site.btaAgriculture Ministry Drafts Economic Forecasts about Effects of Middle East Conflict

In an interview for the Bulgarian National Television aired on Sunday morning, caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Hristanov reported that his Ministry is drafting economic forecasts about the effects of the situation in the Middle East.

Hristanov said: "At the ministerial level, we are monitoring what the effect will be, making economic forecasts of what the short-term and long-term effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be on the prices of fertilizers, basic energy sources, fuels, and on inflation. So, we are taking action and will always strive to take proactive measures to ensure that there is no impact on Bulgaria."

The Ministry of Agriculture is analysing the effects of possible short-term and long-term military action. The Minister said: "We are also looking at energy supplies. It is good that Bulgaria is not particularly dependent on liquefied gas or oil supplies from the Middle East, and we do not expect any significant effects."

Hristanov reiterated the cabinet's official position that there is no direct military threat to Bulgaria from the military actions in the Middle East. He added: "As part of a defensive alliance, we also benefit from the air defence of that alliance. Information has been released that we could become a target but let people know that we are part of a common defence doctrine."

Hristanov also commented on a report of irregularities in a public procurement contract that is potentially related to national security. He said: "There is a company that is responsible for an activity assigned to it by the state for BGN 45 million. Over the past few years, this company has siphoned off BGN 87 million. It is preparing to siphon off another BGN 30 million. So it is in a low starting position, and because we clearly stated that thugs will not be responsible for national security and siphon off the national budget, it is currently engaged in direct sabotage of the State."

The Minister concluded: "Next week, we will continue with the analyses, talk to our colleagues from the State Agency for National Security and we have already sent them the first, shorter notification about what this is all about. And, of course, we will first resolve the case, and then we will inform the public, but that is the framework. Thugs from the 90s want to run the country and influence public resources and national security."