Sun, Nov 22 2009
US welcomed the upcoming signing of the Bourgas- Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project agreement but called for the use of more diverse energy sources in Europe.
Europe's dependence on the supplies of Russian company Gazprom should decrease in the coming decade, deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Bryza said.
Bryza congratulated Bulgaria, Russia and Greece for reaching an agreement and coming close to the signing of the Bourgas- Alexandroupolis agreement.
Bulgaria and Greece are NATO member state and any co-operation involving Russia aids their national interests, Bryza said as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA.
The US respected such decisions, Bryza said. Strategic interests in the energy field are common and the US had no concerns on the issue, Bryza said as quoted by Greek Innews.
What the US wanted to see was a mutually beneficial connection between the Euro-Atlantic community and Russia, Bryza said. The way to achieve that was diversifying energy resources.
Strong public opposition to price hikes prompted Prime Minister Boiko Borissov to axe the Finance Ministry proposal to increase the excise duty on spirits, but MPs have put it back on the agenda.
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The two telecoms, both set up to challenge former fixed-line state monopoly BTC, will merge operations and expect to report 20 million euro in revenue and a gross profit of five million euro in 2010.