Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has announced that the Rosatom State Corporation was ready to participate in the procedures for selecting a contractor to resume construction of Bulgaria’s Belene NPP.

We hope the state corporation has good chances, considering that it is the manufacturer of the nuclear reactors and the creator of the technology for this project, Minister Lavrov said after meeting with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, who is on a visit to Moscow.

Minister Zaharieva pointed out at a joint press conference that Bulgaria and Russia had great prospects in the development of food industry and the increase of trade turnover.

During the discussion, the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Russia also discussed topics on the world and European agenda, including European security, regional cooperation and the situation in the Balkans, as well as the situation in Syria after the Turkish military operation. Ministers Zaharieva and Lavrov expressed concern about the lack of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister also expressed regret over the absence of a decision by the European Council to open accession negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to visit Bulgaria at the invitation FM Ekaterina Zaharieva, TASS reported.