NEWS

Turkey has begun work on the building of a gas interconnector with Bulgaria

Turkey has begun work on the building of a gas interconnector with Bulgaria and a decision in this respect already has been taken, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an confirmed to President Rosen Plevneliev today. Turkey sees as a possibility the gas connection being built as part of the course of the Nabucco West project. This would create additional opportunities to increase the capacity and possibilities of the project when implemented.

Work on joint infrastructure projects between Bulgaria and Turkey and increasing co-operation in energy security were the main focuses in President Plevneliev’s talks on the first day of his official visit to Turkey. Turkey has not withdrawn from participation in the Rousse – Svilengrad motorway, but the plans will be discussed at a technical level, it became clear after the Bulgarian head of state’s talks in the Turkish capital. Both sides will promote investments in transport, construction and telecommunications and there are concrete investment plans by Turkish businesses.

In connection with the potential development of new energy capacity in proximity to the Turkish-Bulgarian border near Resovo, President Plevneliev told Bulgarian journalists in Ankara that there is an idea by a Turkish private investor to build a thermal power plant in the area with the development of a coal port. The project is at an early stage of development, but we had raised the issue “with all seriousness and concern,” the President said. “Tourism is a strategic industry for both countries and the responsible attitude to future generations is to leave the beaches clean for future generations,” he said. The head of state reminded that already there had been public discontent against the building of new power stations in the border area. “We hope to have the full understanding of the Turkish side that Bulgaria has a serious problem with this project. We have raised this problem timeously and expect from now on to be kept informed and for there to be a serious attitude,” the head of state underlined.

In Ankara, President Plevneliev held talks with the President of the Grand National Assembly, Cemil Çiçek, and met with representatives of émigré organisations.

On November 29, the President and the delegation that he is heading will be in Istanbul. President Plevneliev will visit the first European railway station of the future tunnel under the Bosphorus. The tunnel will connect the Asian with the European part of Turkey and its construction is part of a project to connect Central Europe with Asia via a high-speed rail link.

In Istanbul, President Plevneliev will meet with representatives of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, the largest non-government organisation representing the private sector in Turkey, with 365 members of stock exchanges, chambers of commerce and industry, as well as the Foreign Economic Relations Board, members of which include 750 companies and close to 150 representatives of business institutions, councils, industrial and trade chambers.