Prime Ministers Boyko Borissov of Bulgaria and Vladimir Putin of Russia agreed in a telephone conversation on Thursday that a Russian-Bulgarian joint venture should be set up by November 15 to start working on a
feasibility study for the Bulgarian stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline, the Council of Ministers' press office said.

The two discussed the future development of the gas pipeline in general and the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement on the project in particular.

Putin expressed Russia's readiness to supply replacements for parts of the protective system of Unit 6 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant as soon as possible and have them flown to Bulgaria so that the planned repairs can be completed as scheduled.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed the progress of the implementation of the agreements on the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant.

The sides talked about involving in the project the world's most competent nuclear energy companies from third countries.

Borissov and Putin agreed to continue their active communication on joint projects in the future. They also discussed aspects of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.