Transneft keeps hope for Burgas Alexandroupolis

Russian oil pipeline giant Transneft has decided to wait out the term of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov who has killed the Burgas Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.  Transneft vice chair Mikhail Barkov, who also serves on the Trans-Balkan pipeline consortium advisory board, said that the company will build the pipeline at a more propitious time.  "We will not leave the project behind," he said.  "We are just freezing it, leaving the requisite amount of resources in it."
Referring to the Prime Minister, Barkov told news reporters, "Boykos come and go, but Bulgarians' love for Russia is forever."    Another news source quoted Barkov as stating, "Bulgaria cannot be reduced to Boyko Borisov."

This is not the first time that Transneft officials have stating their continuing interest in the Balkan pipeline project, but it is unusual for the attacks on the Prime Minister to be so personal.  Barkov seems to have learned from the Ukranian experience that a new electoral cycle can put a pro-Moscow man back in the drivers seat--and he is prepared to wait.