Bulgaria Opens Arms to Russian Investment

Russia is highly interested in realizing a host of financial projects in Bulgaria. This was announced yesterday by Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Vladimir Titov at a meeting with members of the Bulgarian cabinet. According to the diplomat, good relations between Sofia and Moscow have recently 'been gathering force', and Russia is now able to present Bulgaria with a new plan to drag the Bulgarian economy out of crisis. Titov said that dozens of Russian firms are already operating in the Bulgarian market, which shows that 'Russians know how to do business.'

According to Sergei Stanishev, the leader of the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Bulgaria will gladly give Moscow the opportunity to carry out 'adventurous projects.' Stanishev believes that Sofia stands to gain from a Russian presence in the Bulgarian market. However, representatives of Bulgarian nationalist movements criticised the BSP leaders words, saying that Sofia currently needs to orient itself not towards Moscow, but to the West.