Sergei Lavrov discusses prospects of South Stream in Bulgaria

The Head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov visited Sofia yesterday. The suspension of the South Stream gas pipeline by Bulgarian authorities under U.S. and the EU pressure has annoyed Moscow. The Kommersant’s correspondent Elena Chernenko watched how the Bulgarian leaders tried to smooth out the negative effects of freezing of this project, which is very important for Russia.

According to the Kommersant’s sources, close to the Russian delegation, the visit of Sergei Lavrov to Sofia had all chances to fail. It was planned since spring, but on June 8th the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Plamen Oresharski announced the suspension of the South Stream construction under U.S. and the EU pressure, which greatly annoyed Moscow. The gas pipeline is of paramount importance for Russia: Sofia’s decision threatens Gazprom with the freezing of project of gas supplies to Europe, bypassing the Ukraine and maintenance of dependence of the main export direction on relations with Kiev. Russia perceived the fact that the leadership of Bulgaria, which resisted attempts to prevent the construction of South Stream for a long time, changed its stand after the visit of U.S. senators, led by John McCain, with great perplexity.