The state mobilized enormous diplomatic and political power in the release of the captured Bulgarian sailors from the Galaxy Leader ship. The signal that Bulgaria is sending is that it has retained its functions as an excellent communicator, a country that enjoys trust and authority, which can impose its opinion in such intense and dangerous moments in many respects. Thus, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev commented in the “Interview in NOVA News” the efforts to return Lyubomir Chanev and Danail Veselinov to Bulgaria.
He noted that all institutions involved in resolving the hostage crisis have done their job perfectly. According to him, it is important to send a signal that when there are Bulgarians in trouble, our country is capable of protecting them.
The Foreign Minister stressed that at no point was there any question of paying for the release of the two Bulgarians. “We must pay tribute to the dignity and professionalism of the countries that participated in the favorable resolution of the crisis. When we begin to doubt that we can cope with the power of diplomacy, as was applied in this case, it means that we doubt the abilities of those who used it. In this case, I do not think that this is appropriate to do”, specified Georgiev.
He recommended: “Ship operators must exercise extreme caution when sailing in areas with a potential risk of military and other interventions. There are such zones around the world and professional calculations must be made for them so that civilian ships do not become the object of attacks”.
The Foreign Minister assured that Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone remains a priority for the “Zhelyazkov” cabinet.