site.btaBulgarian Leaders Cable Condolences after Attack in Istanbul

Bulgarian Leaders Cable Condolences after Attack in Istanbul

Sofia, January 12 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev cabled condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after Tuesday's attack in Istanbul which claimed dozens of lives, Plevneliev's press secretariat said.

In the cable Plevneliev says that he was devastated to hear the news about the bloody terrorist attack in Istanbul. "Terrorism and violence are unacceptable and may not be justified in any way," the cable reads. Plevneliev also offers condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and injured.

The President also says that terrorism is a global threat and the response too must be global. "It is our common duty to pool our efforts, work for building a more secure and peaceful world and protect our people from any act of infringement of our values," Plevneliev says.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov strongly condemned the terrorist act in Istanbul in a statement published on his ministry's website. Mitov expressed sympathy with the bereaved and hope for the full recovery of the injured.

"Contemporary terrorism knows no religions, nations or borders and is our common enemy as we protect democratic values," Mitov added.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry told BTA that there has been no information about injured Bulgarians in Tuesday's explosion in Istanbul.

The Bulgarian consul in Istanbul is following the developments after the explosion and is in contact with the local authorities.

The Foreign Ministry advised Bulgarians travelling to Turkey to exercise caution, especially when staying in big Turkish cities with tourist landmarks.