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    Reuters: Bulgaria may seek South Stream bargain with Russia

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Russia's demand for compensation over the abandoned Belene nuclear project could see Bulgaria using South Stream as a bargaining chip to reduce amount.

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Reuters: Bulgaria may seek South Stream bargain with Russia

Bulgaria's prime minister said a Russian demand for 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) compensation for an abandoned nuclear project was "treacherous", and analysts said the row could obstruct plans for a Russian-backed gas pipeline.

Russia's Atomstroyexport is claiming compensation over the cancellation of the Belene nuclear plant it had been contracted to build. The amount demanded could strain Bulgaria's finances, as its economy slowly recovers from a deep recession.

"I truly hope that President Putin is not aware of that move. If he knows, he would not enjoy our meeting on Nov. 9 in Bulgaria," Prime Minister Boiko Borisov told reporters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Bulgaria, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies, on Nov. 9 to sign a deal for the construction of South Stream, a pipeline planned to transport 63 billion cubic metres of gas each year from the Black Sea to southern and central Europe.  MORE

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