Bulgaria, Russia sign gas pipeline deal

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

SOFIA (AFP) — Bulgaria and Russia signed a deal Friday for the 10 billion euros (14.7 billion dollars) South Stream pipeline to carry Russian gas to Europe, giving Moscow an even greater say on European energy supplies.

The landmark deal was signed at a ceremony attended by Russian and Bulgarian presidents Vladimir Putin and Georgy Parvanov.

It was agreed after intensive last-minute talks between the two former Cold War allies and came about "thanks to the personal intervention of President Putin," Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev said.

The South Stream pipeline, being built by Russia's Gazprom and ENI of Italy, will first cross the Black Sea into Bulgaria and then split into two arms, one going northwest to Austria and the other south to Greece and...