Bulgarian Socialists Deplore Sanctions against Russia

Moscow, March 17 (BTA) - The sanctions against Russia were
discussed at a meeting in Moscow between Bulgarian Socialist
Party (BSP) Chairman Mihail Mikov and Russia's State Duma (lower
house of parliament) Speaker Sergei Naryshkin, BSP reported on
Tuesday. The two noted that the sanctions affect the contacts
between the Bulgarian and Russian parliaments and even make them
impossible.

According to Mikov, the sanctions have an adverse impact on the
economy of Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe. He expressed BSP's
firm position that the sanctions should be lifted and no new
measures should be enforced against Russia.

Naryshkin said the crisis in Ukraine should not tarnish the
traditionally good relations between Russia and Bulgaria.

The sides remarked that the Bulgaria-Russia Economic Commission
has not met for four years. Mikov and the delegation led by him
vowed to assist the resumption of the meetings.

Mikov said BSP is willing to undertake initiatives to mark this
year's 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in World War
II.

The Bulgarian delegation to Moscow includes BSP National Council
Deputy Chairman Boiko Velikov, BSP-Left Bulgaria Deputy Floor
Leader Atanas Merdjanov, BSP Veterans Movement Chairman Vladimir
Topencharov and the BSP Chairman's Chef de Cabinet Boris
Ivanov. They presented Naryshkin with the 1947 bilingual book
"In the Footsteps of the Liberators," which has antique value.

Russia's TASS news agency quoted Naryshkin as saying that "this
is not the best period" of Russia-Bulgaria relations because the
Bulgarian leadership follows "the directions of Brussels and
Washington."

The guests are also expected to meet with Sergei Mironov,
Chairman of A Just Russia (one of the parliamentary parties in
the country), and with Alexander Vasilenko, Chairman of the
Russia-Bulgaria Group in the Russian Parliament.