On the TV1 program “Questions”, the Minister of Environment and Water Asen Lichev commented on the reasons to undertake a coercive measure against the Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” to suspend the cargo transfer activities from the ship “Vera Su” on the night of September 27th due to imminent danger from pollution of Black Sea waters: “Every Minister of the Environment - if he is a real minister - is an ‘opponent’ to all other ministers. I am obliged to be against any economic activities that threaten the future of the people,” said Asen Lichev.

During the conversation, he confirmed that in the Minister of Transport Hristo Aleksiev he found a supporter of environmental protection “and this was confirmed by the joint actions by the coordination center appointed by order of the Prime Minister after this ridiculous unloading operation, whereby instead of unloaded on another vessel urea was poured into the sea.”

In respect to the presence and statements at the site by political parties of different color from the old status quo, the Minister commented that they are to blame “for the weak condition in which we find the administration”, but his aim is not to transfer responsibilities to someone else. He reminded that this was the reason why he had sent a formal proposal to the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Transport to provide specifications for the necessary equipment for the Maritime Administration and the Border Police to respond to and manage such problematic situations, for which funding will be provided by Operational Program “Environment” and added: “So I will never again have to be ashamed that the marine environmental and protected areas can be endangered in this ridiculous way.”

“I am appointed for a limited amount of time, I am not fighting for any political future. I have come only to carry out one duty - if I can, and that is to restore statehood in the Ministry of Environment and Water”, concluded Asen Lichev.

You can view the entire interview HERE.