FOCUS: Mr. Abadzhiev, Shah Deniz officially selected Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, not the Nabucco West project, in which Bulgaria had participation. Do you share the assessment that the Nabucco project failed?

Dimitar Abadzhiev: Rather the need for Europe to diversify Southeastern and Central Europe has failed and as well as efforts to reduce Europe's dependence on gas monopoly in that part of Europe from Russia. The Nabucco project was prepared and made in the best possible way and the best things that can be done in such a project were made. It had the full support of countries including Bulgaria. The worse thing is that it remains a major unsolved problem of Europe's energy - namely, near-monopoly dependence on gas supplies to Central and Eastern Europe on only one supplier in this case - Russia. Another thing I think happened was that the southern corridor, through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline failed to unclog because in my opinion the so wanted southern gas corridor was not realized.

FOCUS: How will this decision affect the neighboring countries - Greece and Turkey through which territory will pass the Trans Adriatic Pipeline?

Dimitar Abadzhiev: It will undoubtedly have a positive impact on these countries. Actually, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline will start from the Greek-Turkish border. It will have a positive impact in terms of new investments and new jobs. They will be the countries through which territories will pass transnational pipeline, which is always a strategic interest of each country not only because it will receive fees for transmission, but also in terms of the fact that transnational pipelines are still large infrastructure objects that are part of the national security.

FOCUS: If Bulgaria build interconnections with Greece and Turkey, could it turn out that it had benefited from the fact that there is no Nabucco, but it is TAP?

Dimitar Abadzhiev: Bulgaria can never benefit from the fact that Trans-Adriatic Pipeline has been chosen, because through Bulgarian territory it would have to pass an international pipeline – long more than 400 km. Bulgaria would have been receiving fees for what and would have be a strategic country in terms of the fact that such international pipeline passes through its territory. Building interconnections, God forbid will probably enable Bulgaria still receives gas from alternative sources in the case from the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, and from this point of view to solve at least part of the problem, namely to have alternative supplies. I hope this happens. Now this is the most important for Bulgaria - to use its proximity to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline and to be active in this regard. Moreover, Bulgaria through interconnections that can be built with Serbia, can still make a centre through which to transport gas from the Caspian region despite the failure of Nabucco at this stage. God willing in the future the exploration in the Black Sea - in Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters to be successful and again one way or another, the idea of a pipeline connecting Central Europe with this part of Europe, in the case of Bulgaria, which will be bordered by countries that carry Caspian gas, to be realized. I think in the long run there is ample opportunity to realize at least part of the idea set in Nabucco project.

FOCUS: What is the lost for Bulgaria from the choice of Shah Deniz Company, which officially preferred the Trans-Adriatic pipeline than Nabucco West project?

Dimitar Abadzhiev: Bulgaria loses that through its territory will not pass gas pipeline connection the Caspian region with central Europe, there will be transnational gas pipeline on our territory from which Bulgaria would receive fees. Bulgaria loses the change to acquire strategic importance for Europe as a country in which territory passes this pipeline. Bulgaria will lose about 1 billion investments and will lose many jobs that would be opened; including many people, landowners would receive compensation. Losses for Bulgaria are many, but Bulgaria is not the only country that suffers loss, and Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe, because the problem continues to hang that in this part of Europe the dependence on Russian gas supplies in some countries is as high as 90 and more than 90 percent. In Bulgaria, Macedonia, including countries such as Austria and Hungary dependence is quite large, while there, where the Trans Adriatic Pipeline will be build – in Italy as an example – the dependence on gas supplies from Russia is almost minimal - about 20 per cent. Not only Bulgaria suffers loss, but also Europe.