Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday that Hungary is in a relatively safe situation regarding energy security for a few months, and it will be able to work together with the new government in Sofia to extend this positive period.
PM Orbán told Bulgarian journalists after talks with Boyko Borisov, leader of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party which won the early parliamentary election in October, that he was certain that Borisov would be able to stabilise the political situation in Bulgaria. He added that it was important to Hungary and for the European Union that a stable government would be set up in Sofia.
Commenting on the issue of gas supplies, he said Borisov had always been helpful in preventing the stoppage of gas supplies from Bulgaria to Hungary. PM Orbán added that some 7 billion of the approximately 9 billion cubic metres of gas that Hungary receives arrives through Bulgaria, so the country played a key role in Hungary's security.
PM Orbán also said that an agreement had been made with the US to suspend the sanctions against Gazprombank for three months, so the danger has been eliminated there. Additionally, an agreement has been made with Russia about an alternative method of making payments, he added.
Commenting on sanctions against Russia, PM Orbán said talks were ongoing in the EU, and a decision would have to be made by the end of January. In response to a question whether the community should wait until the inauguration of the new US president concerning the issue of sanctions against Moscow, PM Orbán said the 27 member states had to make a decision together and proposed "strategic patience" in the matter.