site.btaBulgaria Signs Joint Statement on Afghanistan

August 16 (BTA) - Bulgaria signed the Joint Statement on Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The statement reads:

"Given the deteriorating security situation, we support, are working to secure, and call on all parties to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country. Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility - and accountability - for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order.

"Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so; roads, airports and border crossing must remain open, and calm must be maintained.

"The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them."

More than 70 countries had joined the statement by the early afternoon on Monday, Bulgarian time.

In a Facebook post Monday, former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov wrote that throughout the years of being a loyal NATO and EU member, Bulgaria has contributed its share to the Afghan people, "but today, we are facing new challenges and the democratic international community must not allow for Afghanistan to once again turn into a base for international terrorism, nor should the atrocities committed by the Taliban in the past remain unpunished". Borissov noted that the people of Afghanistan should know that they have the world's support, while those readying themselves to take power should clearly hear from everyone that violence, chaos, suppressing women's rights and other abominations will not be left without consequences. "I hope that Bulgaria is among the NATO and EU countries that clearly state this position," he wrote.
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