site.btaUPDATED Prime Minister Zhelyazkov Says All Options to Bring Bulgarians Home from Israel Are Being Explored

At a media briefing on Saturday, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said that there are three ways in which Bulgarians from the Middle East can return home, by air, land and water. He explained that authorities are currently exploring all possible options, and that the way they ensure the safe return of all those who wish will be in accordance with the situation.

The Prime Minister said that the Bulgarians who want to be taken out of this region are less than ten, and the total number of people temporarily residing in Israel is about 40. In Iran there are about six so far.

“There are Bulgarians in both Tehran and Israel. We are in contact with them. The Coordination Centre of the Foreign Ministry is on full alert 24/7. At any moment when we have the opportunity and in coordination with our diplomatic missions, we are ready to react,” Zhelyazkov said.

“Jordan's airspace was opened for a short time, but the method of strikes and counterstrikes involves precisely the air domain. The land and sea are very difficult. Our diplomats want to stay and work,” Zhelyazkov also said.

“We are afraid of the expansion and escalation of these actions and the involvement of other countries, especially if actions are taken to close the strait by Iran. Our position is clear, we want these issues not to be resolved militarily, because the civilian population suffers, but to resolve them at the negotiating table and very clearly negotiate the Iranian nuclear programme”, the Prime Minister said.

“Bulgaria is not in danger of being affected by these actions, but the whole world suffers indirectly, because the increase of tension and the opening of hot conflicts and wars is a reason for concern, since existing problems are not being solved, but new ones are being created. Diplomacy is giving way, and the military solution is seen as more effective, and this is a way to question the functioning of the world legal order,” commented Zhelyazkov.

The preventive measures that this country is taking are part of the protocols that the security services in such a situation implement, mainly measures regarding terrorism and illegal migration, the Prime Minister also said.

“We are waiting for a coordination procedure and then we will inform you,” answered Rosen Zhelyazkov when asked if it is already clear who will be proposed as Secretary of the Interior Ministry.

Approached by journalists in Vienna on Friday, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov commented that the appointment of a Secretary General of the Interior Ministry had been coordinated with the President verbally. "Those are topics that remain open. It is not proper for me to mention names on any occasion," he added. He was asked to comment on an exchange of accusations between the head of State and GERB leader Boyko Borissov earlier in the day.