Romania "could sue Bulgaria"

Romania could sue Bulgaria in the International Court of Justice in The Hague to resolve the dispute on the Black Sea territorial shelf.

Diplomatic sources have explained to Radio Romania that is about 350 square kilometers to go through Russian South Stream pipeline.

The disagreement with Bulgaria seems to develop , having been revived after a period of public silence, by Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu.

This is an area of continental shelf of the Black Sea, form a triangle with the base to Romania.

This area is extremely important because it is located strategically, especially economically.

Diplomatic sources have explained to Radio Romania that is about 350 square kilometers, an area which is to pass Russian South Stream pipeline, seen by some economists in competition with Nabucco project supported by Romania.

South Stream confused by Romania

Russian South Stream pipeline is expected to pass through this area, and if the territory will eventually belong to Romania, Russia, either will have to negotiate with Bucharest times or will have to go pass the area about 600 kilometers which obviously will raise spending and can greatly even question profitability of Russian project.

Analysts commented that the South Stream project is competing the one supported by Romania, Nabucco.

Also regarding Nabucco, the area is important because, if it Romanian territory, one of the sides, with a length of about 60 kilometers to reach the continental shelf of Turkey and the Nabucco pipeline could pass directly from Turkey to Romania.

The Romanian diplomatic sources, although not yet settled which countries belong to the 350 square kilometers of Black Sea shelf, Bulgaria has already started talks with Exon Mobile company.

Stream South Way. Source: Wikipedia

Back to The Hague?

Romania seems very sure of his position, because, say sources from the Foreign Ministry, the equidistance method usually applied by the Court of Justice in The Hague, including the dispute with Ukraine, won by Romania in 2008, would prevail Bucharest.

However, the Romanian authorities are committed to continue bilateral bilateral negotiations, and if they do not reach a result, Bucharest will appeal to European institutions and ultimately the International Court of Justice in The Hague, as happened with Ukraine.

Until now the Romanian-Bulgarian negotiations committee met 14 times from 1994 to now.

Border on the Danube at issue

But unsettled issues with Bulgaria are not only in the Black Sea territorial shelf, but also border on the Danube.

A difficult to draw border territory since the ground is changing either due to silt or because , for example, recently, the Bulgarian bank of the Danube has been eroded by and, according to Romanian specialists, the boundary has moved.

Romanian Foreign Ministry intends that resume negotiations with the Bulgarian side in this regard.
Since 1908 has been set a commission between Romania and Bulgaria in order to consider changing the border on the Danube and to meet every 10 years.

With new negotiations Romanian Foreign Ministry hopes to get to Romania several hundred acres of forest and some islands of Danube, which become even more important in the context of Danube, in which Romania is responsible, inter alia, for the transport chapter.

Bulgaria wants the issue solving problem "in a European manner"

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said the problem finalizing the boundary of the continental shelf will be resolved "in a reasonable European manner" by April 15.

Bulgaria has no territorial claims against Romania, which obviously looking for a quick solution to a 20 year old problem, said Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev.