The sharp confrontation between Russia and Turkey over the downed Russian jet bomber over Syria echoed worldwide. In Bulgaria it also provoked tensions and this is understandable. Suddenly the relations between Bulgaria’s biggest neighbour – Turkey, and Bulgaria’s biggest ally from the past and NATO rival – Russia, strained.

This is a critically complicated situation close to the borders of Bulgaria at a time when its relations with both sides of the dispute are peculiar. Sofia has been supporting Turkey in the EU, expecting that it would stop the refugee wave from Syria, while there are difficulties in its relations with Moscow related to Bulgaria’s commitment to the positions of the EU and NATO. Reactions in Bulgaria have not been surprising but some aspects deserve attention.

At the time of conflict the Bulgarian Prime Minister together with seven other ministers were paying a visit to China and the official reaction came late. The Foreign Ministry refused to comment on the issue before an extraordinary meeting of NATO in Brussels was held, and Bulgarian ambassador to Turkey, Nadezhda Neynsky, voiced concern that escalation of tension between Turkey and Russia may have serious consequences for the refugee crisis and economic ties in the region. The tension could also increase the gap between pro-Russian and anti-Russian sentiments in Bulgarian society.

President Rosen Plevneliev kept silence, which was unusual and it made a strong impression. In relation to the Ukrainian crisis a year and a half ago he vigorously expressed concern that Bulgarian jet fighters often had to take off to intercept Russian flights over the Black Sea, and just a week ago, in an interview for a British newspaper, he claimed Russia was pursuing a hybrid war in the Balkans, in order to destabilize Europe and called on the EU and NATO to strengthen forces against “threat of growing Russian aggression.” Now Plevneliev is not likely to say much after his last interview PM Borissov said that Bulgarian authorities should be more careful making such statements, because the balance in the world was very fragile. This recommendation of the Prime Minister was also addressed to all parliamentary forces urging them to be "wise, careful and balanced" in their statements, because de-escalation of tension was necessary. NATO and the EU also called for calmness, but apparently, this was not to the taste of everyone in the Bulgarian parliament. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) supported a declaration calling for de-escalation, but stood behind Ankara's view on the causes of the incident. The Bulgarian Socialist party called for objective international investigation, but indirectly supported the Russian side in the dispute. While former coalition partners in the Stanishev Cabinet were arguing, nationalist Ataka party proposed a joint declaration condemning "Turkey’s military aggression" against Russia.

At the backdrop of internal political disagreement, the Prime Minister ordered from China that the official position of this country must be voiced after a meeting of the Council of Ministers. The meeting concluded that Bulgaria and its allies in NATO and the EU are interested in a rapid de-escalation of tensions stemming from the incident, and that solutions should be sought on a bilateral basis through active contacts between Moscow and Ankara.

Meanwhile, de-escalation of tension seems to have begun. Turkish President Erdogan insisted on peace and diplomatic efforts and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called Russia a "friend" and expressed condolences for the dead pilot. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the downing of the Russian aircraft "a planned provocation", but added that Russia will not go to war with Turkey. However, now comes the question what would happen with the joint economic projects between the two countries that will be reviewed as Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev hinted and how will economic interests in the region shift. The dispute continues and it still concerns Bulgaria.

Englishversion: Alexander Markov