President Iliana Yotova said that Bulgaria could have benefited significantly from the agreement with Turkish energy company BOTAS, arguing that it had the potential to serve both national and broader Central European interests. Speaking on the bTV program “120 Minutes,” she stressed that internal political tensions ultimately prevented that outcome, leaving Bulgaria at a disadvantage.
She noted that the deal was signed during a period of severe instability, when Russian gas supplies had been suspended. In her view, the fact that it was concluded by a caretaker government should not be used to question its validity. “Just because it was concluded by a caretaker cabinet, it does not mean it does not exist, and now, years later, it is much more difficult,” she said, adding that the authorities have since assured that they are working toward decisions that will better serve the country.
Yotova described Bulgaria as holding a strategic advantage due to its EU membership and geographic position. She argued that the country has long been treated as a peripheral route for major projects, but expects this to change. “Bulgaria has a golden card, both as an EU member and because of its geopolitical position,” she said, adding that future energy, land, and high-tech corridors are likely to pass through Bulgarian territory.
