Vladimir Putin has returned from Sofia with a signed contract on the construction of the Southern Stream Pipeline and a new pet.
Under the agreement Bulgaria will increase its revenues from gas transit by 3-4 times. At this price Russia has gained the real chance to win customers in Eastern and Central Europe from its main competitor Nabucco project.
Not only pipelines are set to compete though. Russia’s top dog, Connie the prime ministerial Labrador, has a new rival in the kennels of power.
Fluffy surprise
But it wasn’t potential gains for the Russian economy that touched the Russian public. A Bulgarian shepherd puppy was given to the Russian PM as a gift from his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov. The three-month-old puppy was raised on Borisov’s personal dog farm, and the politician said it was Putin who wanted to introduce his new pet at the press conference.
The dog stayed oblivious to camera flashes and just sniffed its new master, who cuddled it and kissed it twice – in the nose and the head – in the end of the conference.
Putin’s press-secretary Dmitry Peskov told MK that it was a big surprise for the whole Russian delegation, and Putin personally. “The gift was totally unexpected. It was a pleasant surprise for PM. Even our organising group didn’t know anything in advance,” he said.
Choosing Yorgo’s doghouse
The puppy is called Yorgo, though Putin can change its name if he wants. However, the condition is that any new name would have to start with a “y”, which limits the options for Russian names.
And Putin’s latest pooch has yet to decide on an official residence, facing a choice between the official Moscow Region dacha at Novo-Ogaryovo or the family home in Sochi.
If he stays closer to the capital he will need to share with Connie and a few poodles owned by the PM’s spouse Lyudmila.
The Labrador has been Putin’s top dog since 2003, when she was given as a New Year gift by Emergency Situations minister Sergei Shoygu.
But she might actually lose her fight with the new rival – Yorgo will be at least 10 kilo heavier and 15 centimeters taller when he grows up.
Back to business
Away from the dog show, two years of negotiations have finally yielded a deal with Sofia – one which Putin hailed as an obvious boost for the Balkan country.
“Bulgaria’s financial gains are obvious,” said Putin at the press-conference on Saturday. “At present Bulgaria receives 600 million for gas transit, and with the Southern Stream project its profit will be 2.5 million,” he said.
The Russian PM didn’t clarify which currency he was talking about. Experts say the transit tarif would be three times higher than Ukraine’s if the PM meant US dollars, and four times more if counting in euro, Kommersant reported.
The rate, however, would sink significantly if Gazprom pays land lease fees.
With the agreement Russia has got a chance to win the battle for consumers in southern and central Europe, although it’s not the end of the campaign. The EU-backed Nabucco route might come first in this pipeline contest, as Turkish officials haven’t given their permission for laying pipes on the Black Sea Shelf yet.
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