Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov responded on Monday to an earlier comment of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the negative consequences of Bulgaria's membership to the European Union (EU).

Mitov told journalists in Brussels that if he was in Medvedev's position, he would be more worried about the state of the Russian economy, the outflow of foreign investments, the devaluation of the rouble, and the country's isolation.

If placed in such position, he would not give advices on the behaviour and geopolitical choices of Bulgaria, Ukraine or any other country, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.

Mitov said that it became a Russian practice to hurl criticism at Bulgaria and the figures provided by Medvedev have been misplaced from the context of the country's economic development and that of the world.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister reminded that until the country's accession to the EU in 2007, the world economy recorded a serious growth, which also had a beneficial effect on Bulgaria.

At the end of 2007 the worst global economic crisis occurred, which affected badly Bulgaria following the country's entry into it in 2009.

Mitov said that unemployment has risen on a global scale and this is not the direct consequence of Bulgaria's membership in the EU.

He added that this is also valid for direct investments and dismissed the manipulative treatment of figures.

Mitov said that Bulgaria is to continue its support for the reforms Ukraine has to make on its road to EU integration.

The Foreign Minister expressed his hope that there was no negative campaign against Bulgaria, as this was incompatible with the maintenance of friendly relationship and dialogue.