Bulgaria next week over the proposed BurgasAlexandroupolis oil pipeline, as Sofia is reviewing its energy deals with Moscow, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said Wednesday.

Problems could arise with the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, which will link Bulgaria's Black Sea coast with Greece's Aegean Sea coast, bypassing the congested Bosphorus and Dardanelles, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said in the State Duma.

Greece, the current chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, supports further discussions on the European security pact, proposed by Russia's president, a Greek deputy foreign minister said on Monday.

I I I I I I I I I1 4I I I'I I I I I I I1 4I I The three-way race to succeed former prime minister Costas Karamanlis at the helm of main opposition New Democracy party has entered the final stretch to the election this coming Sunday, with all three candidates touring the country and addressing crowds of supporters.

Greece and Bulgaria will benefit from joint energy projects with Russia, Greek President Karolos Papoulias said during an official dinner to mark the visit of his Bulgarian counterpart.

Greece solidly supports the promotion of two pipeline projects, Burgas-Alexandroupolis and South Stream, along with a timely updating of an agreement with Russia for the supply of natural gas, as the current one ends in 2016, to cover increasing domestic needs, a relevant deputy minister said on Monday.

The Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project is a significant project with geopolitical, economic and energy importance, Deputy FM Spyros Kouvelis said on Thursday.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Saturday commented about his recent meeting, which he termed "excellent", with his new Greek counterpart George Papandreou on the sidelines of an EU Council meeting in Brussels on Friday evening, touching directly on the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline project.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou.

Ever since taking office in July, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and his Cabinet have shown little enthusiasm for major energy projects with Russia, championed by President Purvanov and the Socialist party, the majority partner in the former ruling coalition.

Socialist Member of the Parliament and former Energy Minister, Rumen Ovcharov, demands quick reaction from the cabinet about the fate of the Russian energy projects.