President Rossen Plevneliev convened the Consultative Council for National Security to discuss the development of the crisis in Ukraine and the ensuing risks for Bulgaria. After almost five hours of deliberations, the Council reached a broad consensus on the Bulgarian position – that the country shall not recognize the results of the referendum in Crimea. Expectedly, Ataka party did not support this common stance. Its leader Volen Siderov left the Council, declaring it would be a bad mistake and that it runs against the country’s national interests. The official stand of the Consultative Council for National Security was, by a tradition, made public by the Bulgarian head of state.

“The Republic of Bulgaria is acting as an EU and NATO member state and takes into account its national interest", President Plevneliev said. "Bulgaria is making efforts to ensure that the Union adopts a unified stance on the crisis in Ukraine. The Republic of Bulgaria supports the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The referendum conducted in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on 16 March violated the international law and the constitution of Ukraine and therefore the Republic of Bulgaria does not recognize its results.”

It is indicated further that “Bulgaria supports the signing of the political part of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, as well as the signing of the economic part after free and democratic presidential elections are held in Ukraine.” The focus in the stance and in the recommendations the Consultative Council makes is on the protection of the Bulgarian minority as well as the country’s economic and energy security:

“The Consultative Council for National Security insists that the Ukrainian authorities uphold the rights and freedoms of all citizens, including those belonging to different ethnic and religious minorities, among which is the 300,000-strong Bulgarian community. The Consultative Council for National Security believes that the diversification of the gas supplies, speeding up the construction of inter-connectors with neighboring countries and the development of gas deposits in the Black Sea shelf in the shortest possible terms is a national priority which has no alternative.”

The Council also discussed the possible economic risks to Bulgaria, commented by the politicians afterwards. In the words of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, large-scale sanctions against Russia are not very likely at this stage. As to Bulgaria’s support for such sanctions, he was laconic:

“We shall take part in the formation of a European position as we have always done. You want to hear me say “Yes” or “No” but in life answers are often between the “Yes” and the “No”. What I mean is that we shall form the European position via debates as an EU member and alongside the other member countries with positions similar to ours.”

“The losses Bulgaria stands to incur from possible economic sanctions against Russia will be enormous. Because inter-connectors or alternative gas supplies can become a reality in 5-10 years’ time at best,” says GERB party leader Boyko Borissov:

“We are against half-hearted sanctions. Such sanctions would be to the detriment of Bulgaria because they are in place over a long period. So, it is better not to have sanctions. The government must implement the decisions it has itself made at the European Council. We must endeavour to act as mediators for a swift settlement of this crisis. In power generation the risks are biggest, followed by tourism and I don’t mean just the revenues from tourism. Because American, Russian and who knows whose battleships are traversing the sea. And when the tourists see them, will they feel at their ease, I wonder? So, the entire region is in a difficult situation.”

The size of possible direct and indirect economic losses for Bulgaria in the event of economic sanctions being imposed on Russia would, at best, run to 1 – 6.5 percent of the country’s GDP, says Bulgarian Socialist Party MP Yanaki Stoilov and adds:

“It is imperative that the effect of such measures should not be tested on the citizens of Bulgaria. They might have one kind of effect in trade and economic terms, but quite another if they are accompanied by the respective sanctions. Trade and even more so energy supplies account for a major share in the relations between Bulgaria and Russia.”

Although until recently Bulgaria’s institutions did not see eye to eye on events in Crimea, at the Consultative Council for National Security they, as well as the parties represented in parliament, managed to achieve a relative consensus with the exception of Ataka.

English version: Milena Daynova