site.btaUPDATED Government Reacts to Leaked Documents Regarding Bulgarian Position on UN Srebrenica Resolution, Calls Leak "Hybrid Attack"

"Bulgaria has a consistent and unchanged position in recognizing the victims of Srebrenica and has participated in all initiatives related to their commemoration," the caretaker government said in a position put out Thursday by its press centre. It came as a reaction to media reports that the government of Dimitar Glavchev tried to pull out of a UN resolution designating July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.

According to leaked documents published by Bird.bg and then other media outlets, a cable sent by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev to Bulgaria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lachezara Stoeva called for a last-minute change of Bulgaria's position ahead of the UN vote on the Srebrenica resolution. Stoeva allegedly ignored Glavchev's instructions, and Bulgaria supported the resolution, which it had co-authored. Quoting own sources, Bird.bg says the reversal in the government's position came after communication between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and ex-Bulgarian prime minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov.

The government position reads, "The dynamics of diplomatic service and position formation involve a multitude of working options that evolve in the process of forming our country's national position. What is important is the official position, and it is arrived at following the opinions of experts from the competent units of the Foreign Ministry, which include various communication channels."

It also states that the letter to the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the UN in New York, which was circulated in the public domain, does not contain the final instructions to Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva.

"The leaked documents are only part of the decision-making process and do not represent its entirety. This only creates ground for speculation, interpretation and manipulation on the subject," the caretaker government also said. 

"Leaking official correspondence and making it public indiscriminately can only be described as an element of a hybrid attack. The issue is being used politically in the context of an election campaign and this is detrimental to Bulgaria's interests. The caretaker government firmly dissociates itself from any attempts to make suggestions related to changing Bulgaria's geopolitical orientation. By its actions, the government proves on a daily basis that Bulgaria steadfastly follows its European path and perspective," the Council of Ministers' position further states.

GERB ruled out any attempts to put pressure on the caretaker government.

Caretaker Prime Minister Glavchev was a ranking GERB member before he headed the National Audit Office and became one of the high officials qualifying for caretaker prime minister.

GERB deputy leader and former Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said in a video statement sent out to media outlets, that "GERB does not interfere in the work of the caretaker cabinet and has no such intentions".  "Interpretations on this topic are made by political parties that are losing public trust and believe that returning to certain narratives will bring them success," said Mitov.

The GERB deputy chairman also recalled that then Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2017 was the first at the level of a prime minister in bilateral relations and was part of Bulgaria's efforts to contribute to the Euro-Atlantic integration of all Western Balkan countries. "As foreign minister, I signed the commemorative book in Srebrenica. The position of GERB is not subject to any doubt in this case", Mitov said.

Later on Thursday, Nikolay Denkov of Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) said his parliamentary group call for an extraordinary sitting of the National Assembly next week. Parliament needs to discuss Bulgaria's vote on the UN resolution on Srebrenica as well as medical professionals' salaries.