Bulgaria's Premier Boyko Borissov reacted angrily to the recent assertions that Bulgaria was negotiating together with Romania, Turkey and Ukraine the establishment of a joint naval fleet in the Black Sea against Russia. Initially Premier Borissov made it clear that Bulgaria would not participate in any joint naval forces against Russia and said that his Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev and his Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Mitov had gone too far if they had participated in such agreements, adding that he would send them to take part at possible conflict in the Black Sea. Later, at a joint meeting, Premier Borissov, Defense Minister Nenchev and President Rossen Plevneliev refuted all speculations and said that Bulgaria had never engaged in such a plan. It became clear at that meeting that Bulgaria had never supported Romania's initiative about the establishment of a joint Black Sea fleet and would participate in initiatives and trainings under NATO's umbrella only.

Later, Romania's President Klaus Johannis also denied those speculations and said that his country's idea was interpreted wrong. In fact, Romania proposed military cooperation in the Black Sea. However, it is not linked with the establishment of any joint military fleet. Romania's idea only envisaged joint military trainings of all NATO countries in the region - Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey under NATO's umbrella.

The oppositional wing of the Reformist Block - the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria said that the national interest of Bulgaria and its economic prosperity required strong defense, common security policies and common economic strategies in the Danube and the Black Sea regions. According to that political party, Premier Borissov humiliated President Plevneliev and Defense Minister Nenchev by making them explain that issue. However, DSB contends that Bulgaria was also humiliated due to the lack of co-ordination and common national stand under that topic.

It is interesting to note that Premier Borissov's stand coincided to some extent with the position of the main political forces, which are not part of the Bulgarian government. The Patriotic Front which supports the Bulgarian cabinet, yet is not part of the country's government, pointed out that Bulgaria should not become part of any hostile structures and should not enter in hostile relations against any countries, including Russia. The Bulgarian Socialist Party fully supported Premier Borissov's refusal to join an initiative aimed at establishing a joint military fleet in the Black Sea. BSP also pointed out that recently some initiatives of President Plevneliev and Minister Nenchev in the defense field evidence escalating pressure in the Black Sea region. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms said that a possible war between Russia and NATO was merely impossible, regardless of the sick ambitions of some politicians.

However, some questions remained unanswered. According to speculations, Turkey refused to adhere to the agreement of readmission of migrants due to Bulgaria's unwillingness to join a naval fleet in the Black Sea. In a moment of strong irritation, Premier Borissov said that Bulgaria had not received any written notification from Turkey, but that country refused to receive back all 200 migrants who crossed the Bulgarian-Turkish border and entered Bulgaria. The Turkish Embassy in Sofia assured that Turkey did not abandon the readmission agreement. However, it refused to comment whether Turkey refused to receive such a big number of refugees. On the other hand, Premier Borissov's angry reactions hinted at serious communication problems with some cabinet members and with Bulgaria's President in view of some important topics related to the country's foreign affairs. However, the Bulgarian society is expecting to receive answers to those serious issues.

Meanwhile, in St Petersburg Bulgaria's Minister of Economy Bojidar Loukarsky was discussing with the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov ideas about joint manufactures of high-tech items, which can be sold on the Russian market, in the EU and on markets of third countries, too. Bulgaria's Minister of Agriculture and Food Desislava Taneva was also paying an official visit to Russia, where she attended discussions on topics related to trade with agricultural products.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov