After Russia's Atomstroyexport was reported preparing to lodge a claim over delayed payments for the Belene N-plant project, the Ministry of Economy, Energy andTourism in Sofia said Friday that the Bulgarian side is ready to move a counter-claim against Atomstroyexport.
The Russian news agency Interfax reported late on Thursday that Atomstroyexport is moving with the International Arbitration Court in Paris a 58 million euro claim over overdue payments by Bulgaria's National Electric Company for Belene.
The story quoted an undisclosed official of the Russian company. Said the Bulgarian Economy Ministry, "It is not serious to expect a comment on [allegations by] unidentified sources. If that is true and if the Russian side officially confirms this information, the Bulgarian side has legitimate counter-claims exceeding the mentioned amount, and will submit a claim with immediate effect."