site.btaABV Chair Discusses Humanitarian Situation in Palestine with Representatives of Arab Countries' Diplomatic Missions in Bulgaria

ABV Chairman Rumen Petkov discussed with ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions in Bulgaria of Middle Eastern and Arab countries the humanitarian situation in Palestine and the need for an immediate end to military action and violence there. The topic of the meeting was “No to Genocide. Support for Peace and the State of Palestine." The event was attended by the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Bulgaria, Alireza Irvash, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Nader Saad, the Acting Head of the Embassy of the State of Palestine, Asem Kurdi; Saeed Mohammad Al-Qahtani, representative of the Embassy of the State of Qatar, and Ambassador of Kuwait Ghazi Hamed Alfadhli.

Petkov assured the diplomats of his consistent and long-standing support for the Arab countries and the State of Palestine. "The ABV party strongly supports the international initiative to stop the invasion. We stand behind the statement signed by 25 countries for an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip and support efforts to achieve a sustainable and just solution in the interests of the Palestinian people and the entire region," he said.

Petkov said that the situation in the world is particularly alarming, with a series of armed conflicts in various places. "As a political party, we maintains serious relations with the countries of the Arab world because the realize that we have had very good relations for decades," he noted. According to him, what is happening to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is particularly outrageous. The leader of ABV is adamant that Israel's politically motivated attacks against Iran and Syria are unprecedented in recent human history, which is why it is important for ABV to have a clear institutional position from the EU, Bulgaria, and the UN. What causes concern and outrage in Bulgaria are the double standards allowed in Europe and the EU, Petkov said. "Our institutions know very well what Iran and the Iranian Ambassador did to rescue our sailors - quietly and delicately, but effectively - and then to get our diplomats out," the politician recalled.

He specified that he was speaking as a citizen of a country that prides itself on having saved its Jews during the Nazi era, as a citizen who is disturbed by the fact that the Bulgarian government did not back the appeal signed by 28 countries, and as the chairman of a coalition party that elected and supports the Government. "We will insist that our coalition format do everything possible to ensure that the Government and institutions take an adequate position," Petkov said.

The ABV party is part of the BSP - United Left coalition, which is one of the formations in the ruling majority together with GERB-UDF and There Is Such a People.