Greece is unable to manage the waters of the Arda River on its territory and is trying to transfer this duty to Bulgaria.

This was stated in an interview with BGNES by Assen Lichev, hydrogeologist and Minister of Environment and Water from 12 May 2021 to 13 December 2021.

He stressed that there was no "agreement" with Greece on the Arda River. It is a reparation agreement under which Bulgaria no longer owes anything to its southern neighbours.

"Bulgaria has compensated Greece's claims under the Paris peace treaty definitively and is no longer a defeated party under this treaty and does not need to feel like a defeated party again and pander to Greece for the Arda claims!", Lichev stressed.

The responsibility for the existing drought in northern Greece lies solely with the authorities in Athens, who have not built adequate dams on Greek territory to store the waters of the Arda for the irrigation season.

"The circles in Athens, harnessing the entire Greek state as a whole, as well as the mechanisms of the EU, want to divert the attention of their own citizens from the impossibility of managing the Greek waters of the Arda River after the border with Bulgaria! That is why they are trying in every way to transfer the management of these waters as an obligation of Bulgaria to the territory of Bulgaria!", said Lichev.

He stressed that in this situation Bulgaria should not conduct any negotiations with Athens over the waters of the Arda River.  I BGNES