There are three ways in which our compatriots can return from the Middle East - by air, land and water, all options are being explored. This was announced by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov at a media briefing.
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.
"There are Bulgarians in both Tehran and Israel. We are in contact with them. The coordination center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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. 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", explained Zhelyazkov.
The preventive measures that our country is taking are part of the protocols that the security services in a similar situation implement - mainly measures regarding terrorism and illegal migration, he also said.
The Prime Minister expressed concerns about the escalation of the situation. "The growth of tension and the opening of hot conflicts, wars and military actions is a cause for concern, as existing problems are not being solved, but new ones are being created", Zhelyazkov pointed out and highlighted the importance of diplomacy.
"We hope that this exchange of blows will end, because, although they seem remote, they are actually quite different in their purpose and expected results for each of the parties. Thank God, so far there have been no many civilian casualties, but we fear the expansion and escalation of these actions and the involvement of other countries, especially if actions are taken to close the strait by Iran", he said and added: "Our position is clear - these issues should not be resolved militarily, because in the end the civilian population suffers, we call for them to sit at the negotiating table".