site.btaBulgaria Condemns Killing of Lithuania Envoy in Luhansk

Sofia, August 25 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov issued a statement on Monday condemning the kidnapping and subsequent killing of Mykola Zelenec, Lithuania's Honorary Consul in the rebel-held city of Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine. Mitov offered condolences to the bereaved.

He called for a fair investigation in order to bring the culprits to justice.

Mitov said urgent steps should be taken to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, find a sustainable political solution to the situation there and achieve lasting peace.

He expressed hope that a forthcoming August 26 meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, which will also be attended by the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, will pave the way for peace and stability in Ukraine. Bulgaria expects Russia to assist the process, including by refraining from actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, he said.

The Minister also said that the situation is not improved by the passage of Russian convoys in Ukraine without authorization from the legitimate authorities. This constitutes a direct breach of Ukrainian laws and international humanitarian relief standards and a violation of a March 27 resolution of the UN General Assembly, Mitov said. According to him, any humanitarian supplies should be delivered in accordance with humanitarian principles while fully respecting Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Any unilateral actions by Russia only cause tensions to escalate and limit the chance of solving the crisis by means of diplomacy, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said.